Marvel's ‘Thunderbolts' opens with $76 million, continuing a strong month for theaters
The movie, which stars Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan as part of an anti-hero ensemble, opened in the U.S. and Canada to $76 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates. Globally, 'Thunderbolts' debuted with $162 million, including $86 million from outside the U.S. and Canada.
Prior to its release, 'Thunderbolts' was expected to bring in about $70 million in its opening weekend, though some projections had pegged $80 million as the high-end of its earning potential, according to analyst estimates.
The film's reported budget is $180 million.
The opening weekend performance for 'Thunderbolts' is in line with Marvel films such as 2021's 'Eternals,' which brought in $71 million, and 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,' which made $75 million. The most recent Marvel film, 'Captain America: Brave New World,' hauled in $89 million in its opening weekend in February.
Marvel's past box office success raised the bar for the franchise, which has been difficult for every film to meet, especially given the pandemic and the dual writers and actors strikes in 2023, said Shawn Robbins, founder of film business analysis site Box Office Theory and director of analytics at Fandango.
After the 2019 blockbuster 'Avengers: Endgame,' Walt Disney Co.-owned Marvel often seemed to struggle to find its footing, losing its consistency at the box office and with critics. 'The Marvels' was a misfire, and movies including 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' appeared to signal a drop-off in quality.
But the largely positive reviews for 'Thunderbolts' could provide momentum for Marvel's summer release,'The Fantastic Four: First Steps.'
'In any franchise, the next film performs as well as the previous film was treated by audiences,' Robbins said.
After a sluggish first quarter at the box office, theaters have seen a complete turnaround this spring. Warner Bros. Pictures' 'A Minecraft Movie' provided the first jolt in early April with a massive $157 million domestic opening weekend.
Then Ryan Coogler's R-rated 'Sinners' took a bite into the box office over the Easter weekend with a $48 million opening, and has continued to draw crowds.
This season's diverse lineup, which includes family movies, R-rated horror films and now, a PG-13 superhero flick, gives audiences more reason to flock to theaters, Robbins said.
'It feels a little bit like the before times,' he said. 'The fact that it's been happening in April is a really encouraging sign going into the summer.'
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USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
I worked out with Pedro Pascal's trainer for 'Fantastic Four.' The results shocked me.
The internet is buzzing about Pedro Pascal's fitness transformation as Mr. Fantastic in "The Fantastic Four." How did he do it? Well, I have a bit of an idea. In October, I arrived at Jason Walsh's private gym in West Hollywood. A strength and conditioning coach, Walsh has been in the business of turning actors into action stars − including Pascal − for about two decades. He trained Brie Larson for "Captain Marvel," Jake Gyllenhaal for "Road House," Matt Damon for "Elysium," John Krasinski for "13 Hours," Bradley Cooper for "American Sniper" − and many more. During this time, Walsh was busy flying back-and-forth from California to London, where he was getting Pascal in shape to play Mr. Fantastic. Still, he was able to fit me in for a training session. Walsh had recently launched his own protein powder, Rise311, a plant-based supplement geared to those who have trouble digesting whey, and he was doing some press. I was there for an interview and a workout, but, selfishly, I also wanted to know his secret. What are these ripped celebrities doing that I'm not? Walsh quickly dispelled me of any magic shortcuts. There's no secret, he said − but there are smarter ways to train most people often overlook. "There's misunderstanding of what it is and what it takes," he said. "It's a mentality. There's a personality. It's hard to put it into words. But there's the people that want to just cheat their way through it, and I like the people that want to do the work and do it from the ground level and build all the way through." How Pedro Pascal, Jake Gyllenhaal more stars get ripped for movies You probably wouldn't notice Walsh's gym while driving down Santa Monica Boulevard. Located above unassuming storefronts and with no signs on the door, it's the perfect place for celebrities to get a workout in away from the prying eyes of paparazzi. If you walk through the front door and up the narrow staircase, however, you'll find a massive loft full of fancy exercise equipment. Walsh said he even has a device that scans clients' bodies, revealing exactly what mobility issues they may have prior to training. More: How Pedro Pascal got in Mister Fantastic shape for Marvel debut When a studio hires him for a project, Walsh sometimes only has a matter of weeks to get an actor in action-star shape. It can be a daunting task, and he said a big part of his job is talking to studios about what's realistic and what's not, given the time frame. "Taking someone who has never done this before and then building them from the base level all the way up, it's a huge endeavor," he said. "It takes