Los Angeles—Marvel’s latest superhero flick, “Thunderbolts,” is gearing up to storm theaters with a projected $70 million to $75 million haul in its domestic opening weekend, set for May 2, 2025. The film, a gritty ensemble of antiheroes led by Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes and Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, is banking on big crowds to kick off the summer movie season with a bang. Globally, it’s expected to rake in $160 million to $175 million over the same three days.
The numbers come straight from industry trackers who’ve been crunching early ticket sales and market trends. With no major releases daring to compete, “Thunderbolts” is poised to dominate the box office like a lightning strike in a clear sky. The film’s hefty $180 million production budget, plus another $100 million for marketing, means it’ll need to keep drawing crowds well beyond its debut to turn a profit. For context, last month’s “Captain America: Brave New World” opened strong but fizzled out, limping to $414 million worldwide—barely enough to break even.
“Thunderbolts” is Marvel’s attempt to shake off a string of underperforming comic book movies. The studio’s banking on its star-studded cast, including Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost and Wyatt Russell as John Walker, to pull in fans craving something fresh. The plot, centered on a team of misfits tackling a shadowy government conspiracy, has been kept mostly under wraps, but early screenings suggest it’s a darker, more grounded take than the usual Marvel fare.
Meanwhile, holdover “Sinners” is expected to chomp $35 million in its third weekend, dropping a modest 20% from last week. But all eyes are on “Thunderbolts” to deliver the kind of opening that could signal a rebound for superhero flicks. Advance ticket sales are already outpacing some recent Marvel releases, though they’re nowhere near the $211 million debut of “Deadpool & Wolverine” last summer.
The film’s release comes as theaters are desperate for a hit to fill seats after a shaky spring. Industry insiders say “Thunderbolts” could set the tone for the summer, with its mix of action, intrigue, and a few surprise cameos that Marvel’s keeping locked down tighter than a vault. Whether it’ll soar or stumble, the box office tally starts Friday.
“Thunderbolts” opens nationwide on May 2, 2025, in 4,000 theaters. It’s rated PG-13 and runs 2 hours, 14 minutes.