Marvel’s latest superhero ensemble, Thunderbolts, debuted on Thursday, May 1, 2025, with an impressive $11.5 million during its preview screenings. While this figure is slightly lower than the $12 million brought in by Captain America: Brave New World earlier this year, which ultimately opened to $88.8 million, Thunderbolts is projected to perform well over its opening weekend. Estimates suggest the film could earn between $70 million and $75 million domestically, with global earnings expected to reach between $160 million and $175 million.
Directed by Jake Schreier, Thunderbolts features a star-studded cast including Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, and David Harbour as the Red Guardian. As an unconventional team of antiheroes, these characters must navigate their troubled pasts while facing new threats. The film has already garnered significant buzz, with a strong 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 89% critics score, indicating a positive reception from both fans and reviewers.
In comparison, Captain America: Brave New World had a solid opening, but Thunderbolts is on track to potentially exceed expectations, especially if word-of-mouth reviews continue to be favorable. The film’s early success is a promising sign for Marvel, which has seen several of its recent releases struggle at the box office.
As of Friday, May 2, Thunderbolts is projected to earn around $32 million for the day, including the Thursday preview figures. This brings its total opening weekend estimate to between $70 million and $75 million, which is consistent with the current trend of Marvel films post-COVID. The movie is set to be screened in 4,330 theaters nationwide.
Despite the initial box office figures, Thunderbolts has already made history by surpassing the total earnings of all films released during the same weekend last year, which totaled $73.9 million. The top five films this weekend are expected to collectively generate around $137 million, marking a strong start to the summer box office.
The film’s budget, estimated at around $180 million, plus an additional $100 million for marketing, means it will need to perform well in theaters to turn a profit. If it maintains its current trajectory, Thunderbolts could potentially reach a domestic total of over $250 million.
Critics have praised the film for its fresh take on the superhero genre, with David Rooney from The Hollywood Reporter noting, “Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan lead a gratifyingly fresh and soulful Marvel adventure.” The ensemble cast, which also includes Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Wyatt Russell, and Hannah John-Kamen, brings a mix of humor and depth to the film, appealing to both hardcore Marvel fans and new audiences alike.
In addition to Thunderbolts, the box office is also seeing significant competition from other films like Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, which is expected to earn around $35 million in its third weekend. Sinners has received acclaim and is on track for a domestic total exceeding $250 million, showcasing the diverse offerings available to moviegoers this summer.
As Thunderbolts continues to roll out in theaters, the film’s performance will be closely monitored, especially given its ties to previous Marvel properties like Black Widow and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The success of Thunderbolts could pave the way for more films featuring this unique group of characters, expanding the Marvel Cinematic Universe in new and exciting directions.
In the coming days, box office analysts will be watching closely to see if Thunderbolts can maintain momentum and potentially reach the $80 million mark, which would align it with the opening figures of Black Widow ($80.3 million). With its engaging storyline and well-received cast, Thunderbolts is set to be a highlight of the summer movie season.
