MarvelBlog News for April 27th, 2025

This week: the box office tracking and storyline of Thunderbolts* come into focus.

So, that’s the only story I’ll cover in MarvelBlog News.

Some MCU Folks Are Doing Great

As we speak, Sinners is absolutely wrecking the box office. And if you’re a Marvel fan, you shouldn’t be surprised.

Once again, director Ryan Coogler has re-teamed with his BFF, Michael B. Jordan.

Their latest movie has proven so successful that we’re getting dangerously close to Michael B. Jordan being THE Michael Jordan.

My wife may kill me for saying that, but the greatest basketball player of all time – come at me, LeBron/Kobe fans! – is in peril.

Jordan hasn’t won a ring in 30 years, while Jordan the actor has become half of the greatest Hollywood pairing since Cary Grant and Alfred Hitchcock.

The duo first paired on the phenomenal Fruitvale Station, which I warmly recommend to anyone who hasn’t seen it.

Their big break occurred when Coogler directed Jordan in the wildly successful Rocky reboot, Creed.

However, their shining achievement would come the following year when Jordan portrayed Killmonger in Black Panther.

For all the love that Chadwick Boseman receives for his work as T’Challa – and rightfully so – Jordan elevated the movie.

His portrayal of the outsider who resented Wakanda despite his heritage was somehow angrily engaging.

This man had reason to hate the people who had banished his father, yet he was still curious about the mystical homeland.

Black Panther’s story worked to a degree that I’d argue no MCU movie has since then…which isn’t a direct shot at anything.

This was a perfect Marvel movie, and it’s not a coincidence. Jordan and Coogler work closely together on storyline concepts.

We’re witnessing this again with Sinners, which is in the conversation for most successful original IP of the past decade.

The Hope and the Fear

For whatever reason, Hollywood analysts misread this situation at first, arguing that the film didn’t matter since it would struggle to be profitable.

Now, they’ve finally awakened to a true blockbuster, and there’s much Marvel could learn from these events.

But there’s a hope and a fear stemming from Sinners. The hope remains that Thunderbolts* will duplicate this playbook.

Sinners is a dark movie about vampires, yet the story still brims with joy and a love of family and music.

Thunderbolts* follows a similar trajectory with unlikely allies growing closer in the face of impossible odds.

There’s also some literal family, with Yelena Belova interacting with her adopted father, the Red Guardian.

The fear comes from the negative headlines regarding Sinners’ box office and what they fundamentally misunderstood.

The greatest challenge in Hollywood today is to launch new IP, and the machine knows it.

Why do you think so many projects today involve reboots, sequels, and remakes of existing IPs?

Hollywood relies on algorithms to choose projects, and the system believes firmly in known entities.

Historically, Marvel has skirted by because the MCU functions as a series of de facto sequels.

Lately, the box office hasn’t reflected this fact, with Marvel films experiencing turbulent theatrical releases.

The cream rises to the top, while the lesser projects like Eternals and Captain America: Brave New World struggle.

Those setbacks are a relatively new phenomenon for the MCU, at least under Disney’s reign.

So, there’s trepidation about Thunderbolts*, one of Marvel’s most daring projects.

The Uphill Battle for Thunderbolts*

Now, the director, Jack Schreier, has hinted at the importance of this film performing well.

Apparently, the Sentry factors heavily into Marvel’s plans for Avengers: Doomsday, something I hinted here years ago.

Even when Kang was the villain, this was the plan.

Comic book fans know the danger of the Sentry is that he naturally comes with the Void.

Marvel has teased this with its latest Thunderbolts* trailers, which show shadows reflecting the Void’s imperiling the city.

In the comics, Marvel introduced the Sentry with great fanfare but then mothballed him later.

The company didn’t want such a powerful being floating around randomly, as it would raise more questions than answers.

Presumably, the MCU may do the same in time, but we’re also talking about Bill Pullman’s son, Lewis.

The actor portraying the Sentry has a Hollywood bloodline and a huge buzz around him.

Thunderbolts* is apparently a huge star turn for him, which could cause him to stick around.

Schreier is dancing around the fact that Pullman will remain a factor beyond Thunderbolts*, which raises a question.

What happens to the Void? We’ll find out when the film opens next week, and I can’t wait. I’ve got tickets for Thursday.

And that leads us to the box office tracking, which is…just okay.

What Should We Expect?

Depending on which service you trust, Thunderbolts* should open somewhere in the range of $63-$75 million.

The film is receiving a last-minute marketing push thanks to the highly watched NFL Draft.

Disney owns ABC and ESPN and is using these platforms for free advertising for Thunderbolts*.

Alas, the recent struggles of Captain America: Brave New World factor heavily into this discussion.

The film world, there’s a known phenomenon where the quality of a film directly impacts the box office of its sequel.

Recent examples include franchises like John Wick, How to Train Your Dragon, Despicable Me, and, yes, the MCU.

Movie-goers perceive these titles as interconnected. So, when the MCU is running hot, people hunger for more.

When the films are less glowingly received, the next title tends to struggle.

By all accounts, Thunderbolts* is a terrific film – we’ll know for sure this week – but its box office may disappoint initially.

If it doesn’t, all credit should go to the Red Guardian and Black Widow, as they’ve been the focus of the marketing campaign lately.

Disney must have data showing that they’ve got the most fan appeal.

We’ll find out whether the strategy at this time next week, but remember that Thunderbolts* should run longer than most.

Like Sinners, it has the advantage of being good, which helps keep audiences coming back after opening weekend.

This is a big week for Marvel, folks. Stay tuned to see how much Brave New World has hurt Thunderbolts*.

 

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