Los Angeles, California — The latest installment from Disney and Marvel Studios, “Thunderbolts,” has kicked off its premiere with an estimated $11 million in preliminary earnings, according to sources outside the company. As the weekend draws near, these figures could witness fluctuations, possibly swaying higher or lower as final numbers come in Friday morning. The strong early box office signals could indicate a promising summer ahead, especially given the current momentum generated by recent hits like “A Minecraft Movie” and “Sinners.”
The film features a star-studded lineup including Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan, and it has garnered positive reactions from audiences, boasting a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have rated it as 88% “certified fresh,” marking a significant contrast to the earlier “Captain America: Brave New World,” which received a mixed response with a 48% critic rating and a 78% audience score. This previous release achieved approximately $88.8 million in its opening weekend, ultimately grossing over $200 million domestically and around $414 million globally.
Though “Thunderbolts” trails behind “Brave New World” by about a million in preview earnings, early figures show it surpassing previous Marvel releases like “Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings,” which earned $8.8 million, and “Eternals,” which brought in $9.5 million. Current projections for the new superhero film suggest a domestic opening weekend take of between $70 million and $75 million, with global estimates reaching as high as $175 million across 4,300 venues.
Despite facing a competitive landscape, presale tickets for “Thunderbolts” have shown strength, although still behind its predecessor “Captain America: Brave New World.” Notably, presales for the film have outperformed those of previous Marvel offerings, including “Shang-Chi,” which opened with $75.3 million, and “Eternals,” at $71.2 million.
Meanwhile, “Sinners,” directed by Ryan Coogler and featuring Michael B. Jordan, is set to continue its theatrical run with estimates predicting a three-day weekend total around $35 million. This represents a relatively modest decline of approximately 23% from its previous weekend. Initial forecasts suggested a drop of 25% to 30%, estimating figures between $32 million and $34.2 million as the film enters its third weekend.
As the summer box office unfolds, both “Thunderbolts” and “Sinners” are poised to keep the momentum lively, showcasing the enduring appeal of superhero films and innovative storytelling in Hollywood.