Marvel fans may be surprised to learn how the studio’s 2025 releases performed, according to data from IMDb. Following a quieter 2024, Marvel released three films in 2025 focusing on characters like Captain America (Sam Wilson), the Thunderbolts (known as the New Avengers), and the Fantastic Four. While the films had mixed results, only one made it onto IMDb’s list of the ten most popular movies of the year.
The new Superman reboot from the DC Universe is currently the top-rated movie, earning a 7.1 rating from over 366,000 votes. Following Superman are Weapons, Sinner, One Battle After Another, Jurassic World Rebirth, Frankenstein, and Happy Gilmore 2. Surprisingly, Marvel’s Thunderbolts landed at number eight, even though it outperformed The Fantastic Four: First Steps despite the latter’s higher box office success and introduction of Marvel’s First Family to the MCU.
Why Thunderbolts* Made IMDb’s List But The Fantastic Four: First Steps Didn’t
Considering the past performance and history of Fantastic Four movies, many expected The Fantastic Four: First Steps to be better received than Thunderbolts.
This was particularly true because a strong live-action version of the Fantastic Four hadn’t been made before, and director Matt Shakman brought a fresh, distinctive style that allowed the talented cast – Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach – to really shine. On the other hand, expectations for Thunderbolts were low, making its success in theaters in May 2025 a pleasant surprise for Marvel Studios.
The movie Thunderbolts assembled a team of complex characters – former villains and antiheroes from previous Marvel Cinematic Universe stories – to combat a dangerous threat called the Void, which was linked to the powerful new hero, Sentry. This team, consisting of Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, Winter Soldier, Ghost, and US Agent, had great chemistry and worked well together. The film cleverly revealed them as the new version of the Avengers, which was a big surprise for audiences and contributed to Thunderbolts‘ success as a hit movie for the MCU.
Although fans were thrilled to see the Fantastic Four officially join the Marvel Cinematic Universe in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Thunderbolts might ultimately be the more impactful film as the MCU continues. It could even have a larger effect on the franchise by introducing the New Avengers. Both films are highly rated on IMDb – The Fantastic Four: First Steps currently has a 6.9 rating from over 223,000 votes – and nearly made it into the top ten. While neither quite reached that milestone, the success of both Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a promising sign for the future of the MCU, and we’re really looking forward to what’s next.
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2025-12-23 22:10