‘Thunderbolts’ Aims for $70–75 Million U.S Debut, Kicks Off Summer Box Office With a Bang — But Is It Enough?

Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan’s antihero-led Marvel film tops the North American box office, but falls short of higher projections amid a hefty $280M combined budget.

May 3, 2025: Disney-Marvel’s Thunderbolts has opened its North American run with a projected weekend total of $70–75 million, launching the 2025 summer box office season on a solid—if slightly muted—note. The Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan-starrer is playing in 4,330 theaters across the U.S. and Canada.

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According to Deadline, the film’s estimates align with earlier industry projections from Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, which pegged its opening between $63M and $77M. However, Box Office Pro had projected a more optimistic $80–90M weekend.

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While most studios would celebrate a $70M debut, Marvel’s Thunderbolts comes with big expectations—thanks to its massive $180 million production budget and $100 million marketing spend. That puts extra pressure on the film to perform exceptionally over the coming weeks to reach profitability.

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How It Stacks Up:

• The film dethrones vampire thriller Sinners from the No. 1 spot at the domestic box office.
• Sinners is projected to earn $30–35 million in its third weekend, pushing its domestic total above $175 million.
• A Minecraft Movie continues to hold strong, expected to gross $13 million this weekend and reach nearly $400 million in North America.

What Could Help Thunderbolts Fly Higher:

• Strong Rotten Tomatoes ratings — 88% from critics, 95% from audiences.
• Fresh storytelling — focusing on antiheroes like Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, and Red Guardian, rather than typical Marvel superheroes.

Despite the lower-than-expected start, Thunderbolts could still surprise if weekend walk-ins and international markets deliver stronger-than-expected numbers. Disney will be watching closely—especially given Marvel’s need for a box office win.

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Thunderbolts box office, Florence Pugh, Marvel 2025, Thunderbolts opening weekend, MCU box office, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Disney Marvel, summer movie season, Rotten Tomatoes Thunderbolts, Marvel antiheroes, Thunderbolts budget, Marvel Studios news