THUNDERBOLTS* Set To Exceed Box Office Expectations With $160M to $175M Global Debut

THUNDERBOLTS* Set To Exceed Box Office Expectations With $160M to $175M Global Debut

The latest box office updates for Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts* are in, and the latest MCU movie looks set to exceed expectations with an impressive global debut...

By MarkCassidy - Apr 29, 2025 06:04 PM EST
Filed Under: Thunderbolts
Source: Via THR

Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts* arrives in theaters this weekend, and the movie looks set to exceed box office expectations with an impressive global debut.

The most recent estimates predicted a $63 million - $73 million domestic bow, but THR is now reporting that it will likely be closer to $70 million to $75 million, and could climb as high as $175 million worldwide on a production budget of $180 million (before marketing costs).

It obviously remains to be seen how well the movie holds up over the next few weeks, but strong reviews certainly won't hurt. The embargo lifted earlier today, and Thunderbolts* is now certified fresh with 87% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 103 reviews.

This score will most likely fluctuate as more verdicts are added (it's already dropped from 93%), but positive word of mouth is sure to play a factor. Despite some dark themes, Thunderbolts* should be a real crowd pleaser.

We should have a review up at some point tomorrow. For now, you can check out my reaction below.

Marvel Studios recently announced the exciting news that Son Lux will be scoring Thunderbolts*. The three-member, American experimental band was Oscar and BAFTA- nominated for their score for 2022’s best picture, Everything Everywhere All at Once. 

In Thunderbolts*, Marvel Studios assembles an unconventional team of antiheroes — Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster and John Walker. After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, these disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts. Will this dysfunctional group tear themselves apart, or find redemption and unite as something much more before it’s too late?

Returning to their Marvel Cinematic Universe roles are Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Hannah John-Kamen and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The cast also includes newcomers to the MCU—Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer and Wendell Edward Pierce.

Jake Schreier directs Thunderbolts* with Kevin Feige producing. Louis D’Esposito, Brian Chapek and Jason Tamez serve as executive producers.

Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* opens in U.S. theaters on May 2, 2025.

THUNDERBOLTS* Concept Art Reveals Alternate Costume Designs For Taskmaster And Ghost
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THUNDERBOLTS* Concept Art Reveals Alternate Costume Designs For Taskmaster And Ghost

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MotherGooseUPus
MotherGooseUPus - 4/29/2025, 6:26 PM
That's pretty impressive for a movie no one thought would do good. I'm guessing a total haul in the $580-$700M range.

Anyways this looks like alot of fun and I'm sure will be better than any movie we've gotten in the past 3yrs (not including Dp & W). Excited to see this movie and where these characters go.
Gabimaru
Gabimaru - 4/29/2025, 6:53 PM
@MotherGooseUPus - i lowkey think that this is gonna be their best offering since maybe guardians 3? And i do hope marvel is back because i miss getting hype with fans for marvel movies for a lobg time.
Batmangina
Batmangina - 4/29/2025, 7:30 PM
@MotherGooseUPus - I would've assumed it would beat everything this side of DP&W hands down - ensemble cast of Dollar Tree Avengers with a few recognizable characters and a member berry or two - the $600M mark seems totally reasonable.

The big issue will be that everyone will take that VERY MID level performance and declare the MCU to be back.

It's not.
TheNewYorker
TheNewYorker - 4/29/2025, 9:22 PM
@MotherGooseUPus - Yeah, that’s cool and all but Sinners was a [frick]ing masterpiece.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 4/29/2025, 9:23 PM
@Batmangina -

"The big issue will be that everyone will take that VERY MID level performance and declare the MCU to be back.

It's not."

Louder please. Before Josh and other shills will drown this fact with never ending articles that marvel is back
hue66
hue66 - 4/29/2025, 9:25 PM
@MotherGooseUPus - D&W was okay but I didn't like it as much as others. This looks better to me
Batmangina
Batmangina - 4/29/2025, 9:33 PM
@vectorsigma - User Comment Image
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 4/29/2025, 10:26 PM
@TheNewYorker -

Sinners is dumb trashy woke anti White slop.

