Marvel's latest film, “Thunderbolts”, has successfully launched the summer movie season, raking in a solid $76 million during its domestic opening weekend. While this figure is slightly below the typical $100 million mark that many Marvel films achieve, it's important to note that “Thunderbolts” focuses on a set of lesser-known heroes. In comparison, popular characters like Deadpool, Wolverine, and Thor usually draw larger crowds. This film's ticket sales are more aligned with those of “Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings” ($75 million) and “Eternals” ($71 million), both of which also introduced new Marvel protagonists to audiences.
Analysts are optimistic about the future performance of “Thunderbolts”, as it has garnered a commendable 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an encouraging “A-” grade from CinemaScore exit polls. This positive reception is seen as a crucial factor that could enhance the film's box office performance in the weeks to come. The success comes as a welcome relief for Marvel, which has faced a series of underwhelming releases, such as “Captain America: Brave New World”, “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”, and “The Marvels”.
David A. Gross, who operates the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research, commented, “This is a very good opening for a new superhero story. It’s not in the upper echelon of all superhero launches, but it’s above average for the genre. And in this case, average is a big number.” Globally, “Thunderbolts” amassed a total of $162.1 million over the weekend, with $86.1 million coming from international markets. Directed by Jake Schreier, the film features a diverse cast of antiheroes, including Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Wyatt Russell as John Walker, and David Harbour as Red Guardian, who are united for a perilous mission.
With a production budget of $180 million and an additional $100 million allocated for marketing, the film's critical acclaim and positive word-of-mouth are expected to sustain its presence in theaters, helping to justify its significant investment. Disney is hopeful that “Thunderbolts” marks a resurgence for the superhero genre after a string of disappointing box office performances. The studio has found success with established franchises like “Deadpool & Wolverine”, “Thor: Love and Thunder”, and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”, but recent attempts to launch films based on new characters have faltered.
Looking ahead, Marvel is set to release “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” on July 25, while Warner Bros. is preparing for the debut of “Superman” on July 11. In the second spot of the box office, “Sinners” continues to perform admirably, earning $33 million in its third weekend, a mere 28% drop from its previous weekend. This R-rated vampire thriller, directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, has now grossed $181 million domestically and $57 million internationally, totaling $236 million worldwide.
The opening of “Thunderbolts” signifies the official start of the summer movie season, which spans from May through August and is known to be the most lucrative period for theaters. Analysts predict that the upcoming Memorial Day weekend will provide an additional boost, with Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” and Paramount’s “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning” set to hit theaters. Senior Comscore analyst Paul Dergarabedian noted, “May is shaping up to be one of the best on record. More importantly, this summer’s movie season, coming in the wake of the pandemic and strikes, will generate both massive buzz and impressive box office results.”
Currently, overall domestic revenues are reported to be 15.8% ahead of 2024, although they remain approximately 31% behind 2019 figures, according to Comscore. “Thunderbolts” was the only new nationwide release over the weekend, allowing holdover titles to fill the North American box office charts. The animated “A Minecraft Movie” secured the No. 3 position with $13.5 million in its fifth weekend, accumulating an impressive $398 million in North America and $873 million globally.
In fourth place, Ben Affleck’s action thriller “The Accountant 2” earned $9.45 million during its sophomore outing, marking a steep 61% decline from its debut. The film, produced by Amazon MGM, has grossed $41 million domestically. With a budget of $80 million, the sequel faces challenges in recouping its costs during its theatrical run. Finally, Sony’s R-rated horror film “Until Dawn” rounded out the top five with $3.8 million from 3,055 venues, a 53% drop from its opening weekend. This ultra-gory survival thriller has accumulated $14.3 million in North America and $34.7 million globally.
