Thunderbolts: MCU’s Biggest Flop Ever?

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Is another MCU bomb on the way from Marvel with the upcoming Thunderbolts movie?

According to box office predictions, it appears that Thunderbolts might face difficulties, even more so than Captain America: Brave New World which underperformed and is one of the lowest-grossing MCU films. However, compared to The Marvels, things don’t seem as dire.

The projected earnings for Thunderbolts are similar to those of Eternals and Shang-Chi, both of which earned approximately $400 million globally – a figure that is not impressive. Additionally, the tracking suggests that Thunderbolts may have one of the weakest openings among all Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films to date.

What are the box office estimates for Thunderbolts?

We get estimates via THR and Box Office Pro.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that, as per THR’s latest reports, the box office projection for “Thunderbolts” is ranging from $63 million to an impressive $77 million. Interestingly enough, the target figure seems to be around $70 million for this highly anticipated film.

According to Box Office Pro’s predictions, the anticipated earnings for Thunderbolts might range from a minimum of $65 million up to as much as $85 million.

Since Thunderbolts is set to be launched in roughly a month, effective advertising efforts could significantly boost its progress.

Word of mouth from fans more important than ever

Tickets are currently available for purchase. A swift look at nearby cinemas for Thursday’s preview shows many unoccupied seats, while for Friday, there seems to be no tickets sold yet.

It’s quite possible that this film will follow the pattern where viewers rely on peer recommendations, as the recent success of A Minecraft Movie at the box office was driven largely by word-of-mouth and not pre-sales, which were disappointing.

In my viewpoint, fan word-of-mouth has emerged as the leading determinant, surpassing both critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and studio marketing. If a movie is entertaining or enjoyable, fans will flock to it. Based on what I’ve observed so far, Thunderbolts appears genuinely entertaining, and my excitement for it exceeds that of any MCU film from the recent past, with the exception of Deadpool & Wolverine and Spider-Man.

What about The Avengers?

It’s been verified that Kevin Feige and Marvel have indeed included the Thunderbolts in the upcoming movie “Avengers: Doomsday“. Some viewers consider this as a major plot reveal. However, if the buzz around this film is not high, announcing the involvement of the Thunderbolts in “Avengers: Doomsday” could potentially boost interest.

How does Thunderbolts compare to other MCU movies?

As a fan, I can’t help but notice that the opening earnings for “Thunderbolts” sit at an estimated $70 million in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Given its reported production cost of over $200 million, it’s clear that this film needs to rake in significant revenue to turn a profit.

Here is a list of MCU opening weekends from the lowest-grossing movies from the post-Endgame era:

  • Quantumania: $106,109,650
  • Captain America: Brave New World: $88,842,603
  • Black Widow: $80,366,312
  • Shang-Chi: $75,388,688
  • Eternals: $71,297,219
  • Thunderbolts: $70M (target estimate)
  • The Marvels: $46,110,859

Release info

The movie titled “Thunderbolts” is set to be released on May 2, 2025. It will be helmed by director Jake Schreier, and boasts a screenplay co-written by Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo.

Who stars?

Actors such as Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer, Wendell Pierce, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus are all part of this production.

Plot

Marvel Studios gathers an unusual band of anti-heroes: Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes (also known as the Winter Soldier), Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and John Walker. After being drawn into a lethal trap by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, these disenchanted outcasts are compelled to undertake a perilous journey that will compel them to delve into their deepest past traumas. Will this troubled gang self-destruct or find redemption and coalesce into something greater before it’s too late?

Behind the movie

Kevin Feige serves as the head of production, while Louis D’Esposito, Brian Chapek, and Jason Tamez are also involved in executive production.

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2025-04-11 02:36