‘Thunderbolts’ Struggles at Box Office, But MCU Has Big Movies Ahead

Marvel Studios’ latest film Thunderbolts* has fallen short of expectations at the box office. Despite earning over $360 million worldwide, the movie has only just reached its break-even point, with a production budget of $180 million, not including its high marketing costs.

While Thunderbolts* is technically profitable, it ranks as one of the lowest-grossing MCU films to date. This result is disappointing for a movie that featured several popular returning characters and even introduced the concept of the New Avengers.

However, Marvel has four major movies on the way that are expected to perform much better. Fantastic Four: First Steps is set for release in July 2025 and is already generating strong buzz.

In 2026, Spider-Man: Brand New Day will kick off a new trilogy starring Tom Holland, followed by the massive ensemble films Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

Industry experts say Thunderbolts* may have struggled due to franchise fatigue and the growing complexity of the MCU, which now includes dozens of movies and shows.

Still, with iconic characters and fresh storylines on the horizon, Marvel is poised for a big box office comeback.