Marvel’s ‘Thunderbolts’ Struggles to Strike Box Office Gold
Initial critical acclaim fails to translate into profits.
The latest Marvel film, Thunderbolts, has garnered favorable reviews, but the superhero movie is still struggling to generate substantial financial returns. Despite praise from critics, the film is significantly short of recouping its production budget, raising concerns about its commercial viability.
Financial Underperformance
While critics lauded Thunderbolts, the film has not yet made a profit for Marvel. Reports from Variety indicate that the film is currently tens of millions of dollars in the red. To break even, the movie needed approximately $425 million, or Rp 6.8 trillion, but has only brought in $377 million, about Rp 6.1 trillion.
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Industry analyst Shawn Robbins from the THR stated that Marvel calculus
differs, and the studio did not anticipate every film achieving a billion-dollar gross. Exhibitor relations analyst Jeff Bock noted the film’s limited theatrical run as a potential factor in its disappointing performance.
“These lower class comic films are no longer a big success film,” Jeff Bock said.
—Jeff Bock, Exhibitor relations analyst
Box office earnings for superhero films have dropped in recent years. The average opening weekend for a Marvel film in 2024 was 10–15% less than in 2021 (Box Office Mojo).
Additional Concerns
The film’s quick exit from theaters is also a concern. According to Jeff Bock, the limited theatrical run likely contributed to lackluster box office results. Scarlett Johansson also reportedly requested her name be removed from the film’s credits.
Scarlett Johansson, in an interview with David Harbor, admitted she asked to be excluded as an executive producer. She explained that she didn’t feel fully involved in Thunderbolts compared to her prior Marvel film roles.
The distinction between being an executive producer and an actress, particularly for someone like Scarlett Johansson, who has been in front of the camera for Marvel films for 11 years, further underscores her detachment from this project.
