Thunderbolts* is off to a bad start at the box office in China.
Thunderbolts* hits United States theaters this coming weekend. The MCU movie stars Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Wyatt Russell as John Walker, Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster, Lewis Pullman as Sentry, Geraldine Viswanathan as Mel, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine.
How much money has Thunderbolts* made in China?
The Marvel movie was released in China on April 30, 2025, and has so far only grossed ¥18M, which equates to about $2.5 million.
Per box office analyst ਜਤਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ on X, this marks the “lowest launch for an MCU film in 14 years” in China.
Abysmal start for #Thunderbolts in China, just ¥18M ($2.5M) first-day & that’s with a big holiday. Lowest launch for an MCU film in 14 years, which is ancient history in box-office terms.
WOM is better, so maybe it legs… but from this low a base, where can it even go? pic.twitter.com/b5AD1FLgRm— ਜਤਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ* (@meJat32) April 30, 2025
MCU first days in China Post CoVID
Wakanda Forever – ¥21M (delayed)
Quantumania – ¥43M
GOTG Vol 3 – ¥46M
Marvels – ¥29M
D&W – ¥61M
Brave New World – ¥40M (Valentines)#Thunderbolts ~ ¥18M (May Day)
That adds to ¥258M. Far From Home had a ¥248M first-day back in 2019 at 20%… https://t.co/LhtOl7BNRo— ਜਤਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ* (@meJat32) April 30, 2025
Whether the low turnout in China has to do with politics and attitudes towards American cinema or other factors remains unclear. In the United States, Thunderbolts* is currently tracking to make around $70 million during its opening weekend, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Internationally, it’s projected to open to around $160-$175 million, which isn’t an unbelievable figure for an MCU project but is also better than some of the more recent superhero pictures that have come out. Strong word of mouth could also increase those numbers.
The synopsis for Thunderbolts* reads, “Marvel Studios assembles an unconventional team of antiheroes—Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster and John Walker. After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, these disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts. Will this dysfunctional group tear themselves apart, or find redemption and unite as something much more before it’s too late?”
Directed by Jake Schreier, the movie is produced by Kevin Feige and executive produced by Louis D’Esposito, Brian Chapek, and Jason Tamez. The screenplay comes from Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo, based on a story by Pearson.
Originally reported by Brandon Schreur at SuperHeroHype.
