Early Buzz says Marvel's 'Thunderbolts' could be a big comeback: Test audiences praise the action and story

Marvel fans may have a reason to be hopeful again. According to early reactions, the upcoming film Thunderbolts might just be the hit Marvel Studios needs to end Phase V of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) on a high note. The film is set to release in India on May 1, 2025, and globally on May 2.
Thunderbolts is being described as one of the most promising Marvel movies in recent years. This superhero film is especially important for Marvel, as the studio has struggled to replicate the success of its earlier blockbusters like Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: No Way Home. Since those films, most MCU releases have received mixed reviews and failed to impress audiences in the same way.
The film, directed by Jake Schreier, focuses on a unique team of Marvel antiheroes. The star-studded cast includes Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, and Hannah John-Kamen. Fans of action-packed superhero movies are already looking forward to what this ensemble will deliver.
Thunderbolts had its first test screenings last year before some reshoots were done. At the time, social media insider Chad Ryan, known online as The GeekyCast, said the film had received very positive responses. He claimed it had a tone similar to Captain America: The Winter Soldier, especially when it came to its intense action scenes.
Now, new leaks have backed up those claims. Reshoots for the film wrapped up recently, and updated test screenings have been held. Pop culture content creator Jenkins Peeler shared in a recent video that many viewers were calling Thunderbolts “one of the best Marvel movies in years.” He also noted that it received some of the highest test scores among all Phase V films.
However, fans have been cautious. In the past, Marvel films like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels also received good early feedback, but later disappointed viewers in cinemas. So while Thunderbolts is receiving praise for now, audiences are waiting to see if it can live up to the hype.
Despite the mixed track record of recent Marvel projects, this early positivity might bring back some excitement. Marvel Studios and Disney are likely hoping Thunderbolts can help restore fan confidence and build momentum going into the next phase of the MCU.