Thunderbolts* Early Release: Marvel’s Next Big Hit?

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The upcoming Marvel movie is positioning itself as a unique offering within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and it’s generating interest ahead of its May premiere, being the final film in Phase 5. Remarkably, some fortunate fans will have the opportunity to watch the movie two weeks early at special screenings happening on April 22 across several cities throughout the U.S.

Marvel Studios typically takes great care to prevent their upcoming movies from being seen early, occasionally removing scenes during premieres to avoid spoilers leaking online via chatty journalists on social media. Yet, there seems to be an unusually high level of optimism surrounding the release of Thunderbolts, so much so that they’ve broken tradition and allowed a select group of regular moviegoers to watch the film ahead of its May 2 premiere, potentially sparking early reviews.

Initially, it was revealed that ten exclusive showings would take place in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Austin. However, ticket seekers needed to act swiftly because all events sold out within approximately 20 minutes. Yet, there are those who persist in the belief that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has run its course.

‘Thunderbolts*’ Could Be One of the Most Unexpected Marvel Hits

Some movies, unveiled amidst high-profile Marvel productions, don’t always garner the same immediate buzz. Take for instance Thunderbolts, which was released between Anthony Mackie’s Captain America debut and The Fantastic Four. Initially, it appeared that Thunderbolts might be a relatively minor production, with a diverse cast of characters who were either overlooked or hadn’t quite reached the iconic status of other Marvel heroes and villains.

Although it might resemble films such as Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad, both produced by James Gunn and featuring teams of relatively unestablished or underutilized characters, the upcoming Thunderbolts movie could potentially be a significant surprise at the 2025 summer box office in the early season.

The projected earnings for the movie at the box office haven’t been overly optimistic, with estimates indicating a potential opening weekend of $60-$80 million. This falls short of the $88 million earned by “Captain America: Brave New World.” Nevertheless, as marketing efforts ramp up and some films have surprised predictions in the past, there remains a possibility that positive critical reception could motivate audiences to catch “Thunderbolts” in theaters instead of waiting for its release on Disney+ later this year.

Currently, enthusiasts can anticipate the Thunderbolts* uniting in May (or even April 22nd if you managed to secure tickets for the early screenings). Boasting an exceptionally gifted cast including Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, Wyatt Russell, David Harbour, this hard-hitting film may entice some Marvel Cinematic Universe skeptics to reconsider and give it a try.

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2025-04-20 02:06