Overview

• Produced for $180 million with about $100 million in marketing, Thunderbolts* grossed $371 million worldwide against a $425 million break-even target
• Critics and audiences embraced the film (88% and 93% Rotten Tomatoes scores), but its run ended in just over a month amid steep box office declines
• Only six of the MCU’s 13 releases since 2020 have surpassed $500 million globally, underscoring waning returns on lesser-known characters
• Fandango analytics director Shawn Robbins warns that Marvel can no longer count on each entry reaching blockbuster benchmarks
• Marvel is trimming its release slate and investing in marquee titles, including The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July and Avengers: Doomsday in 2026