Movies

Marvel Movies Are Struggling: Shocking Box Office Data Reveals Critical Decline

BBG News

As the build-up to “Avengers: Endgame“, Marvel Studios experienced an unprecedented, record-breaking streak of triumph that went against all expectations and traditional Hollywood norms. Given the previous team-up film’s effectiveness, it seems that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is finding it challenging to maintain the superhero celebration, balancing fan satisfaction and Disney stockholders’ expectations. The recent success of “ ” offers encouragement for the MCU, but its domestic ticket sales indicate that Marvel Studios still has hurdles to overcome.

2024 saw Marvel Studios debuting only Deadpool and Wolverine on the big screen. To maintain momentum in its larger storyline, a faster pace was required. The second of three MCU films to hit theaters in 2025 is Thunderbolts*. Initially resembling a group of Marvel misfits, it followed closely behind Captain America: Brave New World. However, as other films like Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and Disney’s own Lilo & Stitch were released, the window began narrowing for the Marvel Studios films to secure a significant box office victory for the MCU. In total, Thunderbolts*’ global box office earnings fell short of just the domestic grosses for four Marvel Studios movies: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Deadpool & Wolverine, and the co-produced Spider-Man: No Way Home with Sony Pictures.

Thunderbolts* Is One of the Best Critical and Fan Success Stories for Marvel In Years

MCU Fans Embraced the Movie and the Surrounding Discourse Is More Positive

Following its initial release to critical acclaim, *Thunderbolts* was hailed as Marvel Studios’ standout production in years by numerous reviewers. When it became available for wider viewing, audience reactions mirrored those of the critics. Although Hollywood’s financial challenges are complex, a notable shift in public sentiment towards these films is causing concern among Marvel Studios and fans of the MCU.

Despite some initial doubts, it appeared as though Marvel Studios and the upcoming team, Thunderbolts, were on track for success. The buzz among fans and positive word-of-mouth ahead of its release suggested a promising start. In fact, Marvel Studios swiftly disclosed that the asterisk in the title served as a playful hint at the team’s actual MCU name: The New Avengers. This sneaky detail sparked excitement among Marvel fans, signaling that this film might be more significant than previously anticipated.

From the start, there were warning signs about potential issues. Preview screenings for movies can attract eager audiences ahead of the official premiere. Unfortunately, the advance showings for Brave New World weren’t as successful. Despite the excitement of Captain America battling Hulk in the comic book style, the movie didn’t receive positive acclaim from critics and fans alike. It’s worth noting that some of the negative response towards the film may have been due to the choice of actor donning Captain America’s suit rather than the quality of the story itself.

Thunderbolts* Is Marvel Studios’ Second-Worst Post-Pandemic Box Office Earner

Only Eternals and The Marvels Performed Worse In the U.S. and Canada

As I write this, the movie Thunderbolts* has grossed approximately $360 million worldwide at the box office. This implies that The Marvels, with its poor critical reception, negative discussions, and other issues, has made less money than Thunderbolts*. Interestingly, even Black Widow, which was released amidst the pandemic and on Disney+ for an additional fee, managed to earn around $19 million more at the global box office compared to Thunderbolts* so far. This is a significant contrast to Phase Three of Marvel Studios, during which half of their films exceeded $1 billion in earnings.

In terms of box office revenue in the U.S. and Canada specifically, Thunderbolts* has a slight edge over the other two films. Its earnings of $176.3 million surpass both The Marvels’ $84.5 million and Eternals’ $164.9 million gross sales.

Despite being third from the top in post-pandemic earnings, it’s important to note that this film trails behind “Black Widow,” which was released when attending a movie theater carried a significant health risk. The worldwide revenue for “Thunderbolts” barely surpasses the domestic earnings of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and is still below “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” This isn’t solely about the movies’ quality, though.

Ever since Disney+ launched, Marvel Studios has significantly increased its output of films and shows. While each new MCU movie is a highly anticipated event, some fans are yet to catch up with all the series and films from Phase Four. With economic conditions being as they are, people have less extra money for leisure activities. A family night out at the cinema (including snacks) costs almost the same as a monthly ad-free subscription to all major streaming platforms. Since these movies appear on streaming services just months, sometimes even weeks, after their initial release, many viewers prefer to be patient and wait.

Marvel Studios Has a Budget and Box Office Problem That Isn’t Going Away

The Problem for the MCU Has More to Do With Economics Than Hype

Disney and Marvel Studios are finding some positivity amidst the criticism, as Sony Pictures’ latest Marvel-linked film received poor reviews and underperformed financially. Nevertheless, it’s essential to note that a movie is considered a “flop” only when its earnings at the box office fall short of its production budget. However, an often overlooked factor is that studios share the box office revenue with cinemas, so even if a film doesn’t perform well initially, it could still generate profits in subsequent releases or streaming rights.

To put it simply, from my perspective, the movie titled “Thunderbolts” seems to be on the verge of recouping its $180 million production cost. It’s essential to note that this figure doesn’t include marketing expenses, and the profit margin is significantly lower than Disney anticipates for their Marvel productions. One of the challenges lies in the expectations set by blockbusters like “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Endgame,” which had enormous budgets due to a multitude of A-list actors, grandiose sets, and intricate visual effects. However, there’s no justification for the third “Ant-Man” film to balloon nearly to $400 million in its budget.

Brave New World” had slightly higher earnings at the box office, but it barely covered its costs. Two movies from Marvel Studios’ Phase Five are particularly noteworthy: “Guardians 3” and a collaboration between “Deadpool” and “Wolverine.” The first was the final adventure for an improbable gang of beloved heroes in the MCU, and also marked James Gunn’s last work before moving to another studio. The second film introduced Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool into the MCU and brought back Hugh Jackman to his iconic role, a character many children grew up watching. This pattern persists in most of the MCU’s films released after the pandemic.

In many ways, “Wakanda Forever” proved to be a significant box office hit not just for T’Challa, but also as a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman. The only other Marvel Cinematic Universe film released post-pandemic that surpassed $1 billion was “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” which featured both of the iconic actors who portrayed Spider-Man across different generations.

It’s disappointing for Thunderbolts and possibly The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but it’s exciting that original X-Men actors from Fox are coming back, along with Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. Fans anticipate other familiar faces, like past Spider-Men and the initial Avengers from the MCU, to make appearances too. However, if the Marvel Cinematic Universe intends to carry on beyond the Multiverse Saga, movies with a questionable reputation such as Thunderbolts will need to perform exceptionally well at the box office.

Thunderbolts is wrapping up its cinema release, with The Fantastic Four: First Steps set to premiere on July 25, 2025.

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2025-06-05 21:06

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