A Tough Year for Marvel
2025 was a particularly tough year for Marvel. The year before the MCU reaches its next big milestone with the arrival of Avengers: End of the World, all three of the most recent entries in the biggest franchise proved unsuccessful at the box office. Anthony Mackie’s Captain America: Brave New World faced critical and audience reaction on its way to a disastrous box office and big summer opening, while The Fantastic Four: Getting Started collapsed to a disappointing global result, with this underperformance compounded by its rival Superman surpassing both.
The Box Office Misrepresentation of the Year
However, one of the most blatant box office misrepresentations of the year comes from the financially worst MCU film of 2025: Thunderbolts. Although the film grossed less than $400 million worldwide, it is one of the lowest-grossing films in the franchise’s history, yet one of the best in terms of quality in recent years. Fortunately, Thunderbolts finds redemption on the small screen and officially returns to the streaming charts. At the time of writing, the Jake Schreier-directed film is the ninth most streamed film on Disney+ in the US. Against strong competition, Thunderbolts continues to prove popular, although not as popular as the current chart-topper, The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Synopsis of Thunderbolts
The Thunderbolts synopsis reads:
“In Thunderbolts, Marvel Studios assembles an unconventional team of anti-heroes – Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and John Walker. After finding themselves in a death trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, these disillusioned outcasts must embark on a dangerous mission that forces them to face the darkest corners of their past. Will this dysfunctional group tear itself apart or find redemption and unite into something much greater before it is too late?”
The New Avengers Will Return
In "Doomsday"
For the many who loved the New Avengers and their chaotic take on the shiny corporate originals, it won’t be long before they come back. Elena (Florence Pugh), Red Guardian (<strong David Harbour), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Bucky (Sebastian Stan), and Taskmaster (Lewis Pullman) will each return in Avengers: End of the World next December, alongside one of the most striking line-ups of this decade. This includes Robert Downey Jr. in his new role as Doctor Doom, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Vanessa Kirby, Pedro Pascal, and even Sir Ian McKellen as Magneto, as well as many, many more.
Streaming Information
Thunderbolts is now streaming on Disney+. Stay tuned to Collider for the latest streaming updates.
Film Details
- Release Date: May 2, 2025
- Duration: 127 minutes
- Director: Jake Schreier
- Writers: Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo
- Franchise(s): Marvel Cinematic Universe
