Marvel’s “Thunderbolts” electrified the box office, beating expectations with $76 million in domestic sales this weekend. While not the massive opening weekend numbers that Marvel movies once posted, “Thunderbolts” beat expectations by about 8% and “sets into motion” a new chapter for Marvel, says Paul Dergarabedian, a senior analyst at Comscore. “Between this, ‘Fantastic Four’ and then the other Marvel movies coming down the pipeline — particularly a year from now with ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ — Marvel’s set up for a real renaissance to get that Marvel magic going,” he told CNN. Disney’s first Marvel film of the year, “Captain America: Brave New World,” grossed roughly $88.5 million domestically during the first three days of Presidents Day weekend. Dergarabedian called Marvel a “good luck charm” for the summer movie season, which accounts for close to 40% of the full-year box office revenue, according to Comscore data. There wasn’t a Marvel film released in May 2024, Dergarabedian noted, and that in turn saw a slow start to the summer and record-low box office numbers on Memorial Day weekend. “This is not among the biggest superhero launches we’ve had in the history of the genre. In general, superheroes are not doing the kind of business they did before the pandemic,” said David A. Gross, who publishes FranchiseRe, a newsletter on the box office. But it’s still “a very good opening,” he noted. According to FranchiseRe data, Gross estimated that new superhero movies average about $55 million when opening, which is 41% less compared with 2015 to 2019. Disney had another surprising box office win with the re-release of “Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith,” which edged Warner Bros. Pictures and Amazon MGM Studios’ “The Accountant 2” for the No. 2 spot last weekend. Warner Brothers Discovery is the parent company of CNN. The success of the “Star Wars” film comes as studios have had to rethink what movies should be streamed or released in theaters. Re-releases typically haven’t performed to this scale in roughly a decade, said Shawn Robbins, director of movie analytics at Fandango and founder of Box Office Theory. He added that this was one of the most popular of the prequels and has had two decades to become nostalgic for younger fans who missed seeing it on the big screen. “‘Star Wars’ has always been the poster franchise of theatrical re-releases dating back to the early ’90s and that just speaks to the movie theater being a totally different experience,” he told CNN. Warner Bros. has also given the box office a boost with the continued success of “Sinners” and “A Minecraft Movie,” which each snagged the No. 1 spot in their opening weekends. “Sinners” has now grossed $179 million domestically and “A Minecraft Movie” has grossed $398 million domestically, according to Comscore data. “The buzz around ‘Sinners’ is so palpable that that’s not going to stop its roll for weeks to come. And having ‘Minecraft’ out there, there’s still something out for everybody,” Robbins said, adding, “It’s the kind of diverse release slate that the industry has been begging for for so long.” The summer box office will be led by big sequels, remakes and family entertainment, Gross said. But next weekend won’t have much new competition, he said, so “Sinners,” “A Minecraft Movie” and “Thunderbolts” will continue to compete. They’ll at least have long runs until Memorial Day weekend, when Disney’s live action “Lilo & Stitch” opens alongside Paramount Pictures’ “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning.” “We’re going to have one of the biggest, if not the biggest, Memorial weekends ever, so this sets up that very nicely with ‘Thunderbolts,’” Dergarabedian told CNN.
Disney’s ‘Thunderbolts’ rallies Marvel fans for a $76 million opening weekend
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Marvel's 'Thunderbolts' Opens to $76 Million, Sparking Hopes for Franchise Revival"
CNN
7.6
TruthLens AI Summary
Marvel's latest film, 'Thunderbolts,' has made a significant impact at the box office, generating $76 million in domestic sales during its opening weekend. Although this figure does not match the massive openings of previous Marvel films, it exceeded expectations by approximately 8%. Analysts, including Paul Dergarabedian from Comscore, believe that 'Thunderbolts' marks the beginning of a new era for Marvel, with upcoming projects like 'Fantastic Four' and 'Avengers: Doomsday' poised to revitalize interest in the franchise. Dergarabedian described Marvel as a 'good luck charm' for the summer box office, which typically contributes to nearly 40% of the annual revenue. However, he noted the absence of a Marvel film in May 2024 led to a sluggish start to the summer season, resulting in historically low box office figures during Memorial Day weekend. David A. Gross from FranchiseRe emphasized that while the opening weekend for 'Thunderbolts' is commendable, superhero films on average are not performing as strongly as they did before the pandemic, with new releases averaging around $55 million, which is a significant decline from previous years.
