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‘Thunderbolts’ Scores Big: Marvel’s Gritty Antihero Ensemble Reignites Summer Movie Season*

After a string of inconsistent performances, Marvel Studios has bounced back with a solid hit. ‘Thunderbolts,’* the latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), has earned an impressive $76 million during its domestic opening weekend—marking the third-highest debut of 2025 and revitalizing confidence in the superhero franchise.

Global Numbers: Strong Worldwide Start

The film, which brings together a cast of lesser-known antiheroes, has also generated significant traction internationally, earning an additional $86.1 million overseas. This brings its total global opening haul to $162.1 million, a promising start for a team-up film featuring characters not traditionally in the MCU spotlight.

The international performance was led by key markets including:

• United Kingdom: $12.5 million
• South Korea: $10.3 million
• Mexico: $9.8 million
• Australia: $6.7 million

Critical and Audience Acclaim

What sets Thunderbolts apart from recent Marvel entries is its overwhelmingly positive reception. The film holds an 88% “Fresh” critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 257 reviews, and an even higher 94% audience score, reflecting strong word-of-mouth momentum.

Box office analyst Shawn Robbins of Box Office Theory praised the film’s resonance:

“To launch a movie with characters unfamiliar to casual fans—and to do so with this level of critical and audience approval—shows Marvel’s creative muscle is still very much intact.”

A Much-Needed Win for Marvel

Marvel has had a rocky couple of years. While Deadpool & Wolverine broke through with strong numbers, titles like The Marvels and Captain America: Brave New World fell short of expectations. This inconsistency, coupled with saturation from Disney+ streaming shows, had some wondering whether the MCU's golden era was behind it.

Now, Thunderbolts may mark a turning point.

“Every franchise faces ups and downs, but Thunderbolts is a refreshing example of what happens when creative storytelling and audience expectations align,” said Robbins.

Comparisons to Recent Openers

The film's strong showing stands in stark contrast to last year’s summer kickoff, when Universal’s The Fall Guy opened to a modest $28 million, marking the first time since 2009 a Marvel film wasn’t headlining the start of the summer box office.

Box office momentum for Thunderbolts may follow the trend set by recent audience-driven hits like:

• A Minecraft Movie, which saw minimal week-to-week drop-offs
• Sinners, which retained its audience thanks to word-of-mouth appeal

According to Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore:

“May is shaping up to be one of the strongest on record, and the success of Thunderbolts is a major factor. The film’s strong reviews and fan support suggest it could have impressive legs in the weeks ahead.”

What’s Next for ‘Thunderbolts’*

Industry experts are now watching to see if Thunderbolts can maintain its momentum and potentially cross the $500 million global mark. That would place it among the top-performing MCU titles post-Endgame and validate Marvel’s strategy of spotlighting lesser-known characters.

If the film continues on its current trajectory, it could signal a new phase in the MCU—one where unconventional heroes carry the torch into Marvel’s next cinematic chapter.

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