It seems our not-so-secret hunch about Thunderbolts (or as some are calling it, The New Avengers) dominating the weekend box office has held true, but the competition is heating up more than anticipated! According to Deadline, Thunderbolts is projected to experience a week-to-week drop of about 55%, grossing around $35 million. However, it’s facing some fierce contenders, particularly from the vampire flick, Sinners, which is emerging as a surprising cultural sensation, expected to bring in a solid $20 million this weekend. Who knows—these figures are still unfolding, and by the end of the weekend, it might even break the $25 million mark!
Even though Sinners is unlikely to surpass Thunderbolts, there’s no denying its compelling cultural impact, filling a void that’s left by the superhero slate’s recent offerings. What’s particularly fascinating is how Thunderbolts is managing to sustain its box office grip much better than Captain America: Brave New World, which saw a steep 68% plunge, and other Marvel blockbusters like Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania (69%) and The Marvels (a staggering 78%). With Thunderbolts crossing over the $100 million mark yesterday, and Sinners on track to finish its run with at least $300 million, this could shape up to be one of the year’s most remarkable triumphs—potentially even positioning Sinners for an Oscar nod come fall. As an added bonus, it’s set to return to IMAX next weekend, likely cementing its status as a must-see experience, much like the films of Christopher Nolan, especially after briefly losing its screens to Thunderbolts—which, let’s be honest, isn’t leveraging the IMAX format as creatively.
As for the new arrivals, the poorly-reviewed Shadow Force appears to be floundering, with projections placing its opening earnings between $1.7 and $2.7 million. Meanwhile, indie films Clown in a Cornfield and Fight or Flight are likely to see modest box office returns, with Clown slated for around $3 million, and Josh Hartnett’s action-packed offering aiming for $2 million. We’re crossing our fingers for these smaller films to find their footing, as they deserve more than just a marketing push for future streaming debuts.
What films are making your weekend? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
