It is no secret that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has suffered a decline in quality in the aftermath of “Avengers: Endgame,” the conclusion to the “Infinity Saga” that briefly attained the status of being the highest-grossing film of all time. Although Kevin Feige and the team at Marvel Studios attempted to insert energy into the franchise through the introduction of the “Multiverse,” subsequent installments have included disappointing sequels (“Thor: Love and Thunder”), misguided creative swings (“Eternals”), botched crossover events (“The Marvels”), and many post-credit scenes that have not paid off. This era’s most commercially successful films have included nostalgia-heavy films like “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which coasted on the audience’s goodwill for the established characters.

While saying that “Thunderbolts*” (2025) is a significant step forward for the MCU might seem to be damning with faint praise, it’s admirable how self-aware Jake Schreir’s team-up adventure is.