Part 2/10:
When Thunderbolts was released, many outlets initially described it as a promising start for Marvel’s new direction. Disney CEO Bob Iger lauded the film as a standout example of Marvel’s revised marketing strategy, emphasizing audience and critic positivity. This optimism was widespread, with mainstream outlets claiming the film was a success, even as box office numbers were underwhelming.
However, this narrative was short-lived. Almost immediately after the opening weekend, the truth became apparent: Thunderbolts garnered a dismal performance globally, earning just around $371 million. For a major MCU release, this is considered a catastrophic failure, making it one of the lowest grossing in Marvel’s history—second only to The Marvels, which was widely panned and flopped heavily.