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‘Thunderbolts – New Avengers’ Second Weekend Box Office Falls to $32.4M
May
Marvel Studios’ latest release, Thunderbolts – New Avengers, saw a significant decline in its second weekend at the domestic box office, bringing in $32.4 million, a 56.4% drop from its opening weekend.
Box Office Actuals Lower Than Estimates
Initial estimates for the second weekend were optimistic, hovering around $35 million. That figure was later revised to $33.1 million before actual numbers confirmed a final total of $32.4 million. While not disastrous, the drop reflects ongoing struggles for the post-Endgame Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) era.
The film’s opening weekend brought in $74.3 million, ranking as the second-lowest MCU opening ever. Combined with this weekend’s performance, the domestic total now stands at $127.7 million, while the international gross is $143.6 million, pushing the global total to $271.3 million.
Second-Weekend Decline in Context
A 56.4% second-weekend drop is the 15th biggest in MCU history, though it remains the 4th best post-COVID performance for a second weekend. Still, comparisons to similar titles highlight the underperformance. For instance, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings had a higher Friday and finished its second weekend at $34.7 million.
Despite efforts to drum up enthusiasm—including rebranding the film as New Avengers—audiences have not turned out in large numbers. Some analysts suggest that marketing overstated potential turnout to generate FOMO (fear of missing out), but audience interest failed to materialize.
Thunderbolts – New Avengers: Daily Box Office Breakdown
Opening Weekend:
- May 2 (incl. previews): $31.81M
- May 3 (Sat): $24.68M
- May 4 (Sun): $17.80M
Weekdays: - May 5 (Mon): $5.01M
- May 6 (Tue): $7.46M
- May 7 (Wed): $4.32M
- May 8 (Thu): $4.26M
Second Weekend: - May 9 (Fri): $9.09M
- May 10 (Sat): $13.51M
- May 11 (Sun): $9.80M
Thunderbolts vs. the MCU Standard
Thunderbolts – New Avengers positions itself as a spiritual sequel to Black Widow, prominently featuring Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova. However, despite the inclusion of characters like Winter Soldier and the new Sentry, critics and fans have noted a lack of appeal in the ensemble cast and narrative focus. Comparisons have been drawn to past underperformers like The Marvels and Madame Web, raising questions about the effectiveness of Marvel’s current strategy.
Criticism has also been directed at Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, with some questioning the decision to rebrand the film as New Avengers, given the absence of core fan-favorite characters like Iron Man, Captain America, and Spider-Man. The move was seen by some as a marketing tactic rather than a meaningful creative pivot.
Thunderbolts Box Office Totals (as of May 11):
- Domestic: $127.7 million (47.1%)
- International: $143.6 million (52.9%)
- Worldwide Total: $271.3 million
Looking Ahead
With Thunderbolts – New Avengers now in its second week and facing a crowded summer release calendar, it’s unclear whether the film will gain the momentum needed to break even or exceed projections. The next major milestone is the $300 million global mark, which remains within reach, but far below the expectations once associated with Marvel’s tentpole films.
Whether the performance is a one-off or further proof of shifting audience preferences in the superhero genre remains to be seen.
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