Kojima Says Thunderbolts Is the MCU’s Most Kind-Hearted Film Yet

If you're someone who checks Hideo Kojima’s social feed as often as game updates, then you know the man doesn't post movie thoughts lightly. But when he does, it's pure film Twitter gold. And this time, Kojima’s latest target isn’t an obscure Japanese noir—it’s Marvel’s Thunderbolts.

The legendary Metal Gear and Death Stranding creator has officially weighed in on Marvel's latest antihero team-up, and his verdict? Surprisingly emotional. Kojima called Thunderbolts “a truly kind-hearted MCU film”—one that “embraces lonely individuals and rescues the audience from their own inner enemies.”

“It’s not about eliminating a powerful external enemy to save the world. It’s about embracing lonely individuals and rescuing the audience from their own inner enemies.”

He also shouted out Florence Pugh directly: “...above all, Florence Pugh was phenomenal.”

That’s a huge endorsement considering Kojima’s usual film diet involves classics from Kurosawa, Ozu, and Kobayashi. If he’s calling out a Marvel movie for emotional depth, you better believe something landed.

A love of cinema obviously has a positive impact on game development. However, Kojima will allow you to skip boss fights in Death Stranding 2, which already brings the game closer to the movies themselves. This may seem controversial, but in the case of games of this content, it is necessary.

Kojima’s praise for Thunderbolts stands in stark contrast to how he reacted to Captain America: Brave New World earlier this year. That review? Not so glowing. Instead, he posted confusion:

“I vaguely remember Sam receiving the shield in, but when did he officially become Cap? … I’m also getting it mixed up with the Thunderbolts trailer.”

To be fair, Kojima admitted he likely missed The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series, where Sam Wilson fully steps into the Captain America role. Still, the comment underlines Marvel’s long-running continuity problem—if you skip even one series, the movies lose coherence.

Thunderbolts and Its Role in the MCU

Thunderbolts is Marvel's latest attempt to break out of formula fatigue. Directed by Jake Schreier, the movie brings together some of the MCU’s most morally complex characters—think of it as a dirtier, emotionally scarred version of The Avengers. The lineup includes:

• Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova
• Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes
• David Harbour as Red Guardian
• Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost
• Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster
• Wyatt Russell as John Walker
• Lewis Pullman as Bob

The goal? Take on impossible missions that the Avengers won’t touch. But beneath the grit and tactical gear, Thunderbolts has clearly struck an emotional chord, with Kojima and early critics alike calling it raw, human, and introspective.

It’s also now retroactively giving Marvel a win in 2025, following lukewarm buzz around Brave New World and audience fatigue over needing to do MCU “homework” before watching anything.

Kojima’s Influence on Movie Culture

Hideo Kojima has gradually become a serious voice in modern film discourse, not just among gamers but across international film circles. He’s constantly name-dropping directors like Nicolas Winding Refn and Guillermo del Toro, both of whom appear in Death Stranding. But beyond cameos, Kojima’s influence is clear: he treats games like cinema, and when he reviews films, people listen.

His Criterion Collection picks are stacked with dense, often dark Japanese cinema. So when someone with that kind of taste praises Thunderbolts, it sends a signal—it’s not just popcorn. It’s doing something different.

Here’s a look at Kojima’s favorite movies from Criterion picks:

You’re talking about a guy who champions slow-burn existential dread, minimalism, and high-concept storytelling. So if Thunderbolts got to him, Marvel did something right.

Is This the Start of an MCU Comeback?

Between Kojima’s praise, strong early reactions, and a tone that leans heavier into character drama than CGI battles, Thunderbolts might be the reset the MCU desperately needed. It’s not flashy in the usual Marvel way. But it is, in Kojima’s words, about “rescuing the audience from their own inner enemies.” That’s a hell of a bar for a franchise better known for punching purple aliens.

Marvel’s future is still uncertain, but if storytellers like Kojima are getting pulled back in, maybe there’s hope. Not for capes and explosions, but for something a little more human under the tactical armor.

Hideo Kojima liked Thunderbolts more than Brave New World. He called it “kind-hearted,” praised Florence Pugh, and gave the MCU a rare emotional thumbs-up. That alone makes it worth a watch.