The hype just got doused in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
MCU’s Thunderbolts* was supposed to shake things up—new heroes, gritty vibes, and a fresh chapter in the post-Endgame era. But instead of roaring at the box office, the film struggled to break even. Despite some decent reviews and a cool anti-hero vibe, the film couldn’t pack the punch Marvel needed.
Fans showed up—but weren’t invested. And the numbers? Let’s just say Kevin Feige might need a giant Hulk-sized eraser to fix this one. So what went wrong? There’s one big issue that’s been brewing in the MCU since the OG Avengers peaced out—and Thunderbolts* just exposed it.
Despite positive reviews, Thunderbolts* struggled at the box office
Let’s be real—Thunderbolts* wasn’t a bad movie. Critics gave it a solid thumbs-up, even fans dropped decent reviews, and the trailers promised something different. Not to mention, Marvel even revealed what the asterisk means in the title—New Avengers. Yet somehow, despite all the hype and mysteries, when it came to actually getting butts in seats, it just didn’t happen.
The marketing tried its best—gritty teasers, action-packed promos—yet it seemed like audiences weren’t sold on a group of lesser-known characters trying to save the world. The excitement fizzled quickly, leaving behind a disastrous box office number for Thunderbolts*. Turns out, the movie, made with a $180M budget, only earned $376M during its run (via The Numbers).
Although Thunderbolts* barely managed to cross the break-even mark by $16M, it is still a major disappointment in the face of Marvel—the studio that once made billions of dollars. So what really happened? Why did the movie fail, despite good reviews? Turns out, people were indifferent towards the film, and even Kevin Feige can no longer ignore this sign.
Kevin Feige needs to address the glaring issue with the MCU
Once upon a time, you said “Avengers” and the whole world screamed. Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Black Widow, Hulk—they were household names. People showed up for them, not just the stories. But now? The MCU feels like a group project where the A+ students graduated and left the class behind.
And Kevin Feige’s biggest challenge? Finding popular faces that fit the characters that people actually care about. Don’t get us wrong—the new characters are cool. But without big emotional connections or iconic personalities, it’s hard to build that same kind of fandom. After all, the MCU used to be about more than just powers and plot.
There were faces like Robert Downey Jr. playing the playboy, billionaire, philanthropist, Iron Man. Not to mention actors like Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, and even Scarlett Johansson appeared on screen, backed by their years of experience and popularity in Hollywood. But now, Marvel seems to have a shortage of big names that evoke nostalgia.
So, if Kevin Feige wishes to revive that MCU magic, he might need to think beyond just multiverse mayhem and surprise cameos. What the MCU needs is Hollywood powerhouses with a loyal fan base, who are ready to flock to the theaters just for them. In short, Marvel needs a new team that fans can rally behind.
Thunderbolts* is yet to be released for streaming.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
