Thunderbolts Targets $75 Million Opening Weekend Box Office

Will “Thunderbolts” Strike Gold at the Box Office? Marvel’s Antiheroes Are Ready to Rumble

Marvel’s latest gamble is bringing the bad guys to the big screen—and the studio is hoping it’ll bring the big bucks too. This weekend, “Thunderbolts” crashes into theaters with a projected domestic debut between $70 million and $75 million, aiming to reignite some of that good ol’ MCU magic that’s been flickering in recent years.

Related: Marvel President Kevin Feige Announces Avengers Doomsday Production Underway

Featuring a ragtag crew of morally gray misfits—including Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, Wyatt Russell’s U.S. Agent, and David Harbour’s Red Guardian—Thunderbolts promises a grittier, more grounded take on superhero teamwork. Think Avengers, but if everyone had serious trust issues and maybe a few felonies under their belt.

Thunder Rolls In, But Is It Loud Enough?

While Thunderbolts is expected to dominate the box office this weekend as the only major newcomer, its projected opening is softer than recent Marvel standards. For context:

• “Captain America: Brave New World” opened with $88 million domestically
• “Deadpool & Wolverine” stormed in with $221 million
• “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” snagged $118 million
• Even the less-loved “Eternals” managed $71 million

With a $180 million production budget and a marketing tab nearing $100 million, Thunderbolts is hoping for long legs—and not just from Yelena’s high kicks. Marvel needs this one to hold steady at the box office longer than Brave New World, which started strong but fell hard, ultimately tapping out at $414 million globally.

Global Outlook: Mission (Somewhat) Possible?

Worldwide, Thunderbolts is forecasted to bring in $160 million to $175 million during its opening weekend. That would put it ahead of The Marvels, but still a step behind Marvel’s top earners. Fortunately, there’s a hook: most of the Thunderbolts cast will return for 2026’s highly anticipated “Avengers: Doomsday”, which could draw more fans in who don’t want to miss the setup.

Facing Off Against “Sinners” (And Vampires)

While Thunderbolts will no doubt top the charts this weekend, it won’t be without competition. “Sinners”, the R-rated vampire thriller from Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan, is still sinking its fangs into audiences, expected to rake in another $35 million in its third weekend—a drop of just 20%. Critics love it (88% on Rotten Tomatoes), and the film has already passed $160 million globally.

So even as Thunderbolts thunders into theaters, it may have to watch its back… especially if “Sinners” keeps up the bite.

Related: Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World Officially a Box Office Disappointment

What Comes Next?

Marvel is far from done flexing its multiverse muscles this summer. Coming up:

• “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” drops July 25
• DC’s “Superman” lands July 11, bringing its own box office punch

But for now, the question remains: will audiences embrace this darker, edgier side of the MCU, or will Thunderbolts fizzle instead of flash?

We’ll be watching the numbers—and the after-credits scenes—very closely.