Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts roared into theaters on May 2, 2025, and it’s already making waves at the box office. The antihero-packed superhero flick, led by Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan, pulled in an estimated $30 million on its opening Friday in North America, including $11.5 million from Thursday previews. With projections pointing to a $70-75 million domestic opening weekend and a global debut of $160-175 million, Thunderbolts is off to a promising start, even if it’s not quite reaching the stratospheric heights of Marvel’s pre-COVID glory days. Here’s a deep dive into its Friday performance, what’s driving the numbers, and why this film is a pivotal moment for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
A High-Voltage Friday Haul
According to industry reports, Thunderbolts raked in approximately $30 million on Friday across 4,330 domestic theaters, a figure that aligns with Deadline’s afternoon update estimating a $32 million opening day (including previews). Posts on X echoed this enthusiasm, with @GeekVibesNation pegging the Friday total at $31.5 million and @GiteshPandya noting a potential $75 million weekend in the “neighborhood” of the third-biggest debut of 2025, behind A Minecraft Movie and Captain America: Brave New World. The film’s Thursday previews, which grossed a solid $11.5 million, set the stage for a strong opening, though they trailed slightly behind Captain America: Brave New World’s $12 million preview haul earlier this year.
This Friday performance positions Thunderbolts to dominate the weekend box office, easily outpacing holdovers like Warner Bros.’ Sinners (projected at $30-35 million for its third weekend) and A Minecraft Movie (still chugging along in its fifth frame). The film’s 88% “Certified Fresh” Rotten Tomatoes score and a stellar 95% audience Popcornmeter rating—among the highest in the MCU—suggest strong word-of-mouth could push it closer to the high end of projections, potentially nearing $80 million domestically by Sunday.
Why the Numbers Matter
For Marvel, a $70-75 million domestic opening is solid but not spectacular. Pre-release tracking had varied widely, with early April estimates from The Hollywood Reporter as low as $63 million and Box Office Pro later boosting projections to $80-90 million. The $30 million Friday haul keeps Thunderbolts on track to meet or slightly exceed the more conservative forecasts, avoiding the lower-end fears of a flop akin to 2023’s The Marvels ($46.1 million opening). Globally, the film’s $160-175 million debut is competitive, with Variety noting strong international starts in markets like France, Spain, and China, where it began rolling out midweek.
However, Thunderbolts faces a high bar. With a reported $180 million production budget and $100 million in marketing, per Variety, the film needs to sustain momentum beyond its opening weekend to turn a profit. Captain America: Brave New World, which opened to $88.8 million in February, fizzled out at $414 million globally, leaving it in the red. Thunderbolts’ stronger critical reception (89% on Rotten Tomatoes vs. Brave New World’s 48%) and audience enthusiasm (4.5/5 stars on PostTrak, with 5 stars from kids and parents) give it a better shot at “svelte legs,” as The Hollywood Reporter puts it. Still, it’s a reminder that MCU films, once box office juggernauts, now face tougher scrutiny in a post-Endgame world.
What’s Fueling the Buzz?
Thunderbolts stands out for its fresh take on the MCU, assembling a ragtag team of antiheroes—Yelena Belova (Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), and John Walker (Wyatt Russell)—under the manipulative thumb of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Directed by Jake Schreier (Beef), the film’s character-driven focus and mental health themes have struck a chord. IMDb reviews call it “the MCU’s rawest exploration of mental health,” praising its emotional depth over endless explosions. This resonates with audiences craving more grounded superhero stories, as seen in X posts lauding its “refreshingly original” approach.
The ensemble cast is another draw. Pugh’s magnetic performance as Yelena has critics raving, with The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney calling her the “standout” of a “soulful Marvel adventure.” The star power of Stan, Harbour, and Louis-Dreyfus, combined with the film’s ties to Captain America: Brave New World and teases for Avengers: Doomsday (hinted at in a post-credits scene, per Variety), keeps fans invested. Marketing, including a Super Bowl LIX trailer and a Wheaties-inspired poster, has also fueled hype, despite some X users like @Luiz_Fernando_J noting “timid” early numbers in markets like the UK.
The Bigger Picture
Thunderbolts isn’t just another MCU entry—it’s the final film of Phase Five and a test of Marvel’s ability to rebound from recent stumbles (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, The Marvels). Its Friday performance suggests audiences are still eager for new MCU stories, especially ones that take risks with lesser-known characters. GameRant highlights how the film’s focus on morally gray antiheroes shows “audiences are ready for fresh perspectives,” while Collider sees it as a chance to “rehabilitate the image of comic book movies” after a shaky 2024.
The film’s success also sets the stage for Marvel’s 2025 slate, including The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July. A strong Thunderbolts run could rebuild confidence in the MCU’s box office clout, especially as it competes with DC’s Superman and other summer heavyweights. For now, its $30 million Friday is a win, outgrossing the entire box office from the first weekend of May 2024 ($73.9 million, per Deadline). If word-of-mouth holds, Thunderbolts could climb higher, proving Marvel’s misfits have what it takes to spark a summer blockbuster season.
What’s Next?
As Thunderbolts heads into Saturday and Sunday, all eyes are on whether it can hit or surpass the $80 million mark domestically. International markets, including a key rollout in Japan on Friday, will also shape its global total. With no major new releases challenging it this weekend, the film has room to breathe, but it’ll need to fend off Sinners’ remarkable staying power and A Minecraft Movie’s family appeal. Whatever the final tally, Thunderbolts’ electrifying Friday shows Marvel’s still got some juice—and this team of underdogs might just steal the summer spotlight.
