Marvel’s newest superhero film Thunderbolts kicked off the 2025 summer movie season with a global box office debut of US$209 million. The film opened on May 2 and brought in US$162 million worldwide during its first weekend, setting a strong tone for the months ahead.
Solid Start in the U.S. and Canada
In the United States and Canada, Thunderbolts earned US$76 million, according to distributor Walt Disney. While the number was slightly below the US$88.8 million debut of Captain America: Brave New World in February, it still met expectations.
Jeff Bock, a senior analyst at Exhibitor Relations, said the opening was decent. He noted that the movie features lesser-known characters who previously played supporting roles in other Marvel films.
Story and Star Power
Thunderbolts tells the story of a group of unlikely heroes who team up to stop a dangerous villain. The film stars Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan and is part of Marvel’s larger cinematic plan. It sets the stage for upcoming releases like Fantastic Four in July 2025 and Avengers: Doomsday in 2026.
Robert Downey Jr., who famously played Iron Man, gave fans a preview of the future Marvel lineup. On May 3, he posted photos of the Avengers: Doomsday cast at a private screening of Thunderbolts. The cast includes big names like Chris Hemsworth, Paul Rudd, Simu Liu, Anthony Mackie, Channing Tatum, Vanessa Kirby, Winston Duke, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach.
Downey is returning to the Marvel Universe in Avengers: Doomsday, but this time as the villain Doctor Doom.
Mixed Reception in China
While the film was successful in many countries, it had a slow start in China. It earned only US$10.4 million over the weekend. This was seen as a test of how well Hollywood movies can still perform in China after recent trade tensions and import limits.
Despite the slow performance in China, Jeff Bock said the overall international results were positive. He added that Thunderbolts did twice as well as The Fall Guy, which marked the earlier start of the 2024 summer movie season.
Summer Movies Are Key to Hollywood
Hollywood counts on the summer months for about 40% of its yearly ticket sales. The summer movie season runs from early May to Labor Day in September. Theatres are still recovering from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and hope big releases will bring crowds back.
By May 4, movie ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada were 15% higher than at the same point in 2024. However, they were still 31.8% lower than in 2019. That summer saw the huge success of Avengers: Endgame, which opened with a record-setting US$357.1 million domestically.
Strong Reviews and Audience Praise
Thunderbolts received high praise from critics and fans. According to Disney’s global distribution head Andrew Cripps, it had the best reviews for a Marvel film since Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021.
On Rotten Tomatoes, 88% of critics and 94% of audience members gave it positive ratings. Cripps said strong word-of-mouth will help the movie stay popular in the coming weeks.
Other Movies at the Box Office
Also over the weekend, the drama Sinners placed second in the North American box office. It earned US$33 million, raising its total to US$179.7 million. The third spot went to A Minecraft Movie, which added US$13.7 million to its domestic total of US$398.2 million.
What’s Next for Summer 2025
This summer’s movie lineup includes major sequels like Jurassic World Rebirth, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, and a brand-new Superman film. With Thunderbolts off to a strong start, Hollywood hopes for a rebound in ticket sales and fan enthusiasm.
