Movies

Kevin Feige on Why Thunderbolts* & More MCU Movies Bombed at the Box Office

BBG News

Kevin Feige, from Marvel Studios, has explained why films such as The Marvels, Captain America 4, and Thunderbolts have not been blockbuster hits at the box office.

Released in November 2023, The Marvels earned about $206.1 million at the worldwide box office. Contrastingly, Captain America 4, or Captain America: Brave New World as it was also called, premiered in February 2025 and grossed approximately $415.1 million. Lastly, Thunderbolts debuted in May 2025, earning around $382.1 million.

[*Note: “Thunderbolts” is the name of a fictional superhero team in Marvel Comics, but it’s not confirmed if this is the title of a future movie.]

What did Kevin Feige say about Thunderbolts*, Captain America 4, and The Marvels?

In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Feige expressed his view that fans may have felt compelled to watch Marvel’s Disney+ series as prerequisites for enjoying the latest MCU film due to Marvel’s emphasis on their television shows.

The growth seems to be the reason for the sentiment, ‘Must I learn about all these characters now? It used to feel enjoyable, but is it necessary to know everything?’ The Marvel franchise appears to have been affected most by this, as people might say, ‘I recognize her from a highly successful film. But who are those other two? They appeared in some TV series perhaps. I’ll pass on that.’

Feige expressed a similar viewpoint when discussing Thunderbolts* with Deadline, explaining that while the movie was excellent, its impact wasn’t as significant due to two reasons. Firstly, not many people recognized the title and secondly, several characters in it originated from various shows, causing some audiences to wonder if they needed to have watched those shows to understand the characters’ identities.

In regards to Captain America 4, Feige mentioned that the reason fans weren’t keen on it was likely due to the fact that it was the first installment without Chris Evans in the title role.

In the upcoming Marvel film, Avengers: Doomsday, we’ll see the remaining members of what was once known as the Thunderbolts (now rebranded as the New Avengers), along with Anthony Mackie portraying Captain America/Sam Wilson. However, it remains uncertain whether Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau, or Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel will make an appearance in this movie too.

Read More

2025-07-21 19:26

Previous post Doctor Who star confirmed for new British mystery crime drama set in the Peak District
Next post Kelly Clarkson gives grim update to fans after marriage to Brandon Blackstock imploded