a lot of work, a lot of dedication, a lot of pain and suffering in a way. You're just sacrificing a lot to get this thing done." He also said he feels responsible to the public to be transparent about the process as well. Sure, working out and eating right alone often yield tremendous results. But, when it comes to movies, there's usually more going on behind-the-scenes. He says it's common for actors to go through periods of intentional dehydration or extreme calorie manipulation to look as chiseled as possible while cameras roll. Such a physique, however, is not sustainable − nor should it be the goal. "Jake Gyllenhaal, the shape that he got in for 'Road House' was insane, and that is not sustainable," Walsh said. "It's pure manipulation. It's dehydration protocols. It's conditioning protocols, low calories during certain times. We literally undulate constantly. And all you got to see is the edits of him with his shirt off." When he meets a new client, Walsh said he first asks what they want out of training. If someone comes to him wanting to look like Gyllenhaal in "Road House," Walsh said he wouldn't discourage them, but he'd be honest about what it actually takes to get there − and encourage them to consider if it's really something they want to put themselves through. More: I worked out with Jake Gyllenhaal, Matt Damon's trainer. The results shocked me. What's more fulfilling, Walsh said, is getting people in shape so they can live healthier, fuller lives. This, he said, plays just as big a part in transforming someone into a superhero as aesthetic muscles do. "I want you to feel strong, because it becomes part of that character too, right?" he said. "It's confidence. It's not false confidence; it is confidence. You can lift something heavy. You can take a fall and get up and not be injured. Brie Larson's one of those clients. She's a perfect example of someone who would have a hard time taking the bottle cap off a bottle, and then, by the time we finished with her, she was doing all of her own stunt work. And for her, she felt like a superhero, which is beautiful." I asked Jason Walsh to turn me into a superhero. Here's what happened. So, did Walsh turn me into Thor in one hour? Well, no − that's impossible. Instead, he did something else. I ask Walsh to train me as if I was just cast as a Marvel's newest hero, and this was day one. He said we should start with a basic screening to find where my body's mobility might be holding me back, something he does with every client. This might seem tedious − especially for someone who's been working out for a while − but he said it's essential. Doing so helps prevent injuries as workouts ramp up. It also makes a big difference in how clients feel day-to-day. "It's not always about aesthetics," Walsh said. "I want to clean up any and all issues." What health & wellness means for you: Sign up for USA TODAY's Keeping It Together newsletter Walsh had me do leg stretches and immediately clocked limited flexibility in my lower body, particularly my right hip. So, we got to work. He put me through the ringer of stretches and body-weight exercises, all aimed at my glutes. At one point, he had me take side-steps across the gym in various positions with bands around my legs. He had me do squats on a balance ball. By the end, my glutes were on fire, and I was sweating bullets. When we finished, the difference was startling. My squat was deeper and more even. My balance had improved. My posture was better. Even walking felt easier. "We all want to look good, don't get me wrong − and there's some really big benefits to the psychology of looking in the mirror and going, 'Oh,' " Walsh said. "It's encouraging. I just don't find that it is the primary focus for me." What is the primary focus, he said, is helping people live their best lives. The next Tom Cruise? Brie Larson got ripped, did most of her own 'Captain Marvel' stunts Coming into the session, I thought exercise had to involve heavy weights or heart-pounding cardio to be valuable. After working out with Walsh, however, I learned detailed work on a specific issue is often much more important − especially if it gets at a root problem that's been long neglected. It's a mindset shift he himself has undergone over the course of his own fitness journey. "I'm trying to evolve myself and open myself up to different ideas," he said. "I was pretty hardheaded about stuff, because, coming from coaching, it's a very, very masculine, alpha-male kind of mentality. And so, here, I think you have to have a little more sensibility and understand people. Us regular people, we go through (things) constantly. We carry that. We have things on a daily that would hinder us from doing the things that we want to do sometimes." More: Jake Gyllenhaal got a staph infection making 'Road House,' says his 'whole arm swelled up' Now that I'm squatting like a superhero, I wonder what other issues I may have in the rest of my body that have gone unnoticed. As I continue to work out and lift weights on my own, I'm going to pay attention. More importantly, I know that, if I do achieve a superhero physique one day, it needs to be built on a solid foundation − one that, ultimately, makes the aches and pains of life a little easier. After all, what's the point of looking like a superhero, if you don't feel like one too? Look out, Thor − I'm one workout closer to stealing your hammer.
