Marvel's 'Thunderbolts' Debuts with $76 Million Opening

Marvel Studios’ 'Thunderbolts*' debuted at No. 1 at the box office with $76 million in domestic ticket sales, slightly surpassing projections but falling short of the studio's biggest launches. The film, directed by Jake Schreier, received strong critical and audience reception, boasting an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes and an A- CinemaScore, making it one of the better-reviewed recent MCU entries. Despite the positive word-of-mouth, its opening is among the lowest for Marvel films in recent years and highlights ongoing concerns about the franchise’s box office momentum. Internationally, 'Thunderbolts*' added $86.1 million, bringing its global total to $162.1 million against a reported $180 million budget. Analysts suggest the strong reviews and audience enthusiasm may help the film perform well in the coming weeks, potentially stabilizing Marvel’s box office performance after a series of underwhelming releases. The movie also sets up future MCU entries, with teases for the next chapter, 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps.'