Marvel’s ‘Thunderbolts’ Receives Best Test Screening Reactions of MCU Phase 5 (Report)

Marvel’s Thunderbolts* has received one of the highest test screening reactions of any movie or series from Phase 5 of the MCU.

According to test screening reports, “Thunderbolts is a beast of a film and has scored extremely high in its test screenings, earning some of the highest scores among all Phase 5 films.”

The latest test screenings of Thunderbolts* have been very positive. Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) takes the lead as the main character—with the film beginning on one of her missions. Some scenes are set in the Red Room—adding to the story’s depth. Sentry (Lewis Pullman) wears a suit inspired by the comics—though with some differences—and transforms into The Void in the third act. Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) delivers one of the film’s most impressive action sequences—and the overall action is highly praised. With its intense and grounded tone, the movie is often compared to Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Odeon Cinemas recently confirmed that the runtime of Thunderbolts* is reportedly 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Directed by Jake Schreier and stars Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, Pugh as Yelena Belova, Wyatt Russell as John Walker/U.S. Agent, Olga Kurylenko as Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster, David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian, John-Kamen as Ava Starr/Ghost, Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Harrison Ford as President Thaddeus Ross, Pullman as Sentry, and Geraldine Viswanathan as Erin. Laurence Fishburne and Rachel Weisz are confirmed to reprise their roles as scientist Bill Foster and spy Melina Vostakov.

Here’s the official synopsis for Thunderbolts*:

“In Thunderbolts, Marvel Studios assembles an unconventional team of antiheroes — Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and John Walker. After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap — set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine — these disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts. Will this dysfunctional group tear themselves apart — or find redemption and unite as something much more — before it’s too late?”

The film is produced by Kevin Feige, Brian Chapek, Matthew Jenkins, David J. Grant, and Scarlett Johansson

Thunderbolts* will hit theaters on May 2, 2025, in IMAX, RealD 3D, Dolby Cinema, 4DX, Cinemark XD, and premium screens worldwide.

RELATED: IMAX-Exclusive Thunderbolts* Trailer Leaks with New Footage