Thunderbolts* Opens to $76 Million, Raises Concerns for Marvel

Marvel's Thunderbolts* debuted at #1 at the box office with an opening weekend of $76 million in the U.S. and $162.1 million worldwide, a figure seen as respectable but muted compared to previous Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) releases. While the film outperformed last summer's The Fall Guy and received a solid A- CinemaScore, its opening ranks among the lower end for the MCU, trailing behind titles like Captain America: Brave New World and Guardians of the Galaxy. Analysts note that Thunderbolts* features lesser-known characters, which may have influenced its performance, and its debut is below earlier projections and the global openings of recent Marvel films. Despite this, the film's positive audience reception and lack of major competition in the coming weeks could provide it with staying power. Comparisons to other current releases, such as A Minecraft Movie, highlight the relative scale of Thunderbolts*' success and challenges, especially as A Minecraft Movie continues to break records globally. Overall, Thunderbolts* is viewed as an ambiguous step for Marvel—showing some positive signs but falling short of the franchise’s previous box office highs.