Thunderbolts* Approaches $280M Box Office Amid New Avengers Marketing Buzz

Thunderbolts* has demonstrated a robust performance at the box office during its second weekend, amassing a global total of $272.2 million. The action-packed film, led by Florence Pugh, added $33.1 million in the domestic market and $34 million internationally, securing the top spot at the box office for the second consecutive week. This represents a -44% drop from its opening weekend, which is notably better than the declines experienced by other MCU films such as 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 domestically and $143.7 million internationally.

Last week, Marvel intensified its marketing efforts for Thunderbolts*, even going so far as to rename the movie to New Avengers. The studio cleverly integrated the on-screen rivalry between Sam Wilson's Avengers and this new superhero team into real-world promotions. Marvel is banking on sustained interest in Thunderbolts* as it gears up for the pivotal launch of Phase 6 with The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July.

According to Variety, Disney invested $180 million in the production of Thunderbolts* and an additional $100 million in marketing. For the film to be profitable in theaters, it must maintain its global appeal and box office performance.

Disney CEO Bob Iger recently praised Thunderbolts*, describing it as "the first and best example" of Marvel's renewed focus on quality over quantity.

Thunderbolts* opened with $76 million domestically, a figure considered solid if not spectacular. This was above the openings of Eternals ($71 million) and Ant-Man and the Wasp ($75 million), both labeled as flops, but below the typical MCU movie opening.

The film has been well-received by both audiences and critics. IGN's review of Thunderbolts* awarded 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 hopes that the positive buzz surrounding Thunderbolts* will help it outperform the likes of Captain America: Brave New World, which saw a sharp decline in theater attendance. Recent years have been challenging for Marvel movies, with exceptions like the billion-dollar success of Deadpool & Wolverine.

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Looking ahead, 2026 will see the release of both 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 earned $909.6 million after six weekends.