Marvel’s unconventional ensemble film holds strong in its second weekend, as Ryan Coogler’s Sinners and Minecraft movie continue their blockbuster runs ahead of a high-octane May slate.
Los Angeles [US], May 12:
Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts claimed the top spot at the North American box office this weekend, bringing in $33.1 million in its second weekend for a domestic total of $128.5 million and $272.2 million globally. The film, featuring Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan, held well with a 55% drop, outperforming several recent MCU titles in week-two retention.
Directed by Jake Schreier, Thunderbolts assembles a rogue team of antiheroes including Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. In a post-release twist that energized fan speculation, Disney confirmed the film’s asterisk nods to its unofficial subtitle, “The New Avengers,” setting the stage for next year’s Avengers: Doomsday.
While no major new release challenged its reign, the box office remained lively:
Top Weekend Highlights:
1. Thunderbolts
- $33.1M weekend
- $128.5M North American total
- $272.2M global
- Strong audience reception and critical praise keep momentum high.
2. Sinners
- Ryan Coogler’s supernatural thriller starring Michael B. Jordan continued its stunning run, earning $21.1 million in its fourth weekend.
- Crossed $200M domestic and sits at $283.3 million worldwide.
- The film adds to Coogler’s streak after Creed and Black Panther.
3. Minecraft Movie
- Still building up box office dominance with $8 million in its sixth weekend.
- Reached a massive $909.6 million globally, trailing only The Super Mario Bros. Movie in the video game adaptation race.
4. The Accountant 2
- The action sequel from Amazon MGM Studios brought in $6.1 million, boosting its domestic cume to $50.9 million.
5. Clown in the Cornfield
- IFC’s slasher flick delivered a solid $3.7 million debut, making it the most successful of the new nationwide releases.
Meanwhile, A24’s indie gem Friendship — a bromantic dramedy starring Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd — wowed critics and niche audiences alike. Opening in just six theaters, it achieved a remarkable $75,137 per theater average, the highest of 2025 so far for a limited release.
Looking Ahead:
Industry analysts expect the calm to break soon. Final Destination: Bloodlines, Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, Disney’s Lilo & Stitch remake, and Karate Kid: Legends are all set to arrive in May.
“This relatively quiet weekend is just the calm before the proverbial storm,” noted Paul Dergarabedian, senior analyst at Comscore. “It’s shaping up to be an epic May for moviegoers.”
With strong holdovers and massive May releases ahead, cinema chains are bracing for a surge — and fans are clearly ready for the blockbuster wave to continue.