Marvel’s latest flick, Thunderbolts, raked in a cool $162 million at theaters worldwide over the weekend, kicking off the summer movie season on a strong note—an essential time for Hollywood’s box office performance.
The film, which follows a quirky team of heroes banding together to take down a supervillain, pulled in $76 million from the U.S. and Canada alone, according to distributor Walt Disney’s report on Sunday.
These numbers matched what experts had predicted before the weekend, although they fell short of the $88.8 million domestic opening that Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World achieved back in February.
“This is pretty much what we’ve come to expect from Marvel movies in the current market,” noted Jeff Bock, a senior box office analyst at Exhibitor Relations Co. He described it as a solid start for a film featuring lesser-known characters who have mostly played supporting roles in other Marvel narratives.
With Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan leading the cast, Thunderbolts is setting the stage for Marvel’s upcoming July release, Fantastic Four, and next summer’s Avengers: Doomsday. “This is just the beginning of something much larger,” Bock added.
The film had a slow debut in China, earning only $10.4 million, marking the first real test of Chinese audiences’ interest in Hollywood films since the government announced plans to restrict movie imports amid a trade dispute with the Trump administration.
However, Bock pointed out that the international figures were encouraging, especially since Thunderbolts managed to double last year’s disappointing summer opener, The Fall Guy.
During the summer season, which runs from the first weekend in May through Labor Day in September, Hollywood typically accounts for about 40 percent of the year’s box office revenue. Theaters are still working hard to recover to the ticket sales levels seen before the pandemic.
As of Sunday, ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada for the year were up 15 percent compared to 2024, but still lagging 31.8 percent behind 2019. That summer was boosted by the blockbuster Avengers: Endgame, which had an astonishing opening of $357.1 million at domestic theaters.
According to Andrew Cripps, who heads global theatrical distribution at Disney, Thunderbolts has received the best reviews for a Marvel Cinematic Universe film since the blockbuster Spider-Man: No Way Home back in 2021. On Rotten Tomatoes, an impressive 88% of critics and 94% of moviegoers have given it a thumbs up.
“I believe the buzz will be really strong, and more people will keep discovering it,” Cripps shared about Thunderbolts.
In other box office news this weekend, the spring hit Sinners took second place behind Thunderbolts, raking in $33 million and pushing its total to $179.7 million. Meanwhile, the family-friendly A Minecraft Movie secured third place with $13.7 million, bringing its domestic total to a whopping $398.2 million.
Looking ahead, this summer is packed with sequels, including Jurassic World: Rebirth and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, along with a brand-new Superman film.
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Q1: How much did Marvel’s latest superhero film earn on its opening weekend?
Marvel’s newest team-up movie earned $162 million globally during its opening weekend, with $76 million coming from the U.S. and Canada.
Q2: Is Marvel’s summer blockbuster considered a box office success?
Yes, industry experts see it as a solid start, especially given the film features lesser-known characters. Its performance met expectations and surpassed last year’s summer opener.
Q3: How did the new Marvel movie perform internationally?
While its debut in China was modest at $10.4 million, the international numbers overall were strong and suggest growing global interest.
Q4: Who stars in Marvel’s newest team-up movie?
Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan lead the cast of Marvel’s latest superhero adventure.
Q5: How does the film compare to previous Marvel releases?
The film fell slightly short of the $88.8 million domestic opening of Captain America: Brave New World, but it received the best critical reception for a Marvel movie since Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Q6: What’s next for Marvel Studios after this release?
The studio is gearing up for major upcoming releases like Fantastic Four in July and next summer’s Avengers: Doomsday.
