“Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts” opened with $76 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates on Sunday, kicking off the summer box office with a solid debut at number one, although it did not reach the more spectacular Marvel releases.
All eyes were on whether “Thunderbolts” - a gathering of rejected antiheroes similar to “Avengers” - could bring Walt Disney Co.’s superheroes back to the kind of box office performance the studio used to enjoy so regularly. The results - similar to the debuts of “The Eternals” ($71 million) and “Ant-Man and the Wasp” ($75 million) - suggest that Marvel’s apathy won’t be so easy to overcome.
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Some were expecting a bigger opening for “Thunderbolts”. Unlike most other recent MCU films, the reviews (88% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) have been excellent for “Thunderbolts”, directed by Jake Schreier and starring Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Sebastian Stan. The audience gave it an “A-” CinemaScore.
That type of response should propel the movie to a good business in the coming weeks. While larger MCU films — including 2024’s “Deadpool vs. Wolverine” (with an opening of 211 million dollars on its way to 1.340 billion worldwide) — have immediately monopolized the cinema screens, “Thunderbolts” could gain momentum more steadily. Or, it could pass by without reviving its golden touch.
Marvel spent around 180 million dollars to produce the movie, which added 86.1 million dollars in overseas sales. The film also sets up the next chapter of the MCU, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” which will premiere on July 25th.
“Marvel set the bar so high for so many years that an opening of 76 million dollars could make some say it should have reached 100 million or something like that. This is a great reboot. They are rebooting with ‘Thunderbolts.’ The excellent reviews and word of mouth should keep it in a good position,” stated Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore.
The Walt Disney Co. may not have expected such strong competition from Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” either. Warner Bros.’ release, which had led the box office for the past two weeks, continued to hold up remarkably well. In its third week, it grossed 33 million dollars, a drop of only 28%.
“Sinners”, a vampire movie set in 1932 about smuggler brothers (both played by Michael B. Jordan) who open a music club in their hometown of Mississippi, has proven to be a spring sensation in theaters. It has grossed $179.7 million domestically and $236.7 million worldwide so far.
Warner Bros. also took third place with “A Minecraft Movie”, the adaptation of the successful video game. In its fifth weekend, it earned another 13.7 million dollars to bring its North American box office total to nearly 400 million. Worldwide, it has totaled 873.4 million. Warner Bros. added “Block Party Edition” screenings over the weekend for a singing and “meme-along” experience. The film has seen some rowdy screenings with moviegoers inspired by TikTok.
More than three years after cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on set, Alec Baldwin’s western “Rust” finally hit theaters. Its release brought some closure to one of Hollywood’s biggest tragedies. Distributor Falling Forward Films did not report box office numbers, but estimates suggested that “Rust” grossed around $25,000 in 115 theaters.
Also premiering over the weekend was “The Surfer,” starring Nicolas Cage as a man trying to surf on an Australian beach “for locals only.” The release by Madman Films grossed $674,560 in 884 theaters.
Estimate of the top ten highest-grossing movies from Friday to Sunday in the United States and Canada, according to Comscore. The final figures will be released on Monday.
Here is the list:
1. “Thunderbolts” - $76 million.
2. “Sinners” - $33 million.
3. “A Minecraft Movie” - $13.7 million.
4. “The Accountant” - $9.5 million.
5. “Until Dawn” - $3.8 million.
6. “The Amateur” - $1.8 million.
7. “The King of Kings” - $1.7 million.
8. “Warfare” - $1.3 million.
9. “Hit: The Third Case” - $869,667.
10. “The Surfer” - $674,560.