If you're gearing up to watchMarvel's latest creation, 'Thunderbolts*,'then it’s time to brush up on your MCU homework. While the anti-hero ensemble promises a thrilling blend of mischief, mayhem, and moral ambiguity,a bit of cinematic revision is required totruly savour the hidden gems and clever callbacks. Here are some movies and series that you must watch before!
Movies And Series To Watch BeforeThunderbolts*
1.Black Widow (2021): The Emotional Blueprint
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You can begin your journey with ‘Black Widow’, where you’ll meet Yelena Belova, the brooding heart of Thunderbolts, portrayed exquisitely by Florence Pugh. The espionage-fuelled escapade tells the tale of Yelena’s childhood trauma, weaponised upbringing, and complicated bond with Red Guardian (David Harbour). It's not just a backstory, it's the emotional scaffolding for everything to come. And if Taskmaster intrigued you? Well, she’s not done yet.
2.Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018): Enter Ghost
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Next on the syllabus is ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’. This one introduces Ava Starr, AKA ‘Ghost’, the phasing assassin with a pain-riddled past and quantum instability issues. Her power set is shown to be unlike anything else in the MCU, and understanding her tragic plight here makes her presence in ‘Thunderbolts*’ all the more layered.
3.The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021): Valentina’s Players Assemble
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‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ will help you navigate the geopolitical tension and the birth of morally grey heroes. It introduces John Walker, the fallen Captain America turned US Agent, and deeply dives into the now reformed yet smouldering as ever, Bucky Barnes’ story. Keep an eye on Valentina Allegra de Fontaine too; her chic ruthlessness might just rival your favourite Bond villain.
4.Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
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Though critically lukewarm, ‘Brave New World’ still remains pivotal. It’s where Harrison Ford’s President Ross goes full crimson monster (yes, Red Hulk) and the political landscape changes amongst our heroes. It’s a prelude of power plays and foreshadows the chaos ‘Thunderbolts*’ will carry on.
Bonus Picks: The Avengers (2012) And Hawkeye (2021)
While not mandatory, ‘The Avengers’ is worth a rewatch, particularly for the tower that gets name-dropped in Thunderbolts. As for ‘Hawkeye’, it can remind you of Yelena’s grief over Natasha, adding another thread to her emotional tapestry.
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Image Credits: IMDb
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