Marvel Studios has fired the opening salvo of the summer box office season with Thunderbolts*, delivering a respectable global debut that signals a modest rebound from last year’s strike-disrupted calendar. Launching with an estimated US$162.1 million worldwide (per Variety), the latest MCU entry outpaced its North American haul (US$76 million) with a stronger showing internationally, where it brought in US$86.1 million across key markets.
After a 2024 summer plagued by production delays and a lack of heavyweight titles, the arrival of Thunderbolts* marks a welcome return to blockbuster form. Just a year ago, Universal’s The Fall Guy had the unenviable task of opening the season in place of the delayed Deadpool & Wolverine, stumbling to a muted US$65.4 million debut. In contrast, Marvel’s ragtag antihero ensemble has landed the third-best start of any U.S. studio release so far in 2025, trailing only A Minecraft Movie and Captain America: Brave New World.
While Thunderbolts* couldn’t match the US$192 million bow of February’s Captain America: Brave New World, it enters the conversation with healthier audience reception and stronger word-of-mouth. That could prove crucial in the coming weeks, as the film’s staying power will determine whether it can justify its US$180 million production budget and hefty US$100 million marketing campaign. Early signs suggest more stability than Marvel’s last outing, which collapsed quickly after opening due to poor reviews.
Directed by Jake Schreier, Thunderbolts* pulls together several familiar faces from past MCU chapters: Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, Wyatt Russell’s John Walker, David Harbour’s Red Guardian, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine.
China led the overseas charge with US$10.4 million, followed by the UK and Ireland (US$7.7 million), Mexico (US$7.3 million), Brazil (US$4 million), and France (US$3.8 million). Other key contributors include Germany (US$3.6 million), South Korea (US$3.5 million), Australia (US$3.4 million), Japan (US$3.2 million), and Spain (US$2.8 million).
Elsewhere at the global box office, Warner Bros’ Sinners continued to perform strongly, adding US$43.4 million in its third weekend to lift its global tally to US$236.7 million. In North America, the film declined just 28% week-on-week, raking in US$33 million, while its international drop was similarly soft at 27%. So far, the Prohibition-era thriller has overperformed domestically with US$179.7 million, aided by its thematic resonance and Michael B. Jordan’s drawing power. The UK remains its top international market with US$13.8 million.
In another corner of the release calendar, A Minecraft Movie is quickly cementing its place as the year’s top box office performer. Adding another US$40.3 million globally, the film has now amassed US$873.4 million, with US$475.2 million of that coming from overseas markets. Currently ranked second among video game adaptations, just behind The Super Mario Bros. Movie, its international legs show no sign of slowing.
Marvel’s Thunderbolts* now sets the tone for what could be a much-needed revitalisation of the theatrical space. With major releases like Lilo & Stitch, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, and Jurassic World Rebirth on the horizon, studios are hoping the summer rush will pull audiences back into multiplexes in meaningful numbers.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace.
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