The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has had some struggles with its recent theatrical projects. The oversaturation of streaming titles has made the interconnected universe feel less like an exciting event to keep up with in theaters a couple of times a year, and more like homework and required viewing at home. So, while the newest MCU films have fared well at the box office relative to other blockbusters, their total gross is lacking compared to their tentpole releases earlier in the studio’s history. Now, Thunderbolts* has surprisingly broken the trend of recent Marvel flicks, showing strong legs in its second weekend at the box office.
The newest box office report for this weekend indicates that Thunderbolts* will retain the number one spot it had after its opening weekend. This isn’t a surprise in and of itself, but when looking at the exact amount the movie has made in its second week, something interesting can be found when compared to other recent Marvel Studios films. Thunderbolts* experienced a 55% drop in ticket sales this weekend, grossing $33 million. This is one of the lowest drops for an MCU project despite falling slightly below the $35 million projection. By comparison, Captain America: Brave New World saw a 68% drop in its second weekend.
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While Thunderbolts*’ opening weekend was on the lower side compared to many of the popular MCU projects, positive reviews and word-of-mouth have propelled it to a strong second weekend. There is also the aspect of the surprising marketing tactic that Marvel had done after the first weekend, changing all the promotional material to have The New Avengers title to explain the asterisk in the original title. Whatever the case, Thunderbolts* is looking to have a solid run at the box office.
Word of Mouth Has Helped Propel Thunderbolts* to Strong Second Weekend
Disney
Thunderbolts* has defied the odds with its release, proving to be a critical success despite the stigma currently surrounding Marvel Studios and its most recent projects. Jake Schierer’s direction, paired with the talented ensemble of actors playing anti-heroes who were established in other projects, has resulted in a unique entry in the MCU that feels like a much-needed breath of fresh air. With discussions surrounding Schierer and his possible involvement in another Marvel project, it’s clear that the studio believes in the talent behind the film.
There is also the matter of the post-credits scene for Thunderbolts*, which was teased on social media to have been directed by The Russo Brothers. The hype for the movie and the talk surrounding its connection to the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday are also big selling points for the movie. It’s already been confirmed that the cast of Thunderbolts* will be in the upcoming ensemble film, which is scheduled for release in May 2026, providing further incentive for audiences to get acquainted with the characters.
It will be interesting to see how Thunderbolts* continues to fare at the box office, as it still has some way to go before being considered a hit by Marvel standards. With a $272 million global box office haul, the film is fast approaching its break-even point, as the Florence Pugh-led blockbuster boasted high marketing and distribution costs, something that’s expected with movies of this caliber. As Marvel Studios has one more film set to release this year, with Fantastic Four: First Steps in July, Thunderbolts* strong second week could be a sign that Marvel Studios will find success again in a couple of months’ time.
Source: Variety
3
/5
Release Date
May 2, 2025
Runtime
126 Minutes
Writers
Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo
Franchise(s)
Marvel Cinematic Universe
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