Mathematics is mathematics, and Disney’s Thunderbolts*, also known as The New Avengers, is a disappointment.
With a reported production budget of $180 million, plus an additional $100 million for marketing, Thunderbolts* would need to gross around $500 million to $550 million worldwide to break even, and unfortunately, it seems unlikely to even reach $400 million.
Seventeen days post-release, after three weekends, Marvel’s latest entry stands at $155.4 million domestically and $325.7 million globally.
When compared to three previous Marvel films that were deemed failures…
After 17 days, Captain America: A Brave New World earned $163.5 million domestically, amassing only $22.4 million globally for a total of $415 million.
Meanwhile, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania finished with $187.6 million domestically and a global total of $476 million.
Additionally, Forever made $136 million domestically, leading to a global gross of $442 million.
From my perspective, Thunderbolts* will likely perform worse than Forever worldwide.
This weekend, Thunderbolts* will face stiff competition as Mission: Impossible – Final Calculation and a live-action remake of Lilo and Stitch invade theaters, dominating the box office.
I’m sorry to say, but Thunderbolts* simply doesn’t resonate. Its box office performance has been disappointing, contrary to what some in the entertainment media may suggest.
What this suggests is that Captain America: A Brave New World may be in a rough spot for Marvel. Questions loom over the upcoming Fantastic Four: The First Step, slated for July, especially as there are reports the film is still undergoing reshoots—definitely not a promising sign this late in the process.
In the film industry, a bad movie flop can sometimes be more noteworthy than a great success. This current Marvel phase feels repetitive. It’s the same old CGI, tedious origin stories, and familiar quips. There’s a noticeable absence of genuine chemistry, with identity politics overshadowing the storytelling, and a tendency for the third act to fizzle out. Plus, audiences often need to wade through multiple streaming shows just to grasp the connections, only to sit through lengthy credits for a fleeting post-credits scene.
Overall, the Marvel franchise feels exhausted. Everything released post-Endgame has the same vibe as a less engaging sitcom.