In addition to 'Thunderbolts,' Disney experienced another box office triumph with the re-release of 'Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith,' which outperformed other films such as 'The Accountant 2.' This resurgence of interest in older films highlights the changing dynamics of the movie industry, where studios are reassessing what content to stream or release theatrically. Shawn Robbins from Fandango noted that the nostalgic appeal of 'Star Wars' has contributed to its success, with many younger fans eager to experience it on the big screen. Warner Bros. has also bolstered the box office with successful releases like 'Sinners' and 'A Minecraft Movie,' both of which have performed well since their openings. As the summer box office continues to unfold, it is expected that sequels, remakes, and family-friendly films will dominate. The upcoming weeks, particularly around Memorial Day weekend, are anticipated to be particularly strong, with 'Thunderbolts' and other films vying for audience attention while paving the way for a potentially record-breaking holiday weekend.
TruthLens AI Analysis
The article emphasizes the box office performance of Marvel's "Thunderbolts," highlighting its opening weekend success and the potential implications for the future of Marvel films. It reflects on the shifting dynamics within the superhero genre and the broader film industry, particularly in the wake of the pandemic.
Market Perception and Implications
The report suggests that "Thunderbolts" has generated a positive response from Marvel fans, potentially signaling a resurgence in the franchise. Despite the figure not being as high as previous superhero openings, the 8% beat of expectations is framed positively. Analysts suggest that this could lead to a renewed interest in upcoming Marvel films, including anticipated titles like "Fantastic Four" and "Avengers: Doomsday." This narrative aims to instill confidence in Marvel's future performance and its role in the summer box office landscape.
Comparison with Previous Releases
The article draws comparisons between the performance of "Thunderbolts" and past Marvel releases. The mention of "Captain America: Brave New World" and the disappointing box office figures from other films serves to contextualize the current success. By providing this comparative framework, the article highlights a potential recovery for Marvel, especially in light of previous low-performance weekends.
Audience Targeting
Marvel’s dedicated fanbase is a primary audience for this article, as it seeks to bolster their enthusiasm about the franchise. The positive framing is likely designed to engage both fans and potential viewers who may have been skeptical about the state of superhero films post-pandemic. By emphasizing a "renaissance" for Marvel, the piece attempts to draw back audiences who may be hesitant about returning to theaters.
Possible Economic Impact
The performance of "Thunderbolts" and other Marvel films can influence the stock market, particularly for Disney. A strong box office can bolster investor confidence in the company's film division, which is crucial for its overall financial health. The article subtly hints at potential repercussions for Disney's stock price, as the entertainment giant’s profitability is closely tied to the success of its film releases.
Connection with Broader Trends
The mention of the re-release of "Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith" reflects a larger trend within the industry where studios are reassessing release strategies between streaming and theatrical presentations. This shift indicates that studios may need to adapt to changing consumer preferences. The article positions Marvel's success within this context, suggesting it could pave the way for more traditional releases amidst a climate of uncertainty.
Manipulative Aspects
While the article generally presents factual information, it could be seen as wanting to manipulate perceptions of Marvel’s performance by emphasizing the positive aspects of "Thunderbolts" while downplaying the overall struggle of the superhero genre since the pandemic. The language used is carefully crafted to encourage optimism among fans and investors alike.
Overall, the article is largely factual, presenting data and quotes from industry analysts to support its claims. However, the framing leans towards a more optimistic view, suggesting a deliberate effort to maintain enthusiasm for Marvel amidst a challenging landscape.