Geek Tyrant
an hour ago
- Geek Tyrant
THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Breaks Rotten Tomatoes Curse for Marvel's First Family — GeekTyrant
Marvel Studios just scored a major win. With 130 reviews counted, The Fantastic Four: First Steps holds an impressive 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, officially earning the coveted Certified Fresh seal. This marks a huge moment for the MCU and a much-needed victory for the superhero genre. Recent Marvel releases have had mixed results. Thunderbolts* was a critical hit but underperformed at the box office, topping out at $382 million. Captain America: Brave New World faced harsh reviews and barely crossed the $400 million mark worldwide. Against that backdrop, First Steps is a breath of fresh air for the studio. What makes this milestone even more cool is the history behind it. Every previous Fantastic Four film has been critically panned. Tim Story's 2005 take earned a dismal 27%, while its 2007 sequel Rise of the Silver Surfer managed only 37%. Then came Josh Trank's infamous 2015 disaster, which crashed and burned at 9%, making it one of the lowest-rated superhero movies of all time. Even Roger Corman's unreleased version, which somehow made it onto Rotten Tomatoes, sits at 33%. This new chapter changes everything. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the first entry produced by Marvel Studios and the only one to score Fresh, let alone Certified Fresh. It's a monumental turnaround for a franchise long considered cursed. The critics' consensus sums it up perfectly: 'Benefitting from rock-solid cast chemistry and clad in appealingly retro 1960s design, this crack at The Fantastic Four does Marvel's First Family justice.' I loved the movie, and I'm looking forward to watching it again! The movie was visually awesome and there area couple of badass action sequences that fans are going to flip over! Galactus was also incredibly cool! You can read my review here. Marvel has actually figured out how to bring Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm to life in a way fans and critics can enjoy and appreciate. This is definitely the beginning of something epic for the MCU as it sets up Avengers: Doomsday , which is going to be insane.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
A-list actresses casually board commercial flight in sea of stunned passengers
Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek had travelers doing a double-take in Mexico City last week. The 'Eternals' co-stars boarded a commercial flight over the weekend, according to a video shared via TikTok on Saturday. The actresses cut casual figures while chatting in the jet bridge on their way to Veracruz. Hayek matched her white joggers to her sweater, while Jolie opted for a cream top and coordinating pants. When fans asked Jolie, 50, and Hayek, 58, for a photo, they politely declined — but did pose for pictures while out and about in the terminal and eating. Social media users questioned the duo's public presence on the public flight in the comments section. 'Why don't they have a private jet?' one asked, while another joked that it didn't look like Hayek 'had stopped talking to' her A-list pal for days. The pair became close working on 'Eternals' in 2021. Three years later, Hayek starred in 'Without Blood,' which Jolie wrote, co-produced and directed. The latter gushed about the 'Salt' star in an interview with People last year. 'We do things together as a family. We hang out with the kids but also by ourselves,' Hayek, who is the mother of 17-year-old daughter Valentina, said in September 2024. Jolie, for her part, has six children: Maddox, 23, Pax, 21, Zahara, 20, Shiloh, 19, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 17. Hayek went on to call their bond 'super inspiring.' At the time, she explained, 'A friend was telling me, 'It's the same life whether you laugh or cry.' And it's nice to have a friend where you can laugh and cry … and feel always safe.' The 'Ugly Betty' alum also gave insight into Jolie's eldest sons' roles in 'Without Blood,' revealing Maddox and Pax's 'very professional' mom-turned-boss was 'demanding' of them. Solve the daily Crossword
