Thunderbolts* is the next movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it turns out that the film is responsible for breaking a trend that has been going on since Iron Man was released in 2008. I’m looking forward to Thunderbolts*, as the team-up film comes at a time when Marvel needs it the most. The Multiverse Saga has largely isolated the MCU’s characters, which is why Marvel’s next 2025 movie is so exciting, as the cast of Thunderbolts* includes a few newcomers alongside actors who have at least one, if not more, MCU projects under their belt.

The first reactions to Thunderbolts* are in, and they make the movie sound like a unique entry among all MCU films. That seems to be due to Thunderbolts*‘s focus on practical action and how much mental health is important to the plot. What I like the most about the concept of the team is how it is made up of anti-heroes, with everyone having a trauma of their own. It has now been confirmed that Thunderbolts* breaks a 17-year MCU streak, and I believe it shows just how exciting the movie is.

Thunderbolts* Breaks A Special MCU Record

The Franchise Has Started To Explore More Mature Projects

Over the past few years, Marvel Studios has finally started to delve into more mature territory with its movies and TV shows. ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine was the MCU’s first R-rated movie, and it showed how there is a lot of potential in that rating, as the film became the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time with over 1.3 billion (via Box Office Mojo). Daredevil: Born Again and Echo were both TV-MA, allowing a mature tone to the MCU’s TV shows. While Thunderbolts* is not R-rated, the movie does break an MCU record that feels similar.

As noted by The Direct, The Classifications and Ratings Administration (CARA) has given Thunderbolts* a special warning alongside its PG-13 rating, “Rated PG-13 for strong violence, language, thematic elements, and some suggestive and drug references.” The “strong violence” part of it is really interesting, as Thunderbolts* has become the first MCU movie with that designation. That is a label usually given to R-rated movies, such as Marvel’s own ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, so the fact that Thunderbolts* is the first PG-13 MCU movie since the franchise was created in 2008 to receive it is intriguing.

Why Thunderbolts* Breaking The Record Makes Sense

The New Marvel Team Needs To Have A Violent Project

I have to say that I was a little disappointed when I found out that Thunderbolts* would not be R-rated. It just seems like the perfect tone for the team. Different from the Avengers, the Thunderbolts are not a classic superhero squad. The team is made up of anti-heroes who clearly still have issues and a lot of red on their ledgers. As such, dark themes and quite a bit of violence are to be expected from a movie like Thunderbolts*. While it will not be rated R, Thunderbolts* breaking the 17-year MCU record makes me more excited for it.

Despite the anti-hero nature of the team’s members, there is an MCU newcomer in Thunderbolts* that just begs for the film to have the strong violence its rating claims it will have. That character is Lewis Pullman’s Bob, aka Sentry. The hero is easily going to be one of the MCU’s most powerful. However, before Sentry can become a hero, it seems like his dark side from the comics, the Void, will come out and make him the main threat the Thunderbolts have to stop in the upcoming movie. Sentry is exceptionally powerful, so heightened violence is to be expected.

I’m Even More Excited For Thunderbolts* After It Broke The MCU Record

Marvel Studios Seems To Understand What The Team Needs

While I was frustrated at first by Thunderbolts* not being R-rated, the fact that it is the first PG-13 MCU movie to get the “strong violence” designation has me even more excited to watch it. It shows that Marvel wants to have a wide release for the film by keeping it PG-13, but the studio is not sacrificing the darker tone the team needs to get there. With a team full of anti-heroes who have killed several characters both onscreen and offscreen, I would not expect anything less than an action-packed MCU movie.

Thunderbolts* will do right by the team’s more mature tone, and that is a reason to celebrate. It is perfectly fine for the Thunderbolts to feel completely separate from more traditional MCU superhero teams like the Avengers or the Marvels. I want to see Marvel Studios explore a plurality of tones going forward, allowing each MCU project to be exactly what it needs to be to best serve its characters. By breaking the 17-year MCU trend, Thunderbolts* does just that, and with the positive first reactions to the movie, I feel it will be a big hit.

All Announced Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday

  Release Date

  
  May 1, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Spider-Man: Brand New Day

  Release Date

  
  July 31, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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