Thunderbolts* Box Office Nears $280M Amid New Avengers Marketing

Thunderbolts* has demonstrated a robust performance at the box office, maintaining a strong hold into its second weekend and now reaching a global total of $272.2 million. Led by Florence Pugh, the action-packed film added $33.1 million domestically and $34 million internationally, securing its position at the top of the box office charts for another week. This represents a commendable -44% drop from its opening weekend, outperforming the declines seen by other MCU films like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (-52%), Captain America: Brave New World (-54%), and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (-54%). To date, Thunderbolts* has earned an estimated $128.5 million in the domestic market and $143.7 million internationally.

Last week, Marvel intensified its marketing efforts for Thunderbolts*, even rebranding the film as New Avengers. This strategic move was accompanied by a real-world narrative involving a clash between Sam Wilson's Avengers and the new superhero team, aiming to keep the buzz alive. As Marvel gears up for the pivotal launch of Phase 6 with The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July, the studio is banking on sustained interest in Thunderbolts*.

According to Variety, the production budget for Thunderbolts* was $180 million, with an additional $100 million spent on marketing. For the film to be profitable in theaters, it must continue to draw audiences worldwide.

Disney CEO Bob Iger recently praised Thunderbolts*, describing it as "the first and best example" of Marvel's renewed focus on quality over quantity, signaling a shift in the studio's approach to its cinematic offerings.

Thunderbolts opened with a solid $76 million domestically, surpassing the openings of Eternals ($71 million) and Ant-Man and the Wasp ($75 million), though it fell short of many other MCU films' opening figures. Despite this, the film has been well-received by both audiences and critics. IGN's review of Thunderbolts gave it a 7/10, noting: "Thunderbolts* has, like its sort-of-not-really antagonist, both a dark half and a light half. But only one of them is actually pretty great (hint: it’s the one that involves plumbing the depths of the characters’ worst memories)."

Disney is hopeful that positive word-of-mouth will help Thunderbolts* outperform the likes of Captain America: Brave New World, which experienced a sharp drop-off. The MCU has faced challenges recently, but successes like Deadpool & Wolverine, which grossed over a billion dollars, provide some optimism.

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Looking ahead, 2026 will see the release of Avengers: Doomsday on May 1 and Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on May 7, 2027.

Meanwhile, Sinners has reached $283.3 million globally, and A Minecraft Movie has accumulated $909.6 million after six weekends.