‘Thunderbolts*’ kicks off the summer movie season with $76 million at the box office

In New York, Marvel Studios’ latest release “Thunderbolts” made an impressive debut with $76 million in domestic ticket sales, as per studio estimates on Sunday. While falling short of Marvel’s more grand openings, the film’s solid No. 1 start marked the beginning of the summer box office season. The movie, featuring a team of antihero rejects akin to “Avengers,” aimed to revitalize Walt Disney Co.’s superhero franchise. However, its performance, similar to past debuts like “The Eternals” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” suggested that Marvel’s box office struggles might persist.

Despite high expectations due to positive reviews (88% on Rotten Tomatoes) and good word-of-mouth, “Thunderbolts” didn’t surpass projections. Directed by Jake Schreier and starring Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Sebastian Stan, the film received an “A-” CinemaScore from audiences, indicating strong potential for continued success. With a production budget of around $180 million, the movie also generated $86.1 million in international sales and teased the upcoming MCU installment “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.”

While “Thunderbolts” is poised for steady performance in the weeks ahead, industry experts view its debut as a crucial reset for Marvel following a period of high expectations. The film’s positive reception and audience buzz are expected to sustain its momentum. Meanwhile, Warner Bros.’ “Sinners,” led by Ryan Coogler, continued to perform well at the box office, grossing $33 million in its third week. The vampire-themed film starring Michael B. Jordan has been a surprise hit, earning over $179 million domestically and $236.7 million worldwide.

Additionally, Warner Bros.’ “A Minecraft Movie” maintained its box office success, adding $13.7 million in its fifth weekend to reach nearly $400 million in North America and $873.4 million globally. The studio capitalized on the film’s popularity by offering special “Block Party Edition” screenings for interactive experiences. The weekend also saw the release of “Rust,” a western starring Alec Baldwin, which brought some closure to a tragic incident on set involving the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Distributor Falling Forward Films estimated the film earned approximately $25,000 in 115 theaters.

Another new release, “The Surfer,” starring Nicolas Cage, opened to a modest $674,560 from 884 theaters. The final domestic box office rankings for the weekend, according to Comscore, listed the top 10 films as follows:
1. “Thunderbolts” – $76 million
2. “Sinners” – $33 million
3. “A Minecraft Movie” – $13.7 million
4. “The Accountant 2” – $9.5 million
5. “Until Dawn” – $3.8 million
6. “The Amateur” – $1.8 million
7. “The King of Kings” – $1.7 million
8. “Warfare” – $1.3 million
9. “Hit: The Third Case” – $869,667
10. “The Surfer” – $674,560