Early reactions to 2026's Avengers: Doomsday and 2027's Avengers: Secret Wars promise to break records currently held by Avengers. Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. In the middle lies Thunderbolts*, which concludes Marvel's Phase 5 with a long-awaited MCU crossover story.
As reported by THR, Thunderbolts* is projected to open domestically within the "$63 million to $77 million range" — a low number for an MCU summer blockbuster. However, Disney has reportedly been pleased by Thunderbolts* test screening audience reactions. THR also reports that exhibitors and even rival studio execs have praised Thunderbolts*.
What The Thunderbolts* Box Office Projections And Disney's Response Mean
Thunderbolts* Has Plenty Of Possibilities For Success At The Box Office
Thunderbolts* gathers a team of MCU anti-heroes, most of whom have previously appeared in MCU movies that weren't as well-received as Marvel and MCU fans expected. Unlike crossover movies like The Avengers and Captain America: Civil War, solo movies prior to Thunderbolts* don't guarantee a strong returning audience. Instead, the Thunderbolts* trailers' promise of a bold and creative team-up movie might be doing the brunt of the work enticing audiences to watch Thunderbolts* in theaters.
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As Disney's reported response to thunderbolts* suggests, Thunderbolts* might sur recent MCU movies like Captain America: Brave New World and The Marvels at the box office mostly by word of mouth. Low box office projections aren't a death sentence for movies, let alone summer blockbusters like Thunderbolts*. Movies like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Doctor Strange, and Thor: Ragnarok have become fan-favorite Marvel releases due to their high quality instead of merely because of pre-release anticipation.
Our Take On The Thunderbolts* Box Office Projections And Disney's Response
Thunderbolts Could Be A Sleeper Hit For Marvel
Marvel had done a great job keeping Thunderbolts*' best moments a secret. Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's true intentions, the Thunderbolts' fight plan against Sentry, and Taskmaster's real fate are all questions that haven't been answered by any trailer or clip. When Thunderbolts* hits theaters on May 2, 2025, audience reactions to the movie could lead tickets and box office projections to shoot up, and Thunderbolts*' box office lifetime to extend. Thunderbolts* may not have the same brand weight as The Fantastic Four: First Steps or Avengers: Doomsday, but its unique plot and style makes it a promising wildcard in Marvel Studios' current slate.
Source: THR
Thunderbolts*
- Release Date
- May 2, 2025
- Runtime
- 127 minutes
- Director
- Jake Schreier
- Writers
- Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo
- Producers
- Kevin Feige
Cast
Yelena Belova
Bucky Barnes
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel Cinematic Universe
- Budget
- $180 million
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