Thunderbolts* lastly began gracing screens nationwide this previous weekend — however Marvel additionally pulled a fairly fascinating stunt within the wake of its opening. Marvel unveiled a brand new title, or on the very least a subtitle, for the movie simply days after the discharge that, in lots of followers’ eyes, spoils a key component of the film. That stated, please learn on with warning you probably have but to make it out to the theater to catch this new MCU output.
Warning! Spoilers for Thunderbolts* comply with:
Thunderbolts* can also be The New Avengers, and a few followers across the web merely really feel like Disney and Marvel ought to’ve let followers determine that bit out for themselves within the theater. “It’s complete nonsense to spoil the movie three days after release,” one person wrote on an r/MarvelStudios post. “Marvel is a large number as of late.” Another fan added: “Disney spoiled this to drive ticket sales. They do not belief their viewers in order that they threw them underneath the bus for viral slop.”
Other moviegoers had been extra prepared to justify the play from a enterprise standpoint. “If they did this in week three, Thunderbolts will solely have one week to itself earlier than Mission Impossible and Lilo & Stitch crush its momentum,” one commenter defined in a touch upon the publish. “So that is the way you’re getting it week two to maximise consideration and seize no matter cash’s on the desk earlier than Memorial Day.”
Another individual identified that phrase of mouth made the transfer price it for the studios. “The incontrovertible fact that individuals are speaking about it’s why they did it,” they claimed of their protection through Reddit. “It’s additionally not the massive twist of the film and IMO takes nothing away from it… the movie is still good regardless. The characters are nonetheless price watching and there are nonetheless different twists to look at that I might have been extra upset about being ruined.”
“I’d have waited [until] the top of the week, however I understand why they’ve done it,” a further Reddit person added to the r/MarvelStudios publish. “Avengers is a really massive title model. If they needed this film to become profitable, they’re gonna want this backing which they would not have had with the Thunderbolts title. The New Avengers is intriguing. And if you happen to loved the movie, you’re gonna need a sequel, and to get a sequel we’d like nice critiques and it to become profitable.”
Marvel Studios’ #̶T̶h̶u̶n̶d̶e̶r̶b̶o̶l̶t̶s̶* #TheNewAvengers is now enjoying solely in theaters.
Get tickets: pic.twitter.com/HWfzmFBANq
— Marvel Studios* (@MarvelStudios) May 5, 2025
It’s an important advertising technique that may doubtless maximize the quantity of eyes on the movie, particularly from those that weren’t drawn in by the Thunderbolts title — possibly extra informal followers who don’t know the complete backstory right here — however nonetheless are intrigued by the thought of a brand new group of Avengers. Timing points apart, it’s a strong plan from a enterprise standpoint.
Other followers had been extra into cracking jokes about the entire state of affairs. “Imagine not seeing this opening night,” one Redditor wrote alongside a GIF of Eddie Murphy bursting into laughter and clapping his palms collectively. Another fan on X / Twitter stated: “Calling the Thunderbolts New Avengers is like that one lame friend you had in school who gave himself a nickname. Bro! I’m not calling you Dragon. :)” A second social media person additionally joked: “Like The New Avengers hits, but don’t hit at the same time.”
Some followers who weren’t notably thrilled by the bait and change are additionally anxious in regards to the movie’s eventual bodily launch. “Aw f—okay that Blu-ray is totally gonna say New Avengers isn’t it,” one X / Twitter person wrote, whereas one other responded in a retweet with a reasonably killer compromise concept that Marvel may wish to steal: “The solely approach to make this cool could be to make the Thunderbolts logo a sticker that says ‘peel after watching’ and underneath the sticker is New Avengers.”
#TheNewAvengers pic.twitter.com/ifA1jebPVE
— Marvel Studios* (@MarvelStudios) May 5, 2025
All of that is to say, Marvel has stood behind the notion that Thunderbolts* is still the film’s official title — the “The New Avengers” addition, in accordance with the studio, is simply the spelling out of the asterisk on the finish of the unique title. Clever.
Lex Briscuso is a movie and tv critic and a contract leisure author for IGN. You can comply with her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
