When Is Thunderbolts* Coming to Disney Plus?
Marvel’s rogue team is stealing the spotlight—when will Thunderbolts land on Disney Plus for your streaming heist?
The TL;DR...
Thunderbolts* isn’t on Disney Plus as of July 25, 2025, post its May 2, 2025, release.
Directed by Jake Schreier, it earned $150 million globally on opening weekend.
Disney Plus typically adds MCU films after an 90-120-day theatrical window.
Expect a late July to early August 2025 streaming debut.
It’s a villainous wait—gear up for the antihero drop!
Is Thunderbolts* on Disney Plus Right Now?
As of July 25, 2025, Thunderbolts* remains absent from Disney Plus, having premiered in theaters on May 2, 2025, per IMDb. Directed by Jake Schreier, this Marvel Studios outing features a ragtag antihero crew, but it’s still a cinema exclusive to milk box office gains, according to Variety. Streaming fans will need to hold their horses.
No official Disney Plus date has been locked in, but updates might surface on Disney’s site or X trends. For now, it’s a theater-only mission—time to suit up for the big screen!
What’s Thunderbolts* About, and How Did It Perform?
Thunderbolts* assembles Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster, and Wyatt Russell as John Walker, tasked with a mission exposing their dark pasts, per Disney Plus’s synopsis. Directed by Jake Schreier, it blends gritty action with humor, earning a solid 78% Rotten Tomatoes score, per Deadline.
The film’s opening weekend nabbed $150 million globally, per Deadline, falling short of the $180 million hoped-for but still beating projections. This haul, amid MCU fatigue talks, shows the antihero angle resonates, boosted by Comic-Con chatter.
What Homework Is Needed to Watch Thunderbolts*?
To fully grasp Thunderbolts*, fans need to tackle some MCU homework, as the plot ties into a web of prior content. Key entries include:
“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014) - Introduces Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, setting his redemption arc.
“Black Widow” (2021) - Debuts Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, exploring her Red Room ties, and Olga Kurylenko’s Taskmaster, revealing her mimic skills.
“Ant-Man and the Wasp” (2018) - Introduces Hannah John-Kamen’s Ghost, hinting at her tech-driven backstory.
“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” (2021) - Develops Wyatt Russell’s John Walker, from Captain to outcast.
“Black Widow” (2021) - Features David Harbour’s Red Guardian, establishing his Soviet hero past.
This dense backstory might’ve dented the $150 million opening, per Deadline, as casual viewers skipped the prep, contributing to the shortfall from $180 million. It’s a homework hurdle that could’ve tripped up box office glory!
When Will Thunderbolts* Hit Disney Plus Based on Typical Windows?
Disney Plus typically unleashes MCU films after an 90-120-day theatrical window, a pattern seen with Captain America: Brave New World’s April 2025 VOD drop post-February 2025 release, per What’s on Disney Plus. For Thunderbolts*, released May 2, 2025, this suggests a late July to early August 2025 streaming window, likely around August 1 or 5, aligning with Reddit’s box office trends, per r/boxoffice.
Delays could push it to mid-August if theatrical runs extend, a tactic Disney uses for strong performers, per Forbes. Keep tabs on Disney’s announcements—the wait’s a slow burn like a Hydra plot!
What Does This Mean for Marvel Fans?
Thunderbolts*’ absence from Disney Plus, paired with its $150 million opening, per Deadline, keeps theaters buzzing while building streaming anticipation. The 90-120-day window ensures Disney maximizes revenue, a strategy honed across MCU titles, per What’s on Disney Plus.
Fans can revisit past MCU streams or catch it in theaters now. The streaming debut looms as a reward—until then, it’s a villainous patience game with a heroic payoff!
News compiled and edited by Ivy Adams for Pirates & Princesses.
Sources:
IMDb: "Thunderbolts* Release Info" (2025)
Variety: "Thunderbolts* Box Office and Streaming Plans" (2025)
Deadline: "Thunderbolts* Opening Weekend" (2025)
What’s on Disney Plus: "MCU Release Windows on Disney Plus" (2025)
Forbes: "Disney’s MCU Streaming Strategy" (2025)
r/boxoffice on Reddit: "Thunderbolts* Release Patterns" (2025)
X trends on Thunderbolts* (2025)