Marvel’s Thunderbolts, sorry, The New Avengers, isn’t ready to give up the spotlight just yet. The antihero ensemble film soared to the top of the box office again this Mother’s Day weekend, banking $33.1M in new ticket sales and pushing its 10-day total to $128.5M domestically. That performance secures its spot as the fourth highest-grossing film of the year, and an early summer win for Disney.
But despite the repeat crown, all wasn’t sunny at the multiplex. This weekend’s overall box office haul of $83.3M failed to match last year’s same frame ($96.1M), led then by Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. That dip ends a five-week streak where 2025 consistently outperformed 2024 totals.
With four new wide releases contributing only a modest $9M combined—Shadow Force, Juliet and Romeo, Clown in the Cornfield, and Fight or Flight—the burden of big returns stayed squarely on Marvel’s shoulders.
Interestingly, Thunderbolts’ second-weekend hold (-55%) was just slightly softer than 2011’s Thor, a fitting comparison given both films debuted on the first Friday in May. While Thor had a 16-week theatrical run in the pre-streaming era, Thunderbolts will need to fight harder in today’s tighter windowed market to hit profitability. Its worldwide total remains TBD, though it’s pacing slightly ahead of Thor‘s $119.5M domestic at the same point.
The Florence Pugh Factor
While box office analysts watch the numbers, Thunderbolts is also scoring points with fans and critics alike. Much of that emotional resonance stems from Florence Pugh’s performance as Yelena Belova, which critics and audiences are praising as the emotional anchor of the film. In a cast full of toughened operatives, it’s Pugh’s vulnerability and wit that bring the heart—and elevate the stakes.
Horror Reigns in Second
Just behind Thunderbolts, Ryan Coogler’s original horror hit Sinners continued its stunning run, grossing $21.1M in its fourth weekend (a slim 36% drop). With $214.4M domestic and $283.3M worldwide, Sinners has officially become the top-grossing horror film of the past five years, surpassing Five Nights at Freddy’s.
It’s now chasing the all-time horror greats: It, Jaws, and The Exorcist. Given its strong hold, rave Rotten Tomatoes scores (97% critics, 96% audience), and return to select 70MM IMAX theaters this week, Sinners is poised for the kind of long-term box office haunting studios dream of.
Elsewhere at the Box Office:
- A Minecraft Movie held strong in third with $8.0M and now boasts $900.6M worldwide, making it 2025’s biggest film so far.
- The Accountant 2, starring Ben Affleck, added $6.1M for a total of $50.9M domestic. With high production costs and middling returns, the trilogy plans may be shelved.
- Clown in the Cornfield, from IFC Films and director Eli Craig (Tucker & Dale vs. Evil), scared up $3.7M in its debut. Made for under $1M, it’s already profitable, though its long-term prospects are modest at best.
This weekend’s box office was a reminder that May is Marvel territory, but it’s horror that’s bringing the heat in 2025. With Thunderbolts leading the charge and Sinners becoming a breakout phenomenon, there’s something for every movie-loving mom out there… even if she prefers screams to brunch.
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