Such is the uncertainty surrounding superhero movies these days, even a modest performance at the box office, like the one delivered byThunderboltsso far, is worth celebrating. The movie was a risky bet, especially considering the era that it is being released in. Films featuring far more popular characters have struggled commercially in recent times; only a few months ago, Marvel’s ownCaptain America: Brave New World, was barely able to pass the $400 million mark worldwide.Thunderboltsshould be able to pass the $100 million milestone in its second weekend, having already becomeone of the 100 highest-grossing superhero movies in global box office history.
To achieve this feat, the movie overtook 2015’s disastrousFantastic Fourreboot. Having survived a turbulent production,Fantastic Fourwas released in compromised form, earning terrible reviews and tanking at the box office. Directed byJosh Trank, the movie concluded its run with $167 million worldwide. It starredMiles Teller,Michael B. Jordan,Kate Mara,Jamie Bell, andTobey Kebbell. Incidentally, “Marvel’s First Family” will receive another reboot shortly. TitledThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, the movie marks the characters' debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and featuresPedro Pascal,Vanessa Kirby,Joseph QuinnandEbon Moss-Bachrachin the lead roles.
Trank’sFantastic Fourwas panned upon release, and was momentarily disowned by him. It holds a 9%Rotten Tomatoes score, and remainsone of the biggest superhero bombs ever made, especially considering the popularity of the source material. Directed byJake Schreierandproduced on a reported budget of $180 million,Thunderbolts*has nowmade $173 million worldwide. UnlikeFantastic Four, it opened to positive reviews, and was embraced by the audience as well. The movie holds an 88%Rotten Tomatoes score, and featuresFlorence Pugh,Lewis Pullman,David Harbour,Olga Kurylenko,Sebastian Stan,Geraldine ViswanathanandJulia Louis-Dreyfus.
‘Thunderbolts*’ Has Also Overtaken a Couple of DCEU Films
In addition to having overtakenFantastic Four,Thunderboltshas also surpassed the lifetime hauls ofThe Suicide SquadandWonder Woman 1984— both movies were a part of the now-defunct DC Extended Universe, and were released day-and-date on the streaming service formerly known as HBO Max, which significantly impacted their box office performance.Thunderboltsis currentlythe 98th-highest-grossing superhero movie in global box office history. You can watch the film in theaters, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Thunderbolts*
