Thunderbolts hits 88% on Rotten Tomatoes

Marvel’s Thunderbolts* hit an 88% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes as the review embargo lifted, giving the film one of Marvel’s better recent starts. (rottentomatoes.com) (forbes.com) Rotten Tomatoes’ own review roundup said critics praised the ensemble, the action, and performances from Florence Pugh and Lewis Pullman in particular. (editorial.rottentomatoes.com) The site’s synopsis describes the movie as a team-up of antiheroes including Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster and John Walker after a trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. (rottentomatoes.com) Rotten Tomatoes’ editorial coverage cast the response as relief for Marvel after Captain America: Brave New World drew a poorer critical reaction earlier in 2025. (editorial.rottentomatoes.com) That made the 88% figure more than a fan-site talking point: it became an early test of whether Marvel could still open a new team movie with broadly favorable reviews. (forbes.com) (editorial.rottentomatoes.com) Pullman’s name also traveled beyond Marvel on April 28, 2026, when Variety and Deadline reported that he will star opposite Vanessa Kirby in Kitty Green’s sci-fi thriller The Spacesuit. (variety.com) (deadline.com) Variety reported that HanWay Films will launch international sales in Cannes, while UTA Independent Film Group and CAA Media Finance will represent North America. (variety.com) The film follows an astronaut played by Kirby who faces an “impossible decision” after an incident involving her co-pilot, played by Pullman, days before liftoff. (variety.com) (deadline.com) So the Thunderbolts* reviews did two things at once: they gave Marvel a better headline, and they arrived as one of the film’s standouts booked his next lead role. (editorial.rottentomatoes.com) (variety.com)