Marvel’s “Thunderbolts*” maintained its top position at the box office, raking in $33.1 million in its second weekend. The film experienced a 55% decline in ticket sales compared to its $74 million debut, a much more favorable drop than other recent Marvel movies. For instance, “Captain America: Brave New World” fell by 68% in its second weekend, while “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” “The Marvels,” and “Thor: Love and Thunder” dropped by 70%, 78%, and 67% respectively.
Despite starting slower than those blockbusters, “Thunderbolts*” has garnered positive reviews and word-of-mouth, potentially extending its run in theaters. Following its opening weekend, Disney revealed that the asterisk in the film’s title signifies the group will be known as “The New Avengers” going forward. Additionally, the antihero team is set to appear in the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday” in 2026, aiming to generate excitement among audiences.
With $128.5 million in North America and $272 million globally, “Thunderbolts*” must exceed expectations to justify its significant production and marketing costs. Disney’s CEO Bob Iger commended the film as a standout example of Marvel’s new movie strategy, following recent Marvel disappointments. Looking ahead, Disney’s next Marvel installment, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” is slated for release on July 25.
While “Thunderbolts*” and other holdover films continue to dominate the box office, new releases faced tough competition. Low-budget horror movie “Clown in a Cornfield” made a notable entry into the top five, earning $3.8 million from 2,277 theaters. Despite receiving a “C+” grade on CinemaScore exit polls, the film’s successful opening weekend marked a milestone for IFC, outperforming its previous best.
According to the consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research, the indie horror film has made a solid start, especially considering its limited budget. However, two other new releases this weekend, Lionsgate’s “Shadow Force” and Vertical Entertainment’s “Fight or Flight,” are struggling to make an impact at the box office. Both films are projected to earn around $2 million each from about 2,100 theaters, with final numbers to be confirmed on Monday.
“Shadow Force,” starring Kerry Washington, tells the story of married ex-assassins evading their former associates and is facing criticism. With a $40 million budget, the film is shaping up to be a major disappointment this summer. Lionsgate usually offsets a significant portion of its production costs through international sales, which helps mitigate losses from underperforming films.
Meanwhile, “Fight or Flight” stars Josh Hartnett as a disgraced Secret Service agent tasked with protecting a wanted criminal on a commercial flight. Vertical Entertainment acquired the film’s North American rights at a low cost, giving it a better chance of achieving profitability.
Analyst Gross predicts that “Shadow Force” may transition quickly to streaming platforms to recoup its production expenses, while “Fight or Flight” is described as having a lackluster start for an independent action thriller genre.
Elsewhere in the box office, “Sinners” maintains its strong performance, grossing $21.1 million in its fourth week and surpassing the $200 million mark domestically. “A Minecraft Movie” remains at third place, accumulating $8 million in its sixth weekend. The Warner Bros. adaptation has been a massive success, generating over $409 million in North America and $909 million globally.
“The Accountant 2,” starring Ben Affleck, holds the fourth position with $6.09 million in its third week, demonstrating a modest decline in revenue. The film has earned $50.8 million domestically and $71 million worldwide, a commendable achievement given its older target audience and $80 million budget.
Overall, the box office is down 11% compared to the same period in 2024, but has seen positive growth in domestic revenues this year. The summer movie season is set to pick up with upcoming releases like Warner Bros. and New Line’s “Final Destination: Bloodlines,” Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch,” and Paramount’s “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning.”
Comscore analyst Paul Dergarabedian anticipates a quiet weekend ahead but expects a promising month of May for the film industry.
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