Thunderbolts* Approaches $280M Box Office Amid New Avengers Marketing Surge

Thunderbolts* has demonstrated a robust performance at the box office, securing its place as a strong contender in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). With a global haul reaching $272.2 million, the film starring Florence Pugh has continued to captivate audiences worldwide. Over its second weekend, Thunderbolts* earned an additional $33.1 million domestically and $34 million internationally, maintaining its lead at the box office with a mere -44% drop from its opening weekend. This performance outshines several 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 movie has amassed an estimated $128.5 million in the U.S. and $143.7 million from international markets.

In a bold move to boost the film's momentum, Marvel Studios escalated its marketing efforts, rebranding the movie as New Avengers. This strategic shift has sparked real-world discussions mirroring the on-screen rivalry between Sam Wilson's Avengers and the new superhero team. As Marvel gears up for the launch of Phase 6 with The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July, sustaining interest in Thunderbolts* is paramount.

According to Variety, Disney invested $180 million in the production of Thunderbolts* and an additional $100 million in marketing. For the film to achieve profitability in theaters, it must continue to draw audiences globally. Disney CEO Bob Iger has praised Thunderbolts* as "the first and best example" of Marvel's renewed focus on quality over quantity, setting high expectations for its long-term success.

Thunderbolts kicked off with a solid $76 million opening in the domestic market, surpassing the openings of Eternals ($71 million) and Ant-Man and the Wasp ($75 million), though it fell short of typical MCU openings. The film has resonated well with both audiences and critics. IGN's review awarded Thunderbolts a 7/10, highlighting its compelling exploration of the characters' darker aspects as a standout feature: "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 optimistic that the positive buzz surrounding Thunderbolts* will propel it to outperform other recent MCU releases, such as Captain America: Brave New World, which experienced a sharp decline. While the MCU has faced challenges, successes like the billion-dollar Deadpool & Wolverine movie offer hope for the franchise's future.

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Looking ahead, Marvel fans have much to anticipate. 2026 will bring Avengers: Doomsday on May 1 and Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31, with Avengers: Secret Wars slated for May 7, 2027. Meanwhile, other films are also making their mark: Sinners has reached $283.3 million globally, and A Minecraft Movie has accumulated $909.6 million after six weekends.