Thunderbolts* finally lands in cinemas next week, hoping to revive the MCU on the big screen after the disappointment of Captain America: Brave New World.
The team-up movie brings back Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell and Olga Kurylenko as the antiheroes face a deadly new threat that could bring them redemption.
Thunderbolts* (that asterisk is important and will be explained when the movie is released) also sees Julia Louis-Dreyfus reprise her role as Val, alongside MCU newcomers Lewis Pullman and Geraldine Viswanathan.
Following its special screening in the UK tonight, those lucky few to have already seen Thunderbolts* have now taken to social media to reveal their first reactions to the new movie.
So is Thunderbolts* an MCU hit or a flop?
Related: Thunderbolts runtime confirmed ahead of release
“Well #Thunderbolts is easily one of the best MCU movies in a long time (and maybe one of my new personal faves),” tweeted critic Emily Murray, who added: “A tear was shed. Florence Pugh in particular superb, just walks away with it.”
Film journalist Mia Pflüger also spoke highly of Pugh, deeming her “the true lead of the new generation and team”. But also teased an “absolute scene stealing moment” from co-star Sebastian Stan.
“A visually daring, emotionally resonant superhero film that pushes mental health to the forefront,” tweeted Empire’s Amon Warmann. “Best MCU film in a long while!”
Related: How to watch the entire MCU in order
Next Big Picture’s Matt Neglia applauded Thunderbolts* for bringing freshness to the MCU at an “opportune time, when the franchise is in need of new blood and direction.” He also teased “some of Marvel’s darkest material to date”.
Ahead of its release, Thunderbolts* was confirmed to run for two hours and six minutes, on par with the likes of Iron Man and Captain Marvel, among other MCU movies.
We should be prepared to get emotional during those two hours though as director Jake Schreier revealed earlier this year that he took inspiration from the furnace scene in Toy Story 3.
“It wasn’t as focused on a genre as much as dynamics amongst characters. They all have that dynamic of a team that is thrown together,” he explained.
“That sequence works so well because you’ve come to care about these characters so much. Can they get out of the trash can together?”
Thunderbolts* is released in UK cinemas on 1 May and in US cinemas on 2 May.
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