Despite the recent underperformance at the box office of the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, there’s still a possibility that “Thunderbolts” could get a sequel in the future. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the film, as it brought together characters from various franchise installments, and the stellar chemistry among the star-studded cast turned it into the MCU team film I’d been waiting for during the Multiverse Saga. “Thunderbolts” skillfully introduces a new team to the franchise, making even minor characters endearing and leaving us yearning for more.
Regrettably, although both critics and audiences have praised Thunderbolts* , its theatrical success has been lackluster. As reported by the specialized box office tracking site, Box Office Mojo, the worldwide gross of Thunderbolts* currently totals $371.1 million. Despite my conviction that Thunderbolts* should be ranked among the MCU’s finest films, its box office returns position it close to the bottom of the franchise. Nevertheless, I remain optimistic that an MCU sequel for Thunderbolts* could still materialize, considering a few crucial aspects.
Thunderbolts*’s Box Office Run Is Projected To End Short Of $400 Million
The MCU Movie Was Not A Massive Hit For The Franchise
To discuss the possibility of a sequel for the film “Thunderbolts”, it’s crucial to first comprehend the significance of its box office performance. Currently, “Thunderbolts” ranks as the fourth lowest-earning movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). With a total gross of $371.1 million, it surpasses “The Marvels” ($199.7 million), “The Incredible Hulk” ($265.6 million), and “Captain America: The First Avenger” ($370.6 million). Yet, it’s unlikely that “Thunderbolts” will move up the MCU’s box office charts significantly, as its momentum seems to be waning. Competition comes from successful films like “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” and the live-action adaptation of “Lilo & Stitch”.
Although Thunderbolts* may still boost its earnings slightly to reach its box office goal, it’s predicted to fall just shy of hitting the $400 million mark. This estimate was shared on Twitter by box office analyst Luiz Fernando, who stated that Thunderbolts* is projected to conclude its worldwide run in the range of $380M-$390M. Given this forecast, Thunderbolts* may still exceed Black Widow’s total earnings of $379.8 million, but it will likely finish below Captain America: Brave New World, despite generating more favorable buzz than the MCU’s first 2025 film, which is unexpected.
Thunderbolts* Is Circling Its Breakeven Point At The Box Office
Marvel Studios Can Still Find A Positive Point In The Movie’s Financial Performance
Despite Thunderbolts* not being expected to be a blockbuster with its projected global earnings of $380M-$390M, I think Marvel Studios can still find some silver linings in the movie’s performance. Given that it was made on a budget of approximately $180 million, which is not as costly as other superhero films but also not insignificant, there is potential for the film to turn a modest profit.
In the world of Hollywood movie-making, it’s common practice to estimate a film’s break-even point by multiplying its budget by 2 or 2.5. For Thunderbolts*, this means the break-even point falls between $360 million and $450 million. If the final box office earnings fall on the lower end of this range, it’s possible that Thunderbolts* could conclude its run without incurring any losses for Marvel. Additional revenue streams such as toy sales, digital platforms, home entertainment, etc., could help recoup marketing and production costs, potentially even yielding a modest profit for the studio.
The New Avengers Name Change Hints At A Big MCU Future For The Team
Marvel Studios Has Plans For The Thunderbolts Beyond Their Debut
The financial performance of Thunderbolts*, being close to breaking even and potentially earning a small profit through additional revenue streams, suggests that Marvel might consider producing a sequel. However, what truly indicates a potential sequel lies in the narrative aspect. In the final act of Thunderbolts*, the team underwent a significant transformation – they saved New York City, and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine publicly announced them as the MCU’s New Avengers, which could pave the way for future storylines.
It makes sense that they deserved it since the movie focused on these characters coming together, supporting each other through personal challenges, and ultimately transforming into heroes. The best possible outcome would be for the Thunderbolts to rise as the most prominent superhero team in the universe, adored by all. After all, the film’s post-credits scene, titled “Thunderbolts,” fast-forwarded more than a year to show the characters feeling at ease with their new roles and working out of the original Avengers Tower, now under Val’s control and seemingly under their influence.
| Every MCU Avengers Movie | |
|---|---|
| Movie | Release Date |
| The Avengers | 2012 |
| Avengers: Age of Ultron | 2015 |
| Avengers: Infinity War | 2018 |
| Avengers: Endgame | 2019 |
| Avengers: Doomsday | 2026 |
| Avengers: Secret Wars | 2027 |
The new version of the Avengers is set to play a significant part in both “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars.” Despite the fact that “Thunderbolts*” didn’t do as well at the box office, the prospect of this team being featured in the MCU’s most highly anticipated films yet is promising for a potential “Thunderbolts*” sequel. The popularity of the Avengers movies, all of which have earned over $1 billion globally, could give the New Avengers a significant surge in popularity, potentially attracting more viewers for a possible sequel than those who watched “Thunderbolts*.” Marvel has ambitious plans for this team.
MCU Franchises Have Seen Great Box Office Bumps With Sequels
Thunderbolts* 2 Can Build On The Foundation The MCU Has Laid Out
Many sequels for Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) characters have surpassed the total box office earnings of their initial films. This can occur through smaller increments, such as Iron Man 2 earning $37 million more than Robert Downey Jr.’s debut Iron Man movie, or it can involve a larger gap, like Captain America: The Winter Soldier grossing $344 million over Captain America: The First Avenger. In Chris Evans’ case, his sequel benefited from Steve Rogers’ significant involvement in the MCU’s first crossover film, released in 2012 as The Avengers.
It seems to me that the Thunderbolts team, initially comprised of lesser-known characters, didn’t receive widespread promotion as the New Avengers before its release. This isn’t surprising given its box office success. However, with a sequel capitalizing on the increased popularity of these characters following future Avengers films and openly branding the team as the New Avengers from the get-go, I believe the Thunderbolts franchise could experience a resurgence. Considering these factors, it’s my opinion that Marvel will likely greenlight a Thunderbolts sequel.
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2025-06-05 21:49