Thunderbolts*, the Florence Pugh-led action-packed Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie, showcased a robust performance in its second weekend at the box office, accumulating a global total of $272.2 million. The film brought in an additional $33.1 million from domestic markets and $34 million from international audiences, maintaining its position at the top of the box office charts for the second consecutive week. Impressively, Thunderbolts* experienced a -44% drop from its opening weekend, outperforming other MCU entries such as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (-52%), Captain America: Brave New World (-54%), and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (-54%). To date, the film has earned an estimated $128.5 million domestically and $143.7 million internationally.
Last week, Marvel intensified its marketing efforts for Thunderbolts*, even rebranding the movie to New Avengers. The studio cleverly integrated the on-screen rivalry between Sam Wilson's Avengers and the new superhero team into real-world promotions. This strategic move aims to keep the buzz around Thunderbolts* alive as Marvel gears up for the pivotal launch of Phase 6 with The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July.
According to Variety, Disney invested $180 million in the production of Thunderbolts* and an additional $100 million in its marketing campaign. For the film to be profitable, it must continue its strong performance globally.
Disney CEO Bob Iger praised Thunderbolts*, highlighting it as "the first and best example" of Marvel's renewed focus on quality over quantity. This endorsement underscores the studio's confidence in the film's potential to set a new standard for MCU releases.
AnswerSee ResultsThunderbolts* debuted with a solid, if not spectacular, $76 million domestically, surpassing the openings of Eternals ($71 million) and Ant-Man and the Wasp ($75 million), both considered disappointments. However, it fell short of the typical MCU opening weekend figures.
The film has been well-received by both audiences and critics. IGN's review of Thunderbolts* awarded it a 7/10, noting, "Thunderbolts* has, like its sort-of-not-really antagonist, both a dark half and a light half. But only one of them is actually pretty great (hint: it's the one that involves plumbing the depths of the characters' worst memories)." Disney is banking on this positive reception to ensure Thunderbolts* has a more sustained theatrical run compared to Captain America: Brave New World, which saw a significant drop-off. Amid a challenging period for Marvel films, Thunderbolts* stands out, following the success of the billion-dollar Deadpool & Wolverine.
Marvel Cinematic Universe: Every Upcoming Movie and TV Show
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Looking ahead, Marvel fans have much to anticipate. In 2026, Avengers: Doomsday is slated for release on May 1, followed by Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31. Additionally, Avengers: Secret Wars is set to hit theaters on May 7, 2027.
In other box office news, Sinners has reached $283.3 million globally, while A Minecraft Movie has grossed $909.6 million after six weekends.
