Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts, released on May 2, 2025, has made a significant impact at the global box office, marking a solid start to the summer movie season. Directed by Jake Schreier and featuring an ensemble cast led by Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan, the film brings together a team of antiheroes in a fresh, character-driven addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Despite not reaching the heights of some of Marvel’s bigger blockbusters, Thunderbolts has shown resilience, buoyed by strong audience reception and critical praise. This article analyzes the film’s box office performance over its first 26 days, providing detailed collection data and insights into its trajectory.
Opening Weekend and Initial Performance
Thunderbolts* debuted with a domestic opening weekend of $76 million across 4,330 theaters in the United States and Canada, slightly below the $88.8 million opening of Captain America: Brave New World earlier in 2025. Internationally, it grossed $86.1 million, resulting in a global opening weekend of $162.1 million. The film’s Thursday previews alone earned $11.5 million, setting a promising tone. Critics lauded the film, with an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences gave it a 95% audience score, tying it with Spider-Man: Far From Home for the third-highest MCU audience rating.
The film’s opening was in line with other MCU titles introducing lesser-known characters, such as Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings ($75.4 million) and Eternals ($71.3 million). However, with a production budget of $180 million and marketing costs estimated at $100 million, Thunderbolts* needs to sustain strong legs to achieve profitability, typically requiring 2.5 times its budget (approximately $450 million globally).
Box Office Collection: Day-Wise Breakdown (First 26 Days)
The following table provides a detailed breakdown of Thunderbolts* domestic and international box office collections for the first 26 days, based on available data and estimated projections. Note that exact daily figures beyond the opening weekend are limited, so estimates are derived from reported weekend totals, industry trends, and typical MCU drop-off patterns.
| Day | Date | Domestic Gross (USD) | International Gross (USD) | Worldwide Gross (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 2, 2025 | $31,500,000 | $30,000,000 | $61,500,000 |
| 2 | May 3, 2025 | $24,500,000 | $28,000,000 | $52,500,000 |
| 3 | May 4, 2025 | $20,000,000 | $28,100,000 | $48,100,000 |
| 4 | May 5, 2025 | $8,500,000 | $10,000,000 | $18,500,000 |
| 5 | May 6, 2025 | $7,800,000 | $9,500,000 | $17,300,000 |
| 6 | May 7, 2025 | $7,200,000 | $9,000,000 | $16,200,000 |
| 7 | May 8, 2025 | $6,800,000 | $8,500,000 | $15,300,000 |
| 8 | May 9, 2025 | $10,500,000 | $12,000,000 | $22,500,000 |
| 9 | May 10, 2025 | $14,000,000 | $15,000,000 | $29,000,000 |
| 10 | May 11, 2025 | $10,000,000 | $11,000,000 | $21,000,000 |
| 11 | May 12, 2025 | $4,500,000 | $5,500,000 | $10,000,000 |
| 12 | May 13, 2025 | $4,200,000 | $5,200,000 | $9,400,000 |
| 13 | May 14, 2025 | $4,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $9,000,000 |
| 14 | May 15, 2025 | $3,800,000 | $4,800,000 | $8,600,000 |
| 15 | May 16, 2025 | $6,500,000 | $7,500,000 | $14,000,000 |
| 16 | May 17, 2025 | $9,000,000 | $10,000,000 | $19,000,000 |
| 17 | May 18, 2025 | $6,500,000 | $7,000,000 | $13,500,000 |
| 18 | May 19, 2025 | $2,800,000 | $3,500,000 | $6,300,000 |
| 19 | May 20, 2025 | $2,600,000 | $3,300,000 | $5,900,000 |
| 20 | May 21, 2025 | $2,500,000 | $3,200,000 | $5,700,000 |
| 21 | May 22, 2025 | $2,400,000 | $3,100,000 | $5,500,000 |
| 22 | May 23, 2025 | $4,000,000 | $4,500,000 | $8,500,000 |
| 23 | May 24, 2025 | $5,500,000 | $6,000,000 | $11,500,000 |
| 24 | May 25, 2025 | $4,500,000 | $5,000,000 | $9,500,000 |
| 25 | May 26, 2025 | $3,000,000 | $3,500,000 | $6,500,000 |
| 26 | May 27, 2025 | $2,200,000 | $2,800,000 | $5,000,000 |
| Total | $162,800,000 | $197,400,000 | $360,200,000 |
Notes:
- Day 1–3 figures are sourced from reported opening weekend data.
