May has always been a favorable month for Marvel. It is the month that their biggest superheroes enter theaters and the crowds rush in to see the first showing. Remember The Avengers from 2012? That film opened to a staggering $207.4 million! It’s follow-up, Iron Man 3, followed in 2013 with $174.1 million. Marvel practically dominated May. But 2025? Not so much.
Marvel’s newest release, Thunderbolts, debuted with only $74.3 million in it’s first weekend. Now, that’s not a total disaster—but when compared to previous releases in May, it clearly feels like a downward trajectory.
May Was Marvel’s Favorite Month
Over the years, May has been a launchpad for Marvel’s biggest hits. Fans expect something huge every summer, starting with a bang in May. Here’s a quick look at some of Marvel’s May legends:
- The Avengers (2012) – $207.4 million
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) – $187.4 million
- Iron Man 3 (2013) – $174.1 million
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) – $118.4 million
Now, compare that to Thunderbolts. Even with a cast featuring Florence Pugh (Yelena), Sebastian Stan (Bucky), David Harbour (Red Guardian), and Wyatt Russell (US Agent), the film couldn’t match the buzz of its predecessors.
What Went Wrong?
So why didn’t Thunderbolts explode the box office? For one, it doesn’t feature mega-famous superheroes like Iron Man, Thor or Captain America. This movie is focused on a team of antiheroes—a group of characters with complicated histories and questionable heroic behaviors. That is a cool concept, but not everyone knows who they are.
Also, Thunderbolts is darker and more serious. There is fewer outbursts of the usual Marvel fun and wit, and more grit. Perhaps fans liked this change, but other fans expected big explosive battle scenes, flashy superhuman powers, and chaos from the multiverse.
However, the critics liked it! The film has a respectable 88% for critical reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. And there was lots of praise for the story and character development. But great reviews didn’t translate into substantial box office sales.
Thunderbolts vs. The Big Guns
Let’s see how Thunderbolts compares to the biggest Marvel hits in May:
- The Avengers (2012) – $207.4M
- Doctor Strange: MoM (2022) – $187.4M
- Iron Man 3 (2013) – $174.1M
- Iron Man 2 (2010) – $128.1M
- Guardians Vol. 3 (2023) – $118.4M
- Captain America: Civil War (2016) – $179.1M
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) – $117M
Thunderbolts is far below these giants. It barely fits into the top 10 of Marvel’s May releases.
Is This a New Marvel Era?
This movie might be a sign of Marvel changing direction. With big names like Iron Man and Captain America gone, the studio is trying something new. Thunderbolts brings together lesser-known characters and tells a more grounded story—less space battles, more human struggles.
It’s a bold move. Marvel is clearly experimenting, seeing how far they can push the universe without relying on their classic heroes. That can be exciting… but also risky.
This time, the risk didn’t pay off in dollars. But it could still set up some amazing stories down the line.
What’s Next? Avengers: Doomsday!
Fans already have their eyes on May 2026, when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters. Rumors say it’ll bring back Robert Downey Jr.—not as Iron Man, but as an alternate-universe Doctor Doom! Wild, right?
The movie is expected to feature Loki, Thor, Shang-Chi, and even some old-school X-Men characters. If true, it’ll be the kind of massive crossover event Marvel fans have been waiting for. A perfect way to bring back the May magic.
Lastly
Thunderbolts didn’t crush the box office like previous May hits, but it wasn’t a total flop either. It introduced new faces, took a fresh storytelling path, and kept critics happy. Sometimes change is slow, and this might just be the calm before Marvel’s next big storm.
So no, Marvel hasn’t lost its May magic—it’s just saving it for something bigger. Let’s see what happens in 2026!
Stay tuned to Club4Celebs for more updates.
