Marvel Studios has kicked off the summer movie season with Thunderbolts, and the verdict is in — the film has exceeded initial box office expectations, earning $76 million over its opening weekend in North America. Starring Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, and Lewis Pullman, the film brings a fresh energy to the Marvel Cinematic Universe by stepping away from traditional superhero tropes.
While it didn’t surpass the opening weekend of Captain America: Brave New World ($88.8 million), Thunderbolts still outperformed earlier projections of $70–75 million. It also edged past the openings of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings ($75.4 million) and Eternals ($71.3 million), although it narrowly missed matching Pugh’s Black Widow debut, which opened at $80 million.
Critics and audiences alike are praising Thunderbolts for its character-driven storytelling. Rather than spotlighting classic heroes, the film follows a group of flawed, unlikely allies who must come together in the absence of the Avengers. This emotional and gritty narrative has struck a chord, with many fans calling it one of the best Marvel movies in recent years.
While it didn’t generate the same pre-release buzz as Captain America: Brave New World — largely due to the absence of marquee names like Harrison Ford’s Red Hulk — Thunderbolts is benefiting from strong word-of-mouth and may gain momentum in the coming weeks.
Thunderbolts hit theatres on May 2, and fans can expect more updates as global box office figures roll in.
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