Key Points
- It seems likely that Thunderbolts did not earn $162 million on its first day; research suggests this figure is the opening weekend total worldwide, not Day 1.
- The evidence leans toward Thunderbolts trailing Captain America: Brave New World in box office performance for both opening day and opening weekend.
Opening Day Collection
Thunderbolts earned approximately $31.5 million in the US on its first day, May 2, 2025, which is significantly less than the $162 million mentioned. In contrast, Captain America: Brave New World had an opening day of around $40 million in the US, suggesting it outperformed Thunderbolts on Day 1.
Comparison with Captain America: Brave New World
While Thunderbolts had a strong opening weekend of $162.1 million worldwide, it trails Captain America: Brave New World, which had an opening weekend of about $192 million worldwide and a total of $414.9 million as of recent reports. This indicates Thunderbolts is behind in both initial and cumulative earnings.
Background on Thunderbolts
Thunderbolts, a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film released on May 2, 2025, features an ensemble of antiheroes including Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, and Red Guardian. Given its release date aligns with the current time (May 5, 2025, 11:10 AM IST), we can analyze its initial box office performance based on available data. The movie is noted for its indie, A24-feeling assassin movie style within the MCU, which may influence audience turnout.
Box Office Figures for Thunderbolts
- Release Date: May 2, 2025, in the United States, with screenings in IMAX, Dolby Cinema, RealD 3D, ScreenX, and 4DX.
- Opening Day (May 2, 2025): Reports indicate Thunderbolts earned $31.5 million in the US on its first day, including Thursday night previews. This figure is sourced from industry analyses, such as Deadline and Variety, which detail the Friday box office totals.
- Opening Weekend (May 2-4, 2025): The opening weekend gross was $76 million domestically (US and Canada) and $86.1 million internationally, totaling $162.1 million worldwide. This is confirmed by multiple sources, including Hollywood Reporter and Variety.
- Total as of May 5, 2025: Given it just opened, the total box office is approximately $162.1 million worldwide, with potential for updates as the week progresses.
Addressing the User’s Claim
The user stated that Thunderbolts “inaugurated $162M” on Day 1, which appears to be a misunderstanding. The $162 million figure corresponds to the worldwide opening weekend total, not the first day’s earnings. The actual Day 1 gross of $31.5 million (US) is significantly lower, highlighting a potential confusion between daily and weekend figures. This discrepancy is critical, as opening weekend totals often include multiple days (Friday to Sunday), and international markets contribute to the worldwide sum.
Comparison with Captain America: Brave New World
Captain America: Brave New World, released on February 14, 2025, starring Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America, provides a benchmark for comparison. Its box office performance, given its earlier release, offers insight into how Thunderbolts stacks up:
- Release Date: February 14, 2025, aligning with Presidents’ Day weekend, which typically boosts box office numbers.
- Opening Day (February 14, 2025): Reports suggest an opening day gross of approximately $40 million in the US, including Thursday previews, as noted in Deadline. This figure is higher than Thunderbolts’s $31.5 million, indicating a stronger initial day performance.
- Opening Weekend: The opening weekend gross was reported at $88 million domestically, with worldwide estimates around $192 million, based on Variety. This is higher than Thunderbolts’s $76 million domestic and $162.1 million worldwide.
- Total Box Office as of May 2, 2025: According to Wikipedia, the film has grossed $200.3 million in the US and Canada and $214.6 million internationally, totaling $414.9 million worldwide. This is significantly higher than Thunderbolts’s current total, but Captain America: Brave New World has had three months to accumulate earnings.
Detailed Comparison Table
To facilitate understanding, here is a table comparing key box office metrics:
| Metric | Thunderbolts (May 2, 2025) | Captain America: Brave New World (Feb 14, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Day (US, $M) | 31.5 | ~40 |
| Opening Weekend (US, $M) | 76 | 88 |
| Opening Weekend (Worldwide, $M) | 162.1 | ~192 |
| Total as of May 5, 2025 (Worldwide, $M) | ~162.1 | 414.9 |
Note: Figures for Captain America: Brave New World are approximate for opening weekend worldwide based on available reports.
Analysis of Trailing Performance
The user’s mention of “yet Trail Captain America Brave New World” suggests a comparison where Thunderbolts is behind. This is supported by the data:
- On opening day, Captain America: Brave New World outperformed Thunderbolts by approximately $8.5 million in the US.
- For the opening weekend, the gap widens, with Captain America: Brave New World leading by $16 million domestically and about $30 million worldwide.
- Given Captain America: Brave New World’s total of $414.9 million, it is clear Thunderbolts trails significantly in cumulative earnings, though this is partly due to the time difference in release dates.
Critical Reception and Audience Response
Both films have received varied critical responses, which may influence box office legs:
- Thunderbolts boasts an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with audiences giving it an “A-” on CinemaScore, suggesting strong word-of-mouth potential for sustained earnings.
- Captain America: Brave New World had mixed reviews, with some reports indicating it struggled with word-of-mouth, potentially impacting its box office drop-off, as noted in Variety.
Implications and Future Outlook
For Thunderbolts, its opening weekend of $162.1 million is solid, especially for a film featuring lesser-known MCU characters, comparable to Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings ($75 million opening) and Eternals ($71 million opening). Analysts believe positive reviews and audience scores could help it maintain strong legs, potentially closing the gap with Captain America: Brave New World over time, though it faces competition from other releases.
Captain America: Brave New World, despite its strong start, needed $425 million worldwide to break even, according to Deadline Hollywood, and has achieved $414.9 million, suggesting it is close but may not have fully met financial expectations.