Thunderbolts* has had quite a marketing campaign, including an “A24-esque” trailer and Florence Pugh jumping off the second-tallest building in the world. The asterisk in the name is, according to the movie's posters, a reference to the fact that “The Avengers are not available.” In the meantime, a team of familiar anti-heroes from across the MCU has to step up, facing a particularly haunting enemy as well as their own pasts.
Clint Gage’s review of Thunderbolts* for IGN describes the movie as "the most solid the sacred timeline has felt in a little while, providing an adventure befitting its overlooked title characters.” Safe to say, it seems like Thunderbolts* is straying from the path of DC’s Suicide Squad.
If you’re planning to catch Thunderbolts* in theaters or want a sense of when the movie will be available to stream, check out the details below.
How to Watch Thunderbolts*
Thunderbolts officially released in theaters on Friday, May 2, 2025. You can check for showtimes near you at the main theater links below, but most theaters are no longer showing the film.
Thunderbolts* Streaming Release Date
Thunderbolts* will eventually stream on Disney+, home to the entire MCU. Deadpool & Wolverine landed on the streaming service over three months after its original release date, while Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 became available in just under three months. Assuming the newest MCU movie follows a similar timeline, Thunderbolts* will likely be available to stream on Disney+ by late August.
If you're just hoping to watch the film at home, the digital release date for the film is much earlier than that. Starting on July 1 you will be able to purchase the film on demand for $29.99.
Thunderbolts* 4K and Blu-ray Release Date
If you're hoping to add a physical copy of the film to your collection, preorders for Thunderbolts* have finally gone live. Both the 4K steelbook and Blu-ray version of the film will be released on July 29, 2025.
What Is Thunderbolts* About?
Thunderbolts* pits a team of Marvel anti-heroes against what I consider one of the more terrifying villains in the Marvel universe. The movie takes its name and concept from the Thunderbolts comics, which were originally created by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley. Here’s the movie’s official synopsis from Disney’s website:
Where Does It Fit in the MCU Timeline?
Thunderbolts is the final part of the MCU’s Phase 5, preceded by Captain America: Brave New World. Phase 6 kicks off with The Fantastic Four: First Steps in June, which paves the way for Avengers: Doomsday next year.
Does It Have a Post-Credits Scene?
This is the MCU, so of course it does. A particularly long one, in fact, so it’s worth sticking around after the credits roll.
Thunderbolts* Cast and Characters
- Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova
- Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes
- Wyatt Russell as John Walker/U.S. Agent
- Olga Kurylenko as Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster
- Lewis Pullman as Bob/Sentry/Void
- David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian
- Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr/Ghost
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine
Thunderbolts* Rating and Runtime
Thunderbolts* is rated PG-13 for strong violence, language, thematic elements, and some suggestive and drug references. The movie runs for a total of two hours and six minutes.
Blythe (she/her) is an SEO Coordinator at IGN who spends way too much time in character customization screens and tracking down collectibles.
![The New Avengers [Thunderbolts]](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ign.com/data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
