Marvel Knowledge Hub
What to Watch Before Thunderbolts*
Thunderbolts* brings together anti-heroes from across the MCU. Here is the complete spoiler-free viewing guide — ranked by importance so you can watch as little or as much as you like.
Quick Answer
Thunderbolts* (2025) is the final film of MCU Phase 5 and brings together anti-heroes who have been introduced across multiple previous MCU films and Disney+ series. The essential viewing before watching it is: Black Widow, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Hawkeye (Episodes 4–5), Ant-Man and the Wasp and Captain America: Brave New World. Everything else on this page is supplementary but helpful context.
The Thunderbolts Team: Who They Are and Where They Come From
| Character | Actor | Introduced In | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yelena Belova | Florence Pugh | Black Widow (2021) | Essential |
| Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier | Sebastian Stan | Captain America: First Avenger (2011) | Essential |
| Ghost (Ava Starr) | Hannah John-Kamen | Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) | Essential |
| Red Guardian (Alexei) | David Harbour | Black Widow (2021) | Essential |
| US Agent (John Walker) | Wyatt Russell | Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) | Very helpful |
| Bob / The Sentry | Lewis Pullman | New character in Thunderbolts* | No prior viewing needed |
| Taskmaster | Olga Kurylenko | Black Widow (2021) | Helpful |
| Valentina Allegra de Fontaine | Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) | Essential |
Essential Viewing: The Core List
01
Black Widow (2021) — Most Important
The single most essential piece of viewing before Thunderbolts*. It introduces Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova — arguably the emotional centrepiece of the new film — plus the Red Guardian and Taskmaster. It also establishes Yelena's grief over Natasha, her relationship with Valentina de Fontaine (in the post-credits scene) and her background as a trained Black Widow assassin. Without Black Widow, a significant portion of Thunderbolts* character motivation will be missing context.
02
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) — Series
This Disney+ series introduces John Walker as US Agent and his complicated relationship with the Captain America legacy. It also marks the first major appearance of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who recruits Walker and whose broader agenda becomes clearer in Thunderbolts*. It establishes Bucky Barnes's post-Endgame arc and his attempt to make amends. Not strictly required but significantly enriches several character dynamics.
03
Hawkeye (2021) — Episodes 4 and 5
Yelena Belova reappears in Hawkeye as a hired assassin targeting Clint Barton, whom she (incorrectly) holds responsible for Natasha's death. Episodes 4 and 5 are the key ones — you do not need to watch the entire series. This establishes Yelena's emotional state post-Black Widow and her complicated feelings about Natasha's sacrifice, which feeds directly into her arc in Thunderbolts*.
04
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
Introduces Ghost (Ava Starr) — a character who can phase through solid matter due to a quantum experiment gone wrong. Ghost is a member of the Thunderbolts team and her backstory with Bill Foster (Laurence Fishburne), who appears in the film, is relevant context. Without this film, Ghost's motivations and her relationship with Foster will lack foundation.
05
Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
The most recent MCU film before Thunderbolts*, Brave New World provides essential context for Valentina de Fontaine's position and agenda heading into the Thunderbolts film. It directly precedes Thunderbolts* on the MCU timeline and sets up political and character threads that carry across.
Can You Watch Thunderbolts* Without Any of This?
Yes. Thunderbolts* is designed as an ensemble film with a largely self-contained story — similar to the first Avengers film, which worked for audiences who had not seen all the Phase 1 solo films. The essential character information is reintroduced within the film itself. However, the emotional weight of certain character moments — particularly anything involving Yelena and Natasha — will land significantly harder if you have seen Black Widow first. The minimum viewing for maximum enjoyment is Black Widow plus Hawkeye Episodes 4–5.
Helpful But Not Required
| Project | Why It Helps | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Captain America: Civil War | Establishes Bucky Barnes's status as a reformed Winter Soldier and his relationship with Steve Rogers | Helpful |
| Captain America: The Winter Soldier | Full origin of Bucky as the Winter Soldier; HYDRA's SHIELD infiltration | Helpful |
| Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Val's broader agenda revealed; hints at her Thunderbolts ambitions | Helpful |
| Avengers: Infinity War / Endgame | Natasha's death and the context of the Blip affect several characters | Background |
| Captain America: The First Avenger | Bucky's original relationship with Steve Rogers before the Winter Soldier programme | Background |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Thunderbolts* about?
Thunderbolts* (2025) follows an unlikely team of anti-heroes — Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Ghost, Red Guardian, US Agent and Taskmaster — who find themselves trapped in a deadly situation and must work together. The film introduces the Sentry (Bob, played by Lewis Pullman) and his alter ego the Void as a major new threat. Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is the shadowy architect behind the team's formation. The film is the final entry in MCU Phase 5 and sets up the Multiverse Saga's next chapter.
Is Thunderbolts* connected to the X-Men?
Not directly. The Sentry — a major character in Thunderbolts* — has connections to various Marvel storylines in the comics, and the introduction of the Void hints at the kind of catastrophic-scale threat that could involve any number of Marvel characters going forward. Thunderbolts* is primarily a character study rather than a universe-building bridge, though its post-credits scenes reportedly connect to Phase 6.
Who is the Sentry in Thunderbolts*?
The Sentry (Bob) is a new character in the MCU, played by Lewis Pullman. In the comics, the Sentry is Marvel's most powerful hero — described as having "the power of a million exploding suns" — but his power is matched by a severe psychological condition and a dark alter ego called the Void. Thunderbolts* adapts this concept for the MCU, with Bob's instability becoming a central threat in the film.
Do I need to watch all of Hawkeye or just parts?
For Thunderbolts* preparation, Episodes 4 and 5 of Hawkeye are the relevant ones — they feature Yelena Belova and establish her emotional arc post-Black Widow. You do not need to watch the full six-episode series unless you want to. The Yelena storyline is somewhat self-contained within those two episodes and provides the essential character context.
Shop Officially Licensed Marvel Merchandise
Browse Marvel gifts, figures and collectibles at Darkside Merchandise. Officially licensed. Fast UK delivery.
Marvel Hub
The Darkside Merchandise stocks officially licensed merchandise. Marvel characters and MCU are trademarks of Marvel Entertainment LLC / Disney. Film information current as of 2025.
This page is part of the Marvel knowledge series at Darkside Merchandise. Visit the hub for character guides, MCU timelines and more.
You might also find useful: When Is Black Widow Set?, What Does MCU Stand For? and Most Powerful Marvel Character