The latest film from Marvel and Disney, Thunderbolts*, has created a surprise by raking in an international box office haul of around $162 million (RM760 million) during its opening week.
The film features a lineup of lesser-known superheroes, yet it captivates audiences as they face threats from humans and other heroes — while grappling with their own internal conflicts.
Starring Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan, the film also features Julia Louis-Dreyfus and David Harbour.
Despite receiving mixed reviews from professional critics, the audience response has proven extraordinary, earning a 95 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes — among the highest for a Marvel film.
This places Thunderbolts on par with Spider-Man: Far From Home, and just behind Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Concerns about ‘Marvel fatigue’ (audience fatigue) have continued to haunt the studio since the massive success of Avengers: Endgame in 2019. As a result, Marvel has now shifted focus to characters who have received less spotlight.
This move has proven successful, with Deadpool & Wolverine becoming a summer phenomenon last season — and Thunderbolts* appears poised to follow the same path. – BOOM!
