United States Marvel Studios’ “Thunderbolts” kicked off the summer movie season with a respectable $76 million in domestic ticket sales, according to industry reports.

While the debut falls short of the $100 million-plus openings typical for Marvel’s blockbuster franchises like Deadpool, Wolverine, and Thor, the performance aligns with other films introducing lesser-known characters, such as Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings ($75M) and Eternals ($71M).

The film’s strong critical reception, boasting an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A-” CinemaScore from audiences, positions “Thunderbolts” for potential staying power at the box office.

Analysts project a significant boost in the coming weeks, particularly as positive word-of-mouth spreads.

This marks a promising pivot for Marvel after recent critical disappointments, including Captain America: Brave New World, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and The Marvels.

With its focus on a fresh roster of heroes, “Thunderbolts” could signal a strategic recalibration for Marvel Studios as it seeks to reinvigorate its cinematic universe amid a competitive entertainment landscape.