Thunderbolts* Nears $280M Globally as New Avengers Campaign Intensifies

Thunderbolts* maintained a robust box office performance in its second weekend, reaching $272.2 million worldwide for the MCU film.

The Florence Pugh-led action movie earned $33.1 million domestically and $34 million internationally, securing the top spot at the box office for a second consecutive week. Its -44% drop from the opening weekend outperforms Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (-52%), Captain America: Brave New World (-54%), and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (-54%). Thunderbolts* has grossed approximately $128.5 million domestically and $143.7 million internationally.

Marvel amplified its Thunderbolts* marketing last week, officially rebranding the film as New Avengers. The studio even mirrored the on-screen rivalry between Sam Wilson’s Avengers and this new superhero team in real-world promotions. Marvel aims to sustain interest in Thunderbolts* as it approaches the pivotal Phase 6 launch of The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July.

Per Variety, Disney invested $180 million in Thunderbolts* production and $100 million in marketing. The film needs sustained global performance to achieve theatrical profitability.

Disney CEO Bob Iger praised Thunderbolts*, calling it “a prime example” of Marvel’s renewed focus on quality over quantity.

Thunderbolts* debuted with a $76 million domestic opening, a solid but not stellar start compared to Eternals ($71 million) and Ant-Man and the Wasp ($75 million), both deemed underperformers, though it trails most MCU opening weekends.

Still, Thunderbolts* is resonating with audiences and critics. IGN’s Thunderbolts* review gave it a 7/10, noting: “Thunderbolts* balances a darker edge with lighter moments, excelling when it dives into the characters’ deepest struggles.”

Disney hopes strong word-of-mouth will give Thunderbolts* a longer theatrical run than Captain America: Brave New World, which saw a sharp decline. Recent Marvel films have struggled, with exceptions like the billion-dollar Deadpool & Wolverine.

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Looking ahead, 2026 will bring Avengers: Doomsday (May 1, 2026) and Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31, 2026), followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on May 7, 2027.

Meanwhile, Sinners has reached $283.3 million globally, and A Minecraft Movie has hit $909.6 million after six weeks.