After the team had their guns stripped away in a promo poster, Thunderbolts* (yes, I’m sticking with the original title) has officially rolled onto Disney+. While not necessarily a box office peak for the MCU, the film was still generally well-received and will likely be essential viewing ahead of next year's Avengers: Doomsday. In my opinion, it has some of the most compelling character writing we've seen from the MCU in years. It also has Florence Pugh jumping off very tall buildings.
If you missed this one in theaters or are already itching for a rewatch, Disney+ has got you covered.
Thunderbolts* Is Now Streaming on Disney+
The move to streaming comes over three months after Thunderbolts* originally released in theaters, and two months after the film became available on VOD. The MCU flick has grossed around $380 million globally, trailing behind the new DCU’s Superman, the current highest-grossing superhero movie of the year, and fellow MCU projects Fantastic Four: First Steps and Captain America: Brave New World.
While not necessarily a box office giant, Thunderbolts* seemed more about restoring faith in the MCU’s characters and storytelling. Critic 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.”
When asked about the box office decline, Marvel head Kevin Feige praised the success of Superman as evidence against “superhero fatigue.” More pointedly, he argues that Thunderbolts* struggled because "nobody knew that title and many of those characters were from a [TV] show." It would be interesting to see the MCU, which was long prized for its interconnectedness, start to veer away from the level of output that starts to feel like homework.
Not Subscribed? Here’s the Disney+ Lowdown
Standalone Disney+ subscriptions start at $9.99, and I think it’s safe to say the service is leading the charge on streaming bundles. The streamer has announced that it will merge the Hulu library into its app in 2026, and recently launched a new bundle package with ESPN Unlimited. This new bundle is in addition to the Hulu, HBO Max, and ESPN Select (prev. known as ESPN+) options. Otherwise, Disney+ doesn't offer it's own free trial, but you can get access to the service through a three-day free trial of Hulu + Live TV.
If you’re not interested in another streaming subscription, you can also rent or buy the movie through VOD services like Prime Video. Or, for a notably similar price, pick up the 4K steelbook that’s currently on sale.
Where Does Thunderbolts* Fit on the MCU Timeline?
In terms of release calendar, Thunderbolts* follows Captain America: Brave New World and last year’s Deadpool & Wolverine. More immediately, it follows plotlines from Black Widow, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (as well as the earlier Capain America movies), and Avengers: Endgame. Without getting too far into spoilers, Thunderbolts* paves the way for next year’s Avengers: Doomsday (where they’ll be joining the aforementioned Fantastic Four as well as the original X-Men).
Whether we'll get to see a Thunderbolts* sequel? Well, the answer to that question is in and of itself a spoiler, so you’ll have to watch the movie and find out.
