With Thunderbolts* and A Minecraft Movie leading the global box office, their weekend debuts have sparked discussion across the industry. While Thunderbolts* posted a solid global launch just below projections, and its strong audience reception has raised hopes for long-term success, the movie opened lower than Captain America 4. Meanwhile, A Minecraft Movie continues its impressive run, closing in on the $900 million mark and setting new records for video game adaptations.

Here’s Thunderbolts*’ opening weekend box office total

Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* brought in $76 million domestically and $86.1 million internationally in its debut weekend, totaling $162.1 million globally. The film premiered across 4,330 theaters in North America and topped the box office in nearly all major international markets, including China ($10.4M), the U.K. ($7.7M), and Mexico ($7.3M). (via Deadline)

Internationally, Thunderbolts* outperformed comparable MCU titles in like-for-like markets, with 45% higher earnings than Shang-Chi, 13% above Ant-Man, and 7% higher than Guardians of the Galaxy (adjusted for current rates, excluding China). The movie was number one in Latin America, recording the second-highest 2025 debut in Brazil, Mexico, and Hong Kong.

In comparison, Captain America: Brave New World opened to $88.8 million domestically. While Thunderbolts* came in slightly lower, it received an A- CinemaScore and has a 74% “definite recommend” rating on PostTrak, indicating strong audience approval. Around 75% of viewers said they would watch a sequel, and the film drew a younger demographic, with 62% under the age of 35.

IMAX contributed $8.6 million (11.3%) to the domestic haul. According to EntTelligence, 4.7 million people watched the film over the weekend, roughly 1 million fewer than Brave New World. (via Deadline)

Marketing efforts included a $75 million global promotional campaign with partners like Tide, Harley-Davidson, and Arizona Iced Tea. Disney and Marvel are optimistic about the film’s potential legs, citing positive word-of-mouth and favorable positioning ahead of Mother’s Day and summer holidays. The film currently holds a 94% audience score and 88% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.