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

*Thunderbolts* has demonstrated impressive staying power at the box office, particularly for a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film, now amassing a global total of $272.2 million. The film, led by Florence Pugh, secured another top spot in its second weekend, earning an additional $33.1 million in the domestic market and $34 million internationally. This marks a -44% drop from its opening weekend, outperforming the second weekend drops of *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 grossed 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 rebrand the movie as *New Avengers*. This bold move included weaving the on-screen rivalry between Sam Wilson’s Avengers and the new superhero team into real-world promotions. Marvel's strategy is clear: sustain the buzz around *Thunderbolts* as they gear 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 *Thunderbolts* to be profitable in theaters, it must maintain its global momentum.

Disney CEO Bob Iger recently praised *Thunderbolts*, labeling it as "the first and best example" of Marvel's renewed focus on quality over quantity. This endorsement underscores the film's significance in Marvel's evolving strategy.

Thunderbolts debuted at the top of the domestic box office with a $76 million opening, considered solid but not spectacular. This opening surpassed that of Eternals ($71 million) and Ant-Man and the Wasp ($75 million), both deemed flops, yet fell short of most other MCU films' opening weekend earnings.

The film has resonated well with both audiences and critics. IGN’s review of *Thunderbolts* scored 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 this positive reception will fuel *Thunderbolts*' longevity at the box office, unlike *Captain America: Brave New World*, which experienced a sharp decline. Recent years have been challenging for Marvel films, with the notable exception of the billion-dollar *Deadpool & Wolverine* movie.

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Looking ahead, 2026 will feature Avengers: Doomsday (May 1, 2026) and Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31, 2026), with Avengers: Secret Wars slated for May 7, 2027.

Meanwhile, *Sinners* has reached $283.3 million globally, and *A Minecraft Movie* has grossed $909.6 million after six weekends.