Summary

Thunderbolts* is Marvel's latest hit, defying expectations with a large opening weekend haul of over $175 million globally.
The movie's success signals a return to form for Marvel, focusing on morally gray characters and compelling storytelling.
Thunderbolts* showcases a unique perspective with anti-heroes teaming up to fight a new villain, challenging traditional hero narratives.

After recent failures at the box office (except Deadpool and Wolverine), Marvel seems to have struck gold with its latest offering , Thunderbolts*. The good word of mouth is prompting the audience to watch the superhero flick in large numbers, and defying expectations to earn a staggering amount of money during its opening weekend.

The ongoing Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is coming to a conclusion with Thunderbolts* and chronicles the journey of anti-heroes getting together to fight a villain named Sentry. The movie received an overwhelming response after its premiere and made fans believe that Marvel is back on track to tell hard-hitting stories. Along with earning positive reviews from critics, the movie is also proving to be a huge box office success, with opening weekend numbers that could surpass those of two Marvel films.

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By Catherine Armecin Martin

**Thunderbolts* eyeing to beat two Marvel movies with staggering opening numbers**

According to a report in Deadline, Marvel's latest entry, Thunderbolts*, is eyeing a global haul of $175 million+ in the film's opening weekend. As per the report, the movie is on track to earn somewhere between $70M-$75M domestically, and garner close to $100M in international markets. Moreover, the ticket pre-sales for the aforementioned film in the U.S. And Canada have already crossed $12 million, which is pretty similar to the numbers of Eternals. If the Thunderbolts* successfully manage to gross the figures mentioned above, it would leave behind two Marvel movies, Shang-Chi and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1, in the list of biggest opening weekend earners in MCU history. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings earned $139.7 million in its opening weekend.

On the other hand, the first movie in the GOTG franchise made more than $161 million in the first three days of its release globally. Conversely, the domestic opening figures of Thunderbolts* seem to be better than Thor, Ant-Man, and Eternals.

Thunderbolts* sees a group of anti-heroes who find themselves in a death trap and must embark on a journey to accomplish a dangerous mission. As they navigate a perilous path filled with betrayal, violence, and moral ambiguity, each member is forced to reckon with their haunting pasts and personal demons, testing their loyalty, resilience, and the true meaning of redemption. The film stars Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier), David Harbour (Red Guardian), Wyatt Russell (John Walker/U.S. Agent), Hannah John-Kamen (Ava Starr/Ghost) and Lewis Pullman (Sentry) in pivotal roles.

The $175 million+ opening weekend for Thunderbolts* is a big win for Marvel for several reasons. After a string of underwhelming box office results and mixed critical reception (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, The Marvels), such a strong performance signals that fans are once again excited about Marvel stories. Additionally, the movie primarily focuses on morally gray characters rather than traditional heroes, showcasing that audiences are ready to experience new stories and fresh character perspectives. Fans have been requesting Marvel to elevate the storytelling aspect of their big-screen projects, and it seems they have finally achieved it with Thunderbolts*. Moreover, the final chapter of Phase 5, a major hit, helps end the phase on a high note and builds strong anticipation for Phase 6 and upcoming titles like Avengers: Doomsday and Fantastic 4.