Marvel’s ‘Thunderbolts’ Surges to $76 Million Opening, Kicking Off Summer Box Office Revival

Marvel Studios’ latest superhero ensemble, Thunderbolts, opened strong at the domestic box office with an impressive $76 million debut, outperforming early projections and igniting hopes for a revitalized summer movie season.

Although the numbers fall short of the blockbuster heights once standard for Marvel, the film exceeded expectations by roughly 8%, signaling a positive shift for the studio. Industry analysts suggest Thunderbolts could mark the beginning of a new era for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

“This is the start of something bigger,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior analyst at Comscore. “With Thunderbolts, Fantastic Four, and next year’s Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel is poised for a real comeback.”

Thunderbolts follows Disney’s earlier 2025 release, Captain America: Brave New World, which opened to $88.5 million over Presidents Day weekend. While that film slightly outperformed Thunderbolts, both entries have helped anchor Disney’s presence in a competitive box office landscape.

Analyst David A. Gross, publisher of the FranchiseRe newsletter, acknowledged that superhero openings no longer hit the same heights as pre-pandemic years, but emphasized that Thunderbolts still represents a strong performance in today’s market. “The average superhero debut now sits around $55 million,” Gross noted, “so this is well above average.”

Meanwhile, Disney scored a surprise hit with the limited re-release of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, which edged out The Accountant 2 to claim the weekend’s No. 2 spot. Box office experts credit nostalgia and a theatrical experience that continues to draw fans back to the saga’s roots.

“It’s rare to see a re-release perform like this,” said Shawn Robbins of Box Office Theory. “But Star Wars has always thrived on the big screen, and fans are eager for that immersive experience again.”

Also in the mix are Warner Bros.’ Sinners and A Minecraft Movie, both of which have performed strongly since release. Sinners has grossed $179 million domestically, while Minecraft has pulled in an impressive $398 million.

Looking ahead, box office momentum is expected to build. With few major releases slated for the coming weekend, Thunderbolts, Sinners, and Minecraft are likely to maintain strong holds until Memorial Day weekend ushers in big-name titles like Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch and Paramount’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.

Dergarabedian believes this mix of superhero fare, family content, and franchise nostalgia sets the stage for a record-breaking holiday frame. “This is the lead-up to what could be one of the biggest Memorial Day weekends we’ve ever seen.”