PakCorrespondent.com Entertainment Desk | Box Office
May 5, 2025 – Marvel Studios’ latest superhero ensemble, Thunderbolts, has officially launched the 2025 summer movie season with a solid global opening, earning $162 million worldwide in its debut weekend.
The film, headlined by Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan, brought in $76 million domestically and an additional $86 million internationally, distributor Walt Disney confirmed on Sunday.
Though slightly below the $88.8 million opening of Captain America: Brave New World earlier this year, the numbers were in line with expectations for a film led by secondary Marvel characters stepping into the spotlight for the first time.
“This is a respectable launch for a Marvel title featuring lesser-known heroes,” said Jeff Bock, senior analyst at Exhibitor Relations Co. “It’s a strong setup for what’s to come in the MCU.”
⚡ Setting the Stage for Marvel’s Big Phase Transition
Thunderbolts introduces a rogue team of anti-heroes and reformed villains, positioning itself as a narrative stepping stone to Marvel’s upcoming Fantastic Four (releasing in July) and Avengers: Doomsday, slated for summer 2026.
“It’s not just a standalone,” Bock added. “It’s a prelude to something much bigger.”
🌍 Global Response: Tepid in China, Strong Elsewhere
The film posted a soft $10.4 million opening in China, marking a cautious return for Hollywood in the Chinese market amid ongoing trade restrictions and import limitations tied to U.S.-China tensions.
Despite the China performance, international box office analysts noted the film doubled last year’s summer opener The Fall Guy, which was considered a disappointment.
🍿 Critical Praise and Audience Buzz
Thunderbolts is drawing Marvel’s best reviews since 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home. The film currently boasts an 88% critic score and an impressive 94% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Word of mouth is strong — we expect the momentum to build,” said Andrew Cripps, Disney’s head of global theatrical distribution.
📊 Weekend Box Office Recap
While Thunderbolts dominated the weekend, spring breakout hit Sinners held strong in second place with $33 million, pushing its domestic total to $179.7 million.
A Minecraft Movie secured third place, earning $13.7 million over the weekend and climbing to a domestic total of $398.2 million.
🎥 A Sequel-Heavy Summer Awaits
The 2025 summer movie slate is packed with major franchise entries, including:
- 🦖 Jurassic World: Rebirth
- 🕵️ Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
- 🦸 Superman: Legacy
With the summer season accounting for roughly 40% of annual box office revenue, Thunderbolts offers a hopeful sign for a post-pandemic industry still rebuilding momentum.
As of this weekend, U.S. and Canadian box office sales are tracking 15% ahead of 2024, though still 32% below 2019, which was supercharged by Avengers: Endgame’s record-setting run.
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