Thunderbolts* Shatters Trends, Dominates 2nd Weekend Box Office

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been facing some challenges with its latest cinema releases. With an abundance of streaming content, the interconnected universe has shifted from being an exciting spectacle to catch a couple of times a year in theaters, to feeling more like obligatory homework or required viewing at home. Although the most recent MCU movies have performed well financially compared to other blockbusters, their overall earnings are lower than those of earlier tentpole releases by the studio. Interestingly, the upcoming film Thunderbolts* has bucked this trend, demonstrating strong performance in its second week at the box office.

*Note: Thunderbolts is a fictional superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Over the weekend, it’s clear that “Thunderbolts*” continues to reign supreme at the box office, holding onto the top spot it claimed after its opening weekend. What’s intriguing is how this film’s performance stacks up against other Marvel Studios productions in its second week. To my delight, “Thunderbolts*” suffered only a 55% decrease in ticket sales, earning $33 million. This drop is relatively low for an MCU project, even though it fell slightly short of the projected $35 million. Interestingly, “Captain America: Brave New World” experienced a more significant 68% drop during its second weekend.

Despite a relatively slow start during its opening weekend compared to several other Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) productions, positive feedback and word-of-mouth have helped boost “Thunderbolts*” performance in its second week. Moreover, an unexpected marketing strategy employed by Marvel following the first weekend, where they switched all promotional content to feature “The New Avengers” title, has added intrigue to the film’s original title with an asterisk. Overall, it seems that “Thunderbolts*” is set for a successful run at the box office.

Word of Mouth Has Helped Propel Thunderbolts* to Strong Second Weekend

Thunderbolts, against all expectations, has become a critical hit, bucking the trend of negative sentiment towards recent Marvel Studios productions. The skillful direction by Jake Schierer and an impressive cast portraying anti-hero characters who are familiar from other projects, have made this film stand out as a distinctive addition to the MCU. It’s as if a refreshing breeze has been introduced into the universe, invigorating fans and critics alike. The ongoing talks about Schierer’s potential future collaboration with Marvel Studios suggest that they acknowledge and value his talent.

Additionally, there’s excitement about the after-movie scene for Thunderbolts, hinted at on social media as being directed by The Russo Brothers. The anticipation and chatter surrounding its link to the forthcoming Avengers: Doomsday, along with the teaser that the Thunderbolts cast will feature in the upcoming team-up film, due out in May 2026, all contribute to building momentum for audiences to familiarize themselves with these characters.

It’s intriguing to watch the progress of the movie “Thunderbolts” at the box office, as it needs to make more money according to Marvel’s standards for a hit. So far, it has earned $272 million worldwide, which is getting close to breaking even. The film, starring Florence Pugh, had significant marketing and distribution expenses due to its high-profile status, a common occurrence with movies of this kind. With Marvel Studios releasing another film, “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” in July, the strong second week for “Thunderbolts” might suggest that Marvel Studios will have another successful movie in a few months.

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2025-05-12 15:26