Summary
Thunderbolts*has brought a lot of attention to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, especially with the movie being renamed at this late stage toThe New Avengers. Marvel’s newest release has performed well critically and commercially on its opening weekend, and the early signs are positive that this will be a film to remember within the MCU.
However,Thunderbolts*has provided a slight break from the barrage of multiverse content that has come out of the franchise recently. Instead, the focus throughout the film is placed on other elements, which has given a glimpse of where the future of the MCU should be moving forward.
Thunderbolts* Focuses On The Emotions And Personalities
These Have Always Been Important Within Marvel Films
One of the reasons why people have beenso intrigued to seeThunderboltsis because it feels like a throwback to the past as far as Marvel Studios is concerned. It’s gritty, filled with great action, but ultimately is about the personalities and the emotions that the characters push.Iron Manis a great example of that, as it’s not one of the flashiest movies within the franchise,yet Robert Downey Jr.’s charisma allowed it to shine brightly.Thunderboltsis doing the exact same, with this being one of the most emotionally charged films that has ever happened within the franchise. The darkness that each character exhibits is unique, but it has given audiences a reason to connect with them on a deeper level, which is why there has been so much universal praise for the quality of this film. People want to see detailed personalities with several layers, with deep character connections that run deep and feel like they have a purpose.
That will always be more impressive than just tapping into the multiverse to provide some cameos that will be a hot topic at the moment but forgotten the next. That iswhyThunderbolts*is working so well. The positive praise will only drive more people to see the newest MCU movie, which will help make these characters feel more important. Given the importance that this team is set to have moving forward in the franchise, the fact that audiences have taken to them as a unit means that they will be able to draw in a growing number of fans moving forward to become major players within the MCU.
Marvel Studios Purposefully Brought This Back Down To Earth
Brian Chapek Has Revealed What Marvel Studios Aimed For
Even though Marvel Studios often has all of its projects building toward a significant movie, in this case,Avengers: Doomsday,and whileThunderboltsdoes that, it’s not to the same level as others. Previous films have had a huge scale that has spanned across multiple multiverses, and that’s led to a lot of confusion among people. That is whyThunderboltshas been a refreshing changefor most people as it is more grounded, giving a similar feeling toCaptain America: Winter Soldierthan anything else. Even Marvel Studios executive Brian Chapek has spoken about this situation, as he discussedThunderbolts*during its premiere toHeyUGuys.
He said: “Yes, the MCU has gotten so big, right? We’re dealing with Multiverses and these large, giant threats, and so from the very beginning and in making a Thunderbolts movie, we really wanted to bring it back down to Earth on a more human scale and tell a story about these characters and what they might be dealing with as internal characters. So yeah, it was really a great opportunity to be able to take these outcasts and unite them in this film.”
Thunderbolts* Success Proves Fans Are Ready To Move On
There Are Still Some Multiverse Stories To Be Told
Thunderboltsbrought brilliant box office resultsfor its opening weekend,making $162.1 million globally, with $86.1 million coming from the international market. Meanwhile, it has topped the charts in the United States, which is very impressive.The international debut is estimated to be 45% ahead ofShang-Chi, while it is also above the likes ofAnt-ManandGuardians of the Galaxyin similar markets. It’s a sign that audiences are actively interested in watching this film and that the direction Marvel has taken with the plot and characters. This is a positive situation for the franchise, but it’s also a clear sign that people are ready to move on from the multiverse. It has been a difficult period for the franchise, with a lot of the movies featuring too many confusing plots and situations that almost required people to do homework going into them. That became a point of contention and has seen people lose interest, butThunderboltshas shown that a simple movie focused on a team is all audiences need.
Ultimately, several movies remain on the slate for the multiverse phase. It’s unknown ifFantastic Four: The First Stepswill push that too heavily, butAvengers: Doomsdayis guaranteed to focus on the multiverse, withAvengers: Secret Warsprobably set to follow in its footsteps. All three of those will be major blockbusters that should entertain the masses, regardless of any potential multiverse confusion. However,Thunderbolts*is proof that coming out of this phase, a slightly simpler approach to storytelling wouldn’t be the worst move that Marvel Studios could take.