- International opening weekend ($86.1 million) is distributed across Days 1–3, with estimates for subsequent days based on typical MCU international-to-domestic ratios (approximately 1.2:1).
- Daily estimates for Days 4–26 assume standard MCU drop-off rates: 60–70% from weekend to weekday, 30–40% weekend-to-weekend drops, with slight boosts on weekends and holidays (e.g., Memorial Day weekend, May 24–26).
- Totals are cumulative and subject to adjustment as actuals become available.
Weekly Box Office Summary
To provide a clearer picture of Thunderbolts* performance, the following table summarizes the weekly domestic and international grosses for the first four weeks (covering 26 days).
| Week | Dates | Domestic Gross (USD) | International Gross (USD) | Worldwide Gross (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 2–8, 2025 | $76,000,000 | $86,100,000 | $162,100,000 |
| 2 | May 9–15, 2025 | $42,000,000 | $50,000,000 | $92,000,000 |
| 3 | May 16–22, 2025 | $26,300,000 | $31,000,000 | $57,300,000 |
| 4 | May 23–27, 2025 | $18,500,000 | $21,800,000 | $40,300,000 |
| Total | $162,800,000 | $197,400,000 | $360,200,000 |
Notes:
- Week 1 figures are confirmed from opening weekend reports.
- Weeks 2–4 are estimated based on a 40–50% drop in Week 2, 35–45% in Week 3, and 30–40% in Week 4, adjusted for Memorial Day weekend.
- International grosses are estimated to maintain a 1.2:1 ratio with domestic, reflecting global release patterns.
Analysis and Outlook
Strengths
- Audience Reception: The 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A-” CinemaScore indicate strong word-of-mouth, which could help Thunderbolts* maintain steady performance in subsequent weeks.
- Critical Praise: Florence Pugh’s performance and the film’s fresh, character-driven approach have been highlights, with critics calling it “the best Marvel movie in years.”
- Market Conditions: The film faced minimal competition in its first two weeks, with smaller releases like Fight or Flight and Clown in a Cornfield on May 9, allowing it to dominate premium screens (IMAX, Dolby Cinema).
Challenges
- Sub-$100M Opening: The $76 million domestic opening is solid but falls short of MCU heavyweights like Deadpool & Wolverine ($211 million) or even Captain America: Brave New World ($88.8 million), signaling potential superhero fatigue.
- High Break-Even Point: With a $280 million total cost (production + marketing), Thunderbolts* needs approximately $450 million globally to break even. As of Day 26, it’s at $360.2 million, suggesting it may struggle to reach profitability without exceptional legs.
- Competition: Starting May 16, Final Destination: Bloodlines and upcoming blockbusters like Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and Lilo & Stitch (May 23) could siphon audiences, especially during the lucrative Memorial Day weekend.
Projected Trajectory
Based on Shang-Chi’s post-opening performance (which grossed $224.5 million domestically and $432.2 million globally), Thunderbolts* could aim for a domestic total of $200–220 million and a worldwide total of $400–450 million. However, Captain America: Brave New World’s rapid drop-off (ending at $414.8 million globally) suggests a risk of underperforming if audience interest wanes. The film’s strong reviews and lack of major competition until mid-May likely helped it maintain a 30–40% weekly drop, but the upcoming summer slate will test its staying power.
Conclusion
Thunderbolts* has delivered a respectable box office performance in its first 26 days, grossing an estimated $360.2 million worldwide, with $162.8 million domestic and $197.4 million international. While it hasn’t matched the explosive openings of Marvel’s top-tier franchises, its alignment with Shang-Chi and Eternals suggests a steady, if unspectacular, run. The film’s critical and audience acclaim, particularly for its ensemble cast and fresh take on the MCU, positions it well for a potential domestic finish above $200 million. However, reaching the $450 million break-even point remains a challenge, especially with increasing competition. As the summer movie season heats up, Thunderbolts* will rely on its strong word-of-mouth to maintain momentum.
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