Thunderbolts* Defies Box Office Odds: MCU’s Latest Hit Shows Impressive Staying Power
MCU continues to find success with its latest release, Thunderbolts*. The film posted an impressive $33.1 million in its second three-day weekend at the U.S. box office. This strong performance makes it the 13th best second-weekend drop in MCU history and the fourth best post-COVID.
The drop was just 55.5% compared to its opening weekend, showcasing better audience retention than many recent superhero movies.
Thunderbolts* stands out among other recent MCU releases for its relatively small second-weekend decline. In comparison, Thor: Love and Thunder saw a significant 67.7% drop in its second weekend, while Multiverse of Madness fell by 67%. Even No Way Home, which was a major box office hit, experienced a 67.5% decline.
On the other hand, Black Panther remains the MCU’s best performer in this regard, with just a 44.7% decrease.
The film’s success can be partly attributed to the strong performances by the ensemble cast, particularly Florence Pugh, whose portrayal of Yelena Belova has drawn significant praise.
The film has also benefitted from positive word-of-mouth and a dedicated fan base excited to see the new team dynamics within the MCU.
The total U.S. gross for Thunderbolts now stands at $128.4 million. Projections suggest it could reach between $195 million and $210 million domestically. This puts it in a similar range to other successful MCU team-up movies. Here’s a comparison to other recent MCU releases:
- Captain America: Brave New World – $200,469,390, domestic
- Deadpool & Wolverine – $636,745,858, domestic
- The Marvels – $84,500,223, domestic
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 – $358,995,815, domestic
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania – $214,506,909, domestic
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