Deadpool & Wolverine Review: Spoiler-Free and Spoiler-Filled Breakdown
Welcome back to Let’s Talk About the Movies. Today’s post is a big one—not just because of the film, but because I’m breaking this review into two parts: a spoiler-free section and a full spoiler dive. That way you can choose your own adventure depending on whether you’ve seen Deadpool & Wolverine yet.
I caught the movie this weekend in theaters, and as of writing this, it’s the latest addition to my summer movie run. I’ve been looking forward to this film for a long time, and for several reasons—some nostalgic, some creative, and some just out of pure cinematic curiosity.
Let’s get into it.
Spoiler-Free Review
Why I Was Excited for Deadpool & Wolverine
First, I’m a massive fan of the first two Deadpool films. Their blend of crude humor, self-awareness, and over-the-top violence is something that you simply can’t replicate in any other superhero franchise. They’re unapologetically adult—not “adult film” adult, but extremely bloody, crass, and gleefully chaotic.
So heading into Deadpool & Wolverine, I was curious how the filmmakers would handle the R-rated tone now that Deadpool officially sits under the Disney/Marvel umbrella. Turns out: they embraced it fully.
A Creative Way to Merge the Fox Universe With the MCU
One of my favorite elements of this movie is how cleverly it integrates the old 20th Century Fox Marvel universe into the MCU. The film wastes no time making its setup clear: the Time Variance Authority (from Loki) offers Deadpool a place in the MCU, and in the process, we learn that the Fox-era heroes exist in separate timelines that the TVA is considering scrapping altogether.
That premise alone gives the movie room for incredible crossover moments, surprising character appearances, and plenty of self-aware jabs at the MCU.
A Minor Plot Issue
If there’s one thing that threw me early on, it was understanding exactly which Deadpool timeline we were in. Some characters appear alive in this film who were very much dead by the end of Deadpool 2. Not a dealbreaker, but it’s something I’ll want to revisit on a rewatch.
A+ Creativity, Summer Blockbuster Energy
This movie absolutely nails the summer blockbuster vibe: big action, big laughs, and constant surprises. Is it the most artistic film of the year? No—and it doesn’t want to be. It’s meant to be fun. It’s meant to give the audience an experience, and for me, it fully delivered.
With an estimated budget of $200 million and an opening weekend nearing half a billion worldwide, it’s clear audiences are responding in a big way.
Final Spoiler-Free Thoughts
If you’re looking for a deeply emotional, high-art superhero film like Logan or The Dark Knight, this isn’t that. If you want clever writing, insane action, nonstop jokes, and the thrill of two iconic characters sharing the screen again, you’ll absolutely have a blast.
This is one of the few movies recently where I walked out of the theater thinking:
“Yeah… I’d watch that again.”
Spoilers Ahead — Stop Reading Here If You Haven’t Seen the Movie
5… 4… 3… 2… 1…
Okay, let’s get into the good stuff.
Spoiler-Filled Review
A Love Letter to 20th Century Fox Marvel
As someone who grew up during the Fox-Marvel era—X-Men, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Elektra—this movie hit me right in the nostalgia.
What I didn’t expect was just how much the film embraced that history.
The Cameos Were Incredible
Chris Evans returning as the Human Torch
Deadpool mistakes him for Captain America, and it’s hilarious.Pyro and Sabretooth from the X-Men films
(played by the original actors)Background appearances resembling
Toad
Juggernaut
Psylocke
Lady Deathstrike
And then Act Three drops the hammer…
Blade (Wesley Snipes), Elektra (Jennifer Garner), and Gambit (Channing Tatum)
Seeing all three of them together—fighting, not just cameoing—was genuinely thrilling. Especially Gambit. Fans have waited over a decade for Channing Tatum’s version, and the filmmakers smartly poke fun at the fact that he never actually got his standalone movie.
And the icing on the cake?
They gave each character real action moments instead of cheap throwaway deaths.
The Void as a Graveyard for Fox Marvel
Using the TVA’s Void (established in Loki) as the dumping ground for all Fox-era Marvel heroes is brilliant—both narratively and symbolically.
It’s a way of saying:
“This era is over… but we honor it.”
And as someone who grew up with those films, I genuinely appreciated the respect.
The Post-Credits Montage
The behind-the-scenes tribute to the Fox Marvel films—from Fantastic Four to X-Men—was unexpectedly emotional. Hearing younger Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman talk about taking on these roles hit me harder than I expected.
For me, that entire era of superhero films represented my teenage years. Seeing it all acknowledged one last time was something special.
Ryan Reynolds & Shawn Levy Deserve Credit
Shawn Levy (known for Stranger Things, Free Guy, and Date Night) has a real talent for balancing nostalgia with emotional sincerity. That comes through clearly here. The movie is chaotic and irreverent, but it’s also surprisingly heartfelt in its love for its cinematic roots.
Where Does Deadpool Go From Here?
The ending definitely raises questions:
Will Deadpool officially join the MCU timeline?
Will Hugh Jackman return again—or was this truly his last run?
How much of this multiverse mashup will influence future Marvel films?
Hard to say. But the door is open.
Final Spoiler Thoughts
This is exactly what a summer blockbuster should be:
insanely fun
bold and creative
packed with nostalgia
unafraid to take big swings
Is it the best movie of the year? No. Films like The Bike Riders still hold that spot for me personally. But is it a movie I’d happily see again in theaters?
Absolutely.
And judging by the record-breaking box office—even AMC said it was their biggest weekend in company history—I’m clearly not alone.
Closing Thoughts
Thanks for joining me for this deep dive into Deadpool & Wolverine. I try to keep things positive here—not because movies are perfect, but because I genuinely love filmmaking and believe every movie teaches us something, even through its weaknesses.
Let me know in the comments:
Have you seen it yet?
Did you like it?
What were your favorite cameos?
Do you think Deadpool will become a permanent MCU character?
And if you're a filmmaker—or someone trying to break into the industry—make sure to check out Skip Film School in the link below. It’s a great way for us to connect, collaborate, and build community around the craft we all love.
See you next week for another episode of Let’s Talk About the Movies.