Marvel’s Thunderbolts* finds itself a spot among the highest-rated MCU movies on Rotten Tomatoes, with its audience score landing even higher than its already impressive critics score. Despite all the possible future stories Thunderbolts*‘ ending sets up, Jake Schreier’s Thunderbolts* delivers a very self-contained story centered around six anti-heroes and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Marvel pulls off an appropriate exploration into the mental health of all of Thunderbolts* main characters, who bond through their inner struggles.

On May 2, 2025, Thunderbolts* debuts with a 95% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. This is the same score as Spider-Man: Far From Home, and it stands just below Spider-Man: No Way Home‘s 97% and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings‘ 98%. Thunderbolts* also surpᴀsses ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine‘s 94% audience score by just one point. At the moment of its debut, Thunderbolts* is Certified Fresh with an 88% Tomatometer and Certified H๏τ with a 95% Popcornmeter.

What The Thunderbolts* RT Audience Score Means

Thunderbolts* Is One Of The Multiverse Saga’s Highest-Rated Movies

With an audience score of 95% and a critics score of 88%, Thunderbolts* officially becomes Phase 5’s highest-rated movie. This record was previously held by Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which holds a 93% audience score and an 84% critics score, followed by Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3‘s 94% audience score and 82% critics score. Within the Multiverse Saga, Thunderbolts* is the third highest-rated movie, both in terms of Tomatometer and Popcornmeter. In the MCU’s overall rankings, Thunderbolts* holds the fourteenth spot, surpᴀssing Avengers: Infinity War in both audience score and critics score.

Our Take On The Thunderbolts* RT Audience Score

Thunderbolts*’ High Ratings Are An Especially Impressive Feat

MCU movies with high audience scores, like Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, were highly anticipated long before their first trailer dropped, as their concept alone promised to answer many questions about the MCU. Spider-Man: No Way Home and ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine delivered on their promise of multiversal team-ups and cameos, and Spider-Man: Far From Home provided an epilogue to the Infinity Saga after Avengers: Endgame. Of the MCU’s top five movies with the highest Popcornmeter, only Thunderbolts* and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings earned high audience scores with no previous promise of universal or multiversal implications.

While Thunderbolts* has certain weaknesses such as Taskmaster’s little impact on the story, it avoids many of the problems most MCU movies are known for, like misplaced humor and excessive action. Thunderbolts* packs multiple emotional punches with its mental health themes, and its self-contained story allows for more rewatch opportunities than other Multiverse Saga entries. That is not to say the film doesn’t drop link to future MCU projects, as Thunderbolts*‘ post-credits scene is the biggest Avengers: Doomsday set-up to date and Thunderbolts*‘ easter eggs drop hints about future MCU events.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes