Thunderbolts storms Box Office with $31.5 million opening; Eyes Black Widow’s Record

Marvel's latest entry Thunderbolts hit the big screens with a strong opening, raking in an impressive $31.5 million from Friday and preview screenings across 4,330 theaters. Despite the solid debut, industry insiders note that it may not be enough to outshine previous Marvel openings, especially when compared to Black Widow’s domestic record.

Headlined by Florence Pugh and directed by Jake Schreier, Thunderbolts features an ensemble cast including Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer, Wendell Pierce, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Analysts estimate that the film’s domestic opening weekend could land between $70 million and $75 million. That figure, while commendable, still trails Black Widow’s $80 million debut and Guardians of the Galaxy’s $94 million.

Meanwhile, Ryan Coogler’s Sinners continues its strong run in its second week. Despite losing several IMAX screens to Thunderbolts, the film added another $9.5 million on Friday alone. The genre-blending thriller, set in the racially tense backdrop of 1932 Mississippi, features Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as twin brothers Smoke and Stack. Its powerful storytelling and strong word-of-mouth buzz helped Sinners earn $45 million during its opening weekend.

As Thunderbolts powers through its first weekend, fans and critics alike are watching closely to see if it can match or surpass the milestones set by its Marvel predecessors.