Sinners is not a masterpiece.
Equivocal
Equivocal - 4/29/2025, 11:52 PM
@TheNewYorker -

to be honest, 'sinners' was good, NOT a masterpiece but good

I thought it was a reimagine version of From Dusk Till Dawn
minus gorgeous Salma Hayek

other than that, it was fun !
Equivocal
Equivocal - 4/29/2025, 11:59 PM
@MakeAmericaGrea -

every comment you make is just like listening to you your white supremacist leader trump:

boring, cringe, eye roll worthy, lies, lies, lies

at this point just wanted to let you know that, no need to reply,
I won't either.

go celebrate on truth social.

http://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.fi7-DTlwB6IqJP62AMuvIwHaEK%26pid%3DApi&f=1&ipt=db230b8c4d04cf1f5d9d5b17c3402e4e54e11d59e838d7b804d3013142370295
AllsNotGood
AllsNotGood - 4/30/2025, 2:29 AM
@MotherGooseUPus - no chance that high
DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 4/29/2025, 6:26 PM
Counting on y'all to review this thing. I simply don't trust the media anymore. Not even for little shit like movie reviews. I have warmed to it though. Just not a day one view for me
JustAWaffle
JustAWaffle - 4/30/2025, 2:57 AM
@DarthOmega - yeah, I’ll be here for the spoilers.
grif
grif - 4/29/2025, 6:27 PM
what a monster. marvel cant be stopped!

Nolanite
Nolanite - 4/29/2025, 7:48 PM
@grif - yes...yes it can.
Brand new world... Should I name some more?

Nolanite out
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 4/29/2025, 10:29 PM
@Nolanite -

The Marvels...

Echo...

Quantumania...
JDL
JDL - 4/29/2025, 11:33 PM
@Nolanite - CA:BNW was not that bad, especially the last half. YMMV.

The problem imo is that audience for this sort of thing has shrunk. Some dropped after Endgame and are perma-gone, others quality minimums have shot up a whole bunch.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/29/2025, 6:33 PM
Sweet , I hope the word of mouth stays relatively positive which then helps lead to the box office success of the film!!.

The movie doesn’t have any big competition till MI comes out on the 23rd so that gives it enough time imo to break even at least and then go onto make a profit if it has legs which would depend on rewatchability.

Anyway , the movie has seemed good so looking forward to it!!.

User Comment Image
KaptainKhaos
KaptainKhaos - 4/29/2025, 6:38 PM
Good for them!
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 4/29/2025, 6:38 PM
D&W's budget was $200 million and it had to make close to a billion just to start turning a profit.

It's possible therefore that if Thunderbolts doesn't hit the $837, 000 mark it could be considered a flop.
(budget x 4.65)
Polaris
Polaris - 4/29/2025, 7:41 PM
@ObserverIO - Quantumania made 476 million, the budget was 200 and it was (barely) profitable. If Thunderbolts* makes 500-600 million it won't be a flop.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 4/29/2025, 8:48 PM
@Polaris -
$70 million to $75 million would still be less than the $88m opening of Captain America 4 - of which it is still tracking behind.

I doubt people will be lining up to re-watch Thunderbolts with the nature of the film. It's simply not that sort of movie.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 4/29/2025, 8:57 PM
@Polaris - Unless they lied and it was an unmitigated disaster.
Polaris
Polaris - 4/29/2025, 9:30 PM
@Scarilian - I don't know about its rewatchability, but if the word of mouth is good then it will have better legs than bnw
GeneralZod
GeneralZod - 4/29/2025, 10:07 PM
@Polaris - rewatchability is everything in the CBM genre. Can't think of a single pure MCU film post EG that was worthy of 2+ viewings. Maybe Shang Chi.
JDL
JDL - 4/29/2025, 11:48 PM
@Polaris - AM's $476M was the gross. Net was around $225M. P&A was at least $75M so it lost money before secondary revenues kicked in.
JustAWaffle
JustAWaffle - 4/30/2025, 3:01 AM
@GeneralZod - I’ve watched NWH a few times. It degrades in impact with each watch, but overall worth it imo. But overall I agree.

JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 4/30/2025, 7:03 AM
@Polaris - AMQ was definitely not profitable. You're correct about Thuderbolts though
JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 4/30/2025, 7:03 AM
@Scarilian - it's going to bomb. big time
Fogs
Fogs - 4/30/2025, 8:59 AM
@GeneralZod - spider man nwh, gotg3 and dp&w come to mind as stuff people would watch more than once in the theaters.
GeneralZod
GeneralZod - 4/30/2025, 11:35 AM
@JustAWaffle - Yep. Technically, NWH, like DP/W, is not a "pure" MCU film. You take away the Sony Spider-men and the Sony gallery of super-villains, and NWH does $800MM, not $1.9MM.
Polaris
Polaris - 5/1/2025, 7:40 PM
@GeneralZod - Now I've watched it and I want to watch it again, so there's that. We'll see if the GA audience shares my opinion
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 4/29/2025, 6:39 PM
top that marvel
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