Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ryan Reynolds' third Deadpool movie ended up being the only MCU flick to be released in 2024. Due to that, all the focus of Marvel fans was directly targeted toward the movie, which no doubt helped it become the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time.
However, that was definitely not the only factor that helped the film be so successful. I feel like comparing Deadpool & Wolverine to the best MCU movies ever to me, I was shocked by just how huge their box office difference was.
How Thunderbolts* & Captain America: Brave New Worlds' Box Offices Compare To Deadpool & Wolverine
The 2025 MCU Movies Fall Quite Short Of Deadpool & Wolverine
Sadly, Thunderbolts* and Captain America: Brave New World rank among the lowest-grossing MCU movies of all time. On the other end of the spectrum is Deadpool & Wolverine. Led by Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in their MCU debut, Deadpool & Wolverine grossed $1.3 billion worldwide (via Box Office Mojo), becoming the 11th MCU movie to reach that coveted mark. Both 2025 entries in the Marvel franchise did not get close to that at all.
2024 & 2025 MCU Movies So Far (Box Office) |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Movie |
Domestic |
International |
Worldwide |
||
Deadpool & Wolverine |
$636,745,858 |
$701,327,787 |
$1,338,073,645 |
||
Captain America: Brave New World |
$200,500,001 |
$214,601,576 |
$415,101,577 |
||
Thunderbolts* (Still in theaters) |
$174,420,580 |
$182,998,204 |
$357,418,784 |
||
As can be seen in the table above, Captain America: Brave New World ranks a little higher than Thunderbolts* with a global total of $415.1 million. The MCU's New Avengers — which was revealed in Thunderbolts*'s post-credits scene — have grossed $357.4 million throughout their box office run so far. It is important to note that Thunderbolts* is still in theaters. That said, as it currently stands, the combined box office of the MCU's first two 2025 movies is 42% lower than Deadpool & Wolverine's box office.
Why Deadpool & Wolverine's Box Office Is So Much More Than Thunderbolts* & Captain America: Brave New World
Marvel Studios Finally Explored X-Men Characters In A Main Role
I believe there are quite a few factors that explain why Deadpool & Wolverine's box office total is quite higher than Thunderbolts* and Captain America: Brave New World combined. First up is the popularity of the movies' lead characters. While Chris Evans' Captain America was one of the pillars of the MCU, Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson has mostly been a ing player in the franchise. As such, I always expected his first Captain America to have a lower box office, which can grow with sequels.
As for the Thunderbolts*, the team is made up of smaller characters from all over the MCU. While there are a couple of big-name anti-heroes and actors, the cast does not have the same appeal as Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman coming together again as comic book-accurate versions of Deadpool and Wolverine. The 2024 film also used the multiverse and nostalgia to its advantage, bringing back fan favorites like Chris Evans as the Human Torch. The MCU has suffered from superhero fatigue over the past few years, but Deadpool & Wolverine's