Marvel's 'Thunderbolts*' Debuts with Mixed Box Office Performance

Marvel Studios' latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, 'Thunderbolts*', has secured the top spot at the weekend box office, overtaking "Sinners" to claim the #1 position. The film debuted with a global haul of $162 million in its opening weekend, including $76 million from domestic theaters.

Industry analysts consider this a fair start for the superhero team-up film, especially given the MCU's recent box office challenges. The movie's opening weekend performance puts it close to its reported production budget, though this figure doesn't include marketing costs.

In India, the film had a more modest performance, collecting Rs 14.20 crore net (approximately $1.7 million) over its four-day opening weekend, including Rs 4.20 crore on Sunday. This underperformance in the Indian market suggests varying regional reception to the latest Marvel offering.

The film features an ensemble cast including Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, and Olga Kurylenko. Notably, the movie includes a significant plot development with the death of Taskmaster (Antonia Dreykov), who is killed by Ghost (Ava Starr) during a setup orchestrated by Valentina at a secret base.

'Thunderbolts*' has received relatively positive critical reception, scoring well on Rotten Tomatoes, which may help sustain its box office momentum in the coming weeks as Marvel attempts to regain its footing with audiences worldwide.