Movies

Marvel’s ‘Thunderbolts’ opens with $76 million, continuing a strong month for theaters

BBG News

This weekend saw the misfit team from Marvel Studios’ “Thunderbolts” climb to the highest spots at the box office. Their action-packed performances have kept cinema attendance high during a prosperous period for theaters, as we kick off the summer movie season in Hollywood.

The film, featuring Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan as members of an antihero team, earned a total of $76 million in ticket sales upon its release in the U.S. and Canada, as per studio estimates. Worldwide, “Thunderbolts” grossed $162 million, with $86 million coming from countries outside of the U.S. and Canada during its premiere.

Initially, predictions suggested that “Thunderbolts” could earn around $70 million during its debut weekend. However, some analysts projected a higher range, estimating potential earnings of up to $80 million.

The film’s reported budget is $180 million.

For the debut weekend of “Thunderbolts,” its box office earnings align with popular Marvel movies like 2021’s “Eternals” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” The latter two films garnered $71 million and $75 million respectively, while the latest Marvel release, “Captain America: Brave New World,” earned an impressive $89 million during its opening weekend in February.

Shawn Robbins, founder of Box Office Theory and analytics director at Fandango, pointed out that Marvel’s previous box office achievements set a high standard for the franchise. Meeting this benchmark has been challenging for each subsequent film, particularly in light of the pandemic and the simultaneous writers and actors strikes that occurred in 2023.

Following the massive success of “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019, it seemed like Marvel Studios, under Walt Disney Company’s ownership, were having trouble maintaining their previous box office and critical successes. Movies such as “The Marvels” fell short, and films like “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” raised concerns about a potential decline in quality.

First Steps”, to even greater heights!

Robbins stated that the success of a sequel in a franchise is largely dependent on how the audience received its predecessor,” (in a more conversational tone)

Following a slow start during the initial quarter of the year at the cinema, there’s been a dramatic change of pace this spring. Theaters have experienced a significant boost, starting with Warner Bros. Pictures’ “A Minecraft Movie,” which kicked things off in early April, generating an impressive $157 million during its opening weekend domestically.

Over the Easter weekend, Ryan Coogler’s R-rated film “Sinners” made a strong debut at the box office, earning $48 million. Since then, it has consistently attracted audiences.

This year’s assorted collection of films – featuring family-friendly options, mature horror productions, and now, an action-packed superhero movie rated PG-13 – provides even greater incentive for people to head to cinemas, according to Robbins.

As a movie lover, I must admit there’s a hint of nostalgia in the air – it seems we’re edging towards the “before times,” but with a twist. The fact that these changes are unfolding in April is an incredibly optimistic indication as we step into the sunny days of summer.

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2025-05-04 18:31

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