I now know the real meaning of Thunderbolts*

Thunderbolts* hit the theatres on May 2, 2025, and with an 88% Rotten Tomatoes rating, has emerged as a critically lauded film. Directed by Jake Schreier and produced by Kevin Feige, the film focuses on the namesake group of antiheroes. Its official synopsis, per IMDb, says:

After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, an unconventional team of antiheroes must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.

There has been talk about the film and the themes it explores, and I have finally found the actual meaning of the film. Let us explore it.

Here's the real meaning of Thunderbolts*

It took me a while to realize what the makers of Thunderbolts* were trying to say through the story of these supervillains. The story taps into the vulnerabilities and weaknesses of some of the individuals, and the film is the first of its kind in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as it talks about mental health.

One of the initial scenes shows Yelena (played by Florence Pugh) standing on the cliff of the world's second-tallest building. She talks about how mentally, too, she is on the cliff, and she doesn't have someone to talk to. The film is essentially about that. Another character that cements the idea is Bob, who has suffered abuse from his father throughout his childhood. After he goes through the experiment, his dark side enables Void, which becomes a major threat to everyone. It is also ironically a safe space for Bob, as shown in one of the scenes.

Thunderbolts* manages to showcase that superheroes can also be vulnerable, and struggle with mental health. This aspect made the superheroes of the film more relatable to me among many others in the audience. It also showcases that communities are important. The characters fight their demons and are almost forced to come together for the mission. Even though they don't like each other, eventually the superheroes find solace in each other's company. They have been carrying the shame of their past actions. Because of the mission, they find a community that helps them in different ways.

Marvel has traditionally only shown superhero journeys that are about various kinds of problems. Thunderbolts* is possibly the first time they have addressed the issue of mental health in a direct way. The characters are not all strong and ready to fight. They have made mistakes and are emotionally vulnerable. Some of them, like Yelena, are isolated and lack a sense of community. I hope more Marvel movies touch upon important themes in a mainstream fashion.

The story is by Eric Pearson, who has also written its screenplay with Joanna Calo. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the film's director, Jake Schreier, opened up about having such a theme in the film. He said:

"These themes are not niche anymore; that we all struggle with this and that they were universal ideas and even if it felt scary for a big Netflix show or a Marvel movie to take that on, the audience is out there, and these aren't things that we push away so much. They're things that everyone confronts."

What do you think of the message that Thunderbolts* aims to give?