Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts, also known as The New Avengers, may have received solid critical reactions, but the film’s box office performance has left much to be desired. According to numbers from Box Office Mojo, the global gross for Thunderbolts currently stands at approximately $359 million, making it the second lowest-grossing film in Marvel Cinematic Universe history, trailing only The Marvels.
MCU’s Lowest Grossing Films (Worldwide):
- The Marvels: $206 million
- Thunderbolts: $359 million
- Captain America: The First Avenger / Black Widow: $370 million
- Eternals: $402 million
- Captain America: Brave New World: $415 million
- Thor: $449 million
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania: $476 million
- Ant-Man: $519 million
- Thor: The Dark World: $644 million
Financial Expectations vs. Reality
With a reported production budget of $180 million, Thunderbolts isn’t exactly a financial disaster—it’s nearly doubled its production cost—but it’s clearly below typical MCU standards. Considering Marvel’s past success, especially the box-office juggernauts like Avengers: Endgame, internal expectations likely had this film aiming much higher.
The Broader MCU Picture
Recent MCU titles such as Captain America: Brave New World also performed modestly at the box office, earning just $415 million globally. This signals that Thunderbolts isn’t alone in struggling to achieve Marvel’s previous highs.
What’s Next?
Marvel’s immediate future hinges on The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which hits theaters on July 25. If that highly anticipated release falters, Marvel might truly face a crossroads moment.
For now, audiences can still catch Thunderbolts in theaters and decide for themselves if its financial struggles match the film’s quality.