Marvel might’ve just found its comeback queen, and her name is Florence Pugh. Thunderbolts* is officially kicking off the summer movie madness, and fans are already wondering whether this anti-hero rollercoaster will cross the $1 billion mark. Let’s be real, the MCU hasn’t been in top shape lately. For every No Way Home, there’s been a Quantumania flop sitting in the corner.
But early buzz, a killer Rotten Tomatoes score, and Pugh absolutely owning the screen as Yelena might be exactly what Marvel needed. With Deadpool & Wolverine already flexing their billion-dollar muscles, all eyes are now on Thunderbolts*.
Will this messy, moody crew of misfits do the impossible, or at least do better than Captain America: Brave New World? It’s too early to call it, but we’re pretty sure Pugh might’ve just carried the whole MCU on her back.
Does Thunderbolts* have the potential to cross the $1B mark?
Let’s not sugarcoat it, Thunderbolts* wasn’t exactly the MCU dream team fans had on their vision boards. No Hulk, no Thor, no Abomination smashing through walls. Instead, we’ve got a super-serious Bucky, an emotionally exhausted Ghost, a chaotic Red Guardian, and Yelena Belova rolling her eyes through the mission. But guess what? That scrappy lineup might just be Marvel’s ticket back to billion-dollar glory.
Critics are vibing hard with this one. Thunderbolts* is rocking an 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, tying with Doctor Strange (89%) and brushing shoulders with both The Winter Soldier and Civil War (90%). That’s an elite MCU company.
For Phases 4 and 5, only Shang-Chi (92%) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (93%) scored higher, and look how well they performed at the box office. The early reviews are glowing like Sentry’s yellow eyes. Critics call it a “ragtag band of underdogs” story that feels like a classic MCU again. Florence Pugh is the glue, sass, and soul of it all.
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Now, on to the money. Pre-release projections started humbly, with a $63–77 million domestic opening, but buzz and positive reviews pushed that up to a comfy $70–75 million. Some are now betting on $80–90 million in the US alone if word-of-mouth holds. Globally, estimates hover around $160–175 million for the opening weekend. Not bad for a team that includes a guy who once twirled signs on meth in another universe.
The billion-dollar question? It’s tough, but not impossible. This is the first true MCU team-up movie since Avengers: Endgame, and audiences miss the chaotic teamwork and one-liners mid-battle. Not to miss the top-tier action, some surprisingly emotional beats, and a juicy post-credits Fantastic Four tease, and Thunderbolts* might just have long legs at the box office.
Florence Pugh could really be the unexpected billion-dollar MVP. And if she is, Kevin Feige owes her an actual Avengers tower.
How much does Thunderbolts* needs for box office success?
Alright, let’s break it down like Bucky breaks bones, quick, sharp, and slightly chaotic. Thunderbolts* reportedly cost around $180 million to make, but we all know Marvel doesn’t stop at just production. Then comes the secret sauce of marketing, global promos, and a gazillion Florence Pugh interviews, and you’re easily looking at a $300–400 million finish line just to break even.
Basically, for Thunderbolts* to be considered a win, it needs to pull a Brave New World and haul in at least $400 million worldwide. Anything below that, and Kevin Feige starts sweating under the cap. And nobody wants another The Marvels situation (yikes, $206 million globally on a big budget? Brutal).
Now, this isn’t about hitting Endgame-level billions. It’s about being solid, profitable, and reminding fans that team-ups can still rock, even without Iron Man. If Thunderbolts* delivers that, and maybe throws in some outer-space teasers and surprise cameos, it could fly way past the “safe” zone and into Marvel’s money-making sweet spot.
So, is $400 million the magic number? Yep. And anything beyond that? A Marvel miracle with a Florence Pugh bow on top.
Can Florence Pugh’s Yelena save the MCU?
Florence Pugh’s Yelena isn’t your average Marvel hero. She’s blunt, bruised, and built from heartbreak, but somehow still funny mid-fight. In Thunderbolts*, she steps into center stage, and the energy shifts instantly. Her presence isn’t just strong, it’s surgical. She slices through the chaos of Marvel’s recent misfires with sharp wit, deep emotion, and a whole lot of side-eye.
When Yelena dives off a skyscraper, muttering “There’s something wrong with me,” it doesn’t feel like a line; it feels like the mood of the entire MCU right now. And that’s what makes her compelling. She’s not pretending to be perfect. She’s messy, sarcastic, deeply damaged, and still moving forward. Somehow, that makes her the most relatable Marvel character in years.
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While others wear capes and crack jokes, Yelena feels real, like a human being caught in a superhero circus. Pugh gives Thunderbolts* its emotional core, its best action scenes, and its funniest lines, often all at once. She balances trauma and comedy with the ease of someone who knows both too well.
If Marvel is looking for a new heart, it’s right there, in Yelena Belova’s broken, beating, sarcastic soul. Pugh doesn’t just steal the show. She is the show.
Thunderbolts* releases worldwide on May 2, 2025.
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