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Marvel Studios’ #Thunderbolts* is NOW PLAYING! Get tickets: https://t.co/bFq0RNfp6K pic.twitter.com/dAUB9Sxxg5
— Marvel Studios* (@MarvelStudios) May 4, 2025
Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan star in Marvel’s latest release, “Thunderbolts.” The film opened with $76 million in domestic ticket sales, according to studio estimates on Sunday. “Thunderbolts” features a team of antihero rejects, similar to the “Avengers.” The cast also includes David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Wyatt Russell. The official photo call for “Thunderbolts” took place on Thursday, April 24, 2025, in London.
Actors Wyatt Russell, David Harbour, Florence Pugh, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Hannah John-Kamen, Geraldine Viswanathan, and Lewis Pullman posed for photographers.
R̶e̶d̶ ̶G̶u̶a̶r̶d̶i̶a̶n̶ Marvel Studios' #Thunderbolts* is here to protect you from boring evening.
Now playing only in theaters. Get tickets: https://t.co/bFq0RNfp6K pic.twitter.com/wGhiwmTvx7
— Marvel Studios* (@MarvelStudios) May 4, 2025
The film’s opening suggests that while it has generated interest, the industry needs to adapt and innovate to continue captivating audiences. As summer continues, the industry will be watching to see how “Thunderbolts” performs in the long term and whether it can build sustained success at the box office.
The movie has taken an estimated $162 million internationally. It centers on lesser-known superheroes who face human and superhuman threats while dealing with their own personal battles.
The always stellar @rebeccaarubin for @Variety with excellent reporting on this very #Thunderbolts weekend in cinemas – https://t.co/N9Up36blaA “May is shaping up to be one of the best on record,” says senior @Comscore analyst Paul Dergarabedian. “More importantly, this summer’s…
— Paul Dergarabedian (@PDergarabedian) May 4, 2025
Critical reception has been mixed, but the film has resonated with superhero fans, garnering a 95 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Thunderbolts’ strong box office opening
The characters are described as dysfunctional outsiders who band together as heroes.
For @AP is @jakecoyleAP who brings the thunder with great reporting on this #Thunderbolts powered first weekend of summer for movie theatres! – https://t.co/2Atn1f1qXn
“@Marvel @MarvelStudios set the bar so high for so many years that a $76 million opening may seem to some like…— Paul Dergarabedian (@PDergarabedian) May 4, 2025
Some critics have pointed out the film’s “washed-out palette and CG shadow-threat” and noted that it tackles heavy topics like suicide, depression, and domestic violence, which are “not always sensitively handled.” However, Florence Pugh has been praised for her performance.
“Thunderbolts” appears to be making a significant impact both at the box office and within the Marvel fanbase, offering a fresh take on the superhero genre while acknowledging the complexities of its characters’ personal struggles. The film works in large part due to Pugh’s star power, as she carries the movie by injecting her character with humor, charisma, and emotional depth. Visually striking and structurally innovative, the film escapes Marvel’s typical pitfalls, like centering a massive CGI slugfest in the third act.
“Thunderbolts” forgoes a true ending to its story to tease where the MCU is headed next. The final twist reveals that the Thunderbolts’ official name by the end of the movie is the New Avengers. The brief mid-credits scene is a gag featuring Red Guardian (David Harbour) pestering a grocery store customer to buy a box of Wheaties cereal that includes his superteam.
The stinger at the end of the credits reveals the true clout of the New Avengers, setting up the next MCU movie and introducing the Fantastic Four. Despite its blemishes, “Thunderbolts” is an entertaining, self-contained film that revitalizes the MCU’s momentum.
