[[2026 Movies]]  ## 2026-10-14 I had zero expectations for **The Thunderbolts\***[^1] when I randomly pulled it up on Wednesday night. I certainly didn’t expect for it to make me *cry*. It’s easily the best Marvel movie I’ve seen since like…I dunno, **Black Panther**? It’s up there. The reason why **The Thunderbolts** is so good is because it’s a movie about depression that’s masquerading as a superhero movie. There’s a moment about half-way through the film where Red Guardian talks about how bright and happy main character (and sister of Scarlet Witch) Yelena was as a child. And Yelena’s response is saying that she doesn’t remember. It was around here where I realize that I was about to feel some feelings, particularly when I write this, during one of the most depressing lows I've experienced in my life. One of those lows where that feeling of happiness is light years away and I worry that I might never feel it again. **The Thunderbolts** has many moments like this, and what’s nice about them is that they’re not undercut with witty one-liners or lathered in post-post-post-irony. A character says that they’re so alone and break down into tears and there’s no punchline. It’s a far cry from the way **Endgame** went full early-2000s with its portrayal of a depressed Thor. It’s hard to talk about what makes this movie work so well without spoiling it. So all I'll say is that it reminded me that when I'm at my worst, I feel this “void” in my chest. And if it lingers for too long, it takes over and isolates me. But **The Thunderbolts** reminds us that no one is truly alone, even if it’s difficult to reach out, or even if the person that’s there for you isn’t who you expect. It’s a bummer this movie didn’t do well. I’m part of the problem — I’ve been so tired of Marvelslop that I just assumed this movie was another to add to the pile. But now I worry we won’t get a Marvel movie that bangs this hard again. [^1]: this is the only time i’m putting the asterisk