LOS ANGELES — Marvel’s latest film venture, “Thunderbolts,” is set to dominate the weekend box office, raking in an estimated $31.5 million from Friday and preview screenings across 4,330 theaters. Projections suggest that the ensemble action film could achieve a domestic opening between $70 million and $75 million, bolstered further by earnings from IMAX and other premium formats.
Though “Thunderbolts” represents a potential new franchise, many of its characters have appeared in prior Marvel Cinematic Universe titles. This release underscores a shift in Marvel Studios’ box office prominence. If projections hold true, it could mark one of the lower opening figures in the franchise’s history, falling short of the $80 million launch of “Black Widow” and the $94 million debut of “Guardians of the Galaxy,” both of which introduced audiences to unconventional heroes.
Comparatively, “Thunderbolts” appears to underperform against the studio’s recent entry, “Captain America: Brave New World,” which launched with $40.9 million earlier this year. Despite the “Captain America” brand’s familiarity, that film faced criticism and a lackluster audience response, ultimately grossing around $200 million in North America.
The filmmakers behind “Thunderbolts” are optimistic about the film’s longevity rather than its immediate impact. With favorable reviews, this installment has garnered a near-unprecedented “A-” grade from Cinema Score, a stark contrast to the “B-” received by “Brave New World.” However, with a hefty production cost of $180 million and an additional $100 million earmarked for marketing, the film must resonate with global audiences to ensure profitability.
“Thunderbolts” boasts a diverse cast, including Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Sebastian Stan, and is directed by Jake Schreier. This ensemble promises to deliver a unique take on lesser-known superheroes navigating unwieldy circumstances.
In second place, “Sinners” continues to showcase impressive staying power, adding $9.5 million on Friday. Despite losing IMAX screenings to “Thunderbolts,” the Warner Bros. film experienced only a 27% drop from the previous week, demonstrating resilience in its third weekend. The film, which has more than tripled its $48 million opening weekend, is on track to surpass “Captain America: Brave New World” in total earnings.
Warner Bros. also claims the third spot with “A Minecraft Movie,” which has maintained audience interest in its fifth weekend. The film earned $3.1 million on Friday, raising its total to $387.6 million domestically. Anticipated to cross the $400 million mark soon, this adaptation has even spiced up screenings with interactive "Block Party Edition" showings to enhance viewer engagement.
In fourth place, “The Accountant 2” generated $2.6 million on Friday, bringing its projected total to $9.8 million for the weekend. This figure reflects a 60% decrease compared to its opening weekend, underperforming relative to the original film from 2016, which can challenge its theatrical viability considering its higher production budget of $80 million.
Completing the top five, Sony’s horror film “Until Dawn” is estimated to earn $3.6 million this weekend, reflecting a 55% drop from its debut.
In addition, the Nicolas Cage thriller “The Surfer,” released by Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate in 884 theaters, brought in $320,000 on Friday and looks to struggle to break into the top ten for its opening weekend. As the box office landscape shifts, the performance of these films may reveal trends in audience preferences and the evolving nature of cinematic franchises.