"Marvel's Thunderbolts: Famed Superhero Team"
HERE COMES THE REAL NEWS ABOUT 'MONDE' - YOUR GUIDE
Ever since the earth-shattering finale of Avengers: Endgame (2019) by the Russo brothers, Marvel's been grappling to recapture that box office magic. Churning out around three or four films annually, none have managed to ignite the same fire among fans and critics. Case in point, Captain America: Brave New World, helmed by Julius Onah, which only raked in a mere 351 million euros compared to Avengers: Endgame's whopping 2.8 billion dollars (2.49 billion euros).
The superhero enthusiast can't help but feel a tinge of sadness, but it's the motley crew of Thunderbolts, directed by Jake Schreier, that's feeling a whole lot more glum. As the 36th film in Marvel's expansive universe, this flick kicks off with Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), a.k.a Black Widow, musing from the summit of the Merdeka 118, Kuala Lumpur's second tallest building. Agonizing over her joyless existence and the looming emptiness, she contemplates the weightiness of life itself before charging headfirst into another mission that pits her against a succession of formidable foes, their sinister shadows highlighting the action-packed scenes.
[Grab a snack and settle in, because we've still got 30% left to go.]
Understanding Marvel's Post-Endgame Woes
The Marvel Cinematic Universe's (MCU) box office slump post-Avengers: Endgame has been attributed to several factors:- Exorbitant expectations: With Endgame serving as a narrative climax, subsequent phases have been met with lukewarm responses as fans find them lacking in cohesive storytelling[2][4].- Frantic production: In a bid to keep pumping out content, Disney prioritized quantity over quality, stretching budgets (She-Hulk cost 225 million dollars, Moon Knight 148 million) and resulting in underperformances[3].- Streaming rivalry: Movies like The Marvels struggled to compete with Disney+ releases[4].- Repetitive storytelling: Half of the films released post-Far From Home scored under 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, signaling a growing sense of formula fatigue[4].
Digging into 'Thunderbolts'
As for the specifics of Thunderbolts, the intricate details are currently under wraps. However, the film, scheduled for May 2025, promises to bring Marvel's antiheroes like Yelena Belova and Bucky Barnes together to form a government-sanctioned team[1]. Fans might remember this team from the comics as a group of reformed villains posing as heroes. As we gear up for the film's release, keep an eye on Marvel's official announcements for any updates on the plot.
[And that's a wrap! We've covered it all, but if you're still hungry for more Marvel goodness, be sure to catch up on their latest releases.]
[1] - While search results do not specify Thunderbolts' storyline, the film (scheduled for May 2025) is expected to feature MCU antiheroes like Yelena Belova and Bucky Barnes forming a government-sanctioned team, possibly adapting the comics’ premise of reformed villains posing as heroes. For confirmed plot points, check Marvel’s official announcements closer to its release date.
- The upcoming Marvel movie, Thunderbolts, directed by Jake Schreier, may face challenging comparisons with previous box office hits like Avengers: Endgame, as it's the 36th film in Marvel's expansive universe.
- In comparison to the mammoth success of Avengers: Endgame, the recent Marvel movies, such as Captain America: Brave New World and other releases, have fallen short in terms of earnings, collecting significantly less at the box office.
- As Marvel grapples to recapture the magic of Avengers: Endgame, the superhero drama Thunderbolts promises to introduce MCU's antiheroes like Yelena Belova and Bucky Barnes in a government-sanctioned team, much like their counterparts in the comics.
- A close comparison of Marvel movies post-Avengers: Endgame reveals a trend of underperformance at the box office, due to factors such as elevated expectations, frantic production schedules, streaming competition, and repetitive storytelling, with many titles scoring under 75% on Rotten Tomatoes.
