Box Office: ‘Thunderbolts’ Targets $75 Million Opening Weekend

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Will “Thunderbolts” bring the box office thunder?

Disney’s fresh Marvel superhero tale is projected to generate between $70 million and $75 million during its opening weekend, offering a significant boost to cinemas following the blows of “A Minecraft Movie” and “Sinners.” On a global scale, “Thunderbolts” is expected to conclude the weekend with earnings ranging from $160 million to $175 million.

As a dedicated Marvel movie enthusiast, I must admit that I’m slightly taken aback by the projected sales for upcoming releases. For instance, “Captain America: Brave New World” didn’t quite make the impact I expected, with only $88 million in its opening weekend and $100 million over the extended Presidents’ Day holiday weekend. Globally, it managed to gather an impressive $192.4 million, but compared to some of the recent entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it seems a bit softer.

In fact, only three Marvel adventures since the pandemic have started with earnings below $100 million – “Eternals” ($71 million), “Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” ($75 million) in 2021, and “The Marvels” ($46 million) in 2023. On the other hand, blockbusters like “Deadpool & Wolverine” (2024 – $221 million), “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” (2023 – $118 million), “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (2022 – $181 million), and even “Thor: Love and Thunder” (2022 – $144 million) had much stronger opening weekends.

Producing ‘Thunderbolts’ set back $180 million and marketing approximately $100 million, a slightly lower cost compared to previous Marvel productions. However, the latest blockbuster needs to maintain its presence on movie screens longer than “Captain America: Brave New World” did to cover its high production costs. ‘Brave New World’ initially had strong ticket sales, but saw a decline in subsequent weekends, ultimately earning $414 million worldwide and losing money during its theatrical run. ‘Thunderbolts’, aiming to restore the reputation of comic book movies that were once invincible at the box office but have recently struggled, will be released by Marvel on July 25. DC and Warner Bros., meanwhile, plan to launch ‘Superman’ on July 11. The upcoming films are “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” from Marvel, scheduled for release on the same date.

In the movie “Thunderbolts,” a group of complex characters, including Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, Wyatt Russell’s John Walker, and David Harbour’s Red Guardian, are compelled to collaborate on a perilous task. Marvel announced in March that many of these actors will reprise their roles for the 2026 film “Avengers: Doomsday,” which may generate more interest in the upcoming release of “Thunderbolts.

On its debut during the weekend, “Thunderbolts” is anticipated to loom large on box office rankings with ease. Conversely, “Sinners,” a film expected to continue its strong performance at the ticket counter, might experience a slight dip of only 20% in its third week. This would translate to an estimated weekend revenue of $35 million. To date, this R-rated vampire thriller directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan has amassed a domestic total of $123 million and a global total of $163 million.

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2025-04-30 16:16