THUNDERBOLTS*'s Audience Score Revealed As Movie Exceeds Expectations With Estimated $11M Thursday Previews

THUNDERBOLTS*'s Audience Score Revealed As Movie Exceeds Expectations With Estimated $11M Thursday Previews

With fans and moviegoers alike finally getting to see Thunderbolts*, an Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes' Popcornmeter has been generated. We also have some early box office projections for Thursday...

By JoshWilding - May 02, 2025 03:05 AM EST
Filed Under: Thunderbolts

Thunderbolts* arrived in U.S. theaters yesterday afternoon, and positive word of mouth is already lending this ragtag team a helping hand. According to Deadline, early projections point to an $11 million start at the domestic box office from Thursday previews. 

That figure is subject to change later today, but this is higher than expected and a solid start for a movie featuring a team of relatively obscure MCU characters. 

While $11 million is behind Captain America: Brave New World's $12 million haul, that had the advantage of being a billion-dollar franchise with a recognisable brand name. It also plummeted in subsequent weekends when it became clear that audiences weren't overly impressed by a movie that underwent multiple rounds of extensive reshoots. 

Thunderbolts* has already beaten Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings ($8.8 million) and Eternals ($9.5 million), and some analysts believe initial $75 million opening weekend projections could now rise to upwards of $80 million. 

The movie's Rotten Tomatoes score increased to 90% yesterday evening, but has since settled back to 88%. Moviegoers have weighed in, though, awarding it a "Certified Hot" 96% on the Popcornmeter (formerly known as the Audience Score). 

That's even more crucial than the critic score because Thunderbolts* will benefit hugely from repeat viewings in the weeks ahead. We'd bet on Marvel Studios revealing the asterisk's meaning publicly too as that should further boose interest among casual fans. 

"Thunderbolts* redefines superhero storytelling to deliver a moving and powerful story that does for the 'Multiverse Saga' what The Avengers did for the 'Infinity Saga' in 2012," we said in our review. "These heroes have earned their place on a Wheaties box."

You can check out a new TV spot for Thunderbolts* below.

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?

The cast of Thunderbolts* will be led by Florence Pugh as Yelena Boleva, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster, Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, and Lewis Pullman as "Bob."

Written by Eric Pearson, Lee Sung Jin, and Joanna Calo, and directed by Jake Schreier, Thunderbolts* is now playing in theaters.

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Gizmo1221
Gizmo1221 - 5/2/2025, 3:38 AM
That after credit is FANTASTIC!
movieguy18
movieguy18 - 5/2/2025, 4:16 AM
LOVED IT! Such a fun film while tackling difficult subjects. I loved Florence before this movie but now she’s definitely one of my favorite actors. Lewis Pullman is going to be a star.
DannyBrandy20
DannyBrandy20 - 5/2/2025, 4:20 AM
@movieguy18 - This movie did best job at showing past Black Widow stuff than actual Black Widow movie.
DannyBrandy20
DannyBrandy20 - 5/2/2025, 4:18 AM
Most satisfied MCU movie since Avengers Infinity War.

Sentry vs Thunderbolts cgi looked dodgy when showcasing his powers. Also how did Bob's hair turn to brown after dyeing his hair blond? That part I didn't get.
Mrnorth1921
Mrnorth1921 - 5/2/2025, 4:42 AM
@GodHercules20 - sentry is a reality warper or molecule warper. He can change how he looks as well.
DannyBrandy20
DannyBrandy20 - 5/2/2025, 7:49 AM
@Mrnorth1921 - In the comics he does but in the movie not explained
grendelthing
grendelthing - 5/2/2025, 8:17 AM
@GodHercules20 - Of all things I need the movie to explain, how darkness and shadow turn blond hair dark isn't one them.
Fogs
Fogs - 5/2/2025, 4:56 AM
Very refreshing to read these favorable reactions in this site. I really want to see a new, good MCU film for a change.
TheBlueMorpho
TheBlueMorpho - 5/2/2025, 6:28 AM
Saw it last night. Best MCU movie since Endgame for me.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 5/2/2025, 6:46 AM
Sweet , good for it in regards to the audience score and preview box office thus far!!.

However what’s with this narrative of multiple rounds of reshoots for BNW?…

Onah has admitted that they did do reshoots like any Marvel film and while they may have done more then usual , there was only one period of that so idk why that rumor keeps persisting.

Anyway , looking forward to Thunderbolts this weekend!!.
Rpendo
Rpendo - 5/2/2025, 7:04 AM
Very, very good movie.

My complaints are fairly minor. The action was very good, the performances were among the best I’ve seen in a comic movie. Pugh and Pull plan are fantastic, in particular. The movie LOOKED good, too. Very well shot, great practical effects. I have no idea where the “dark and hard to see” complaints are coming from… the only dimly lit scenes in the movie are in the furnace and maybe Red Guardian’s house, and that isn’t exactly a huge chunk of the movie.

I want more of this from Marvel. Bigger, ballsier swings, please. Fewer paint-by-numbers, rushed, predictable cgi green screen nonsense movies that cost 300 million and look like they just got finished shooting ten minutes before release.

Very happy with this one.
Nolanite
Nolanite - 5/2/2025, 7:12 AM
Less than BNW?

Yeppers most definitely going to flop this weekend.

This makes my ding dong tingle! Should I spoil who gets killed in the first act of the movie? Am I that much of an asshole?

Only time will tell.

Nolanite out
TheFinestSmack
TheFinestSmack - 5/2/2025, 7:51 AM
@Nolanite - This site has already spoiled that 12 times in the last 3 weeks lol
grendelthing
grendelthing - 5/2/2025, 8:19 AM
@Nolanite - Based on my Thursday evening theater crowd and their reaction at the end, I'm confident this movie is going to do quite well.
Nolanite
Nolanite - 5/2/2025, 10:55 AM
@TheFinestSmack -

Good point.

I am recalling my threat. Good looking out!

Nolanite out
JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 5/2/2025, 7:28 AM
comparing this to a bunch of flops is an interesting promotion strategy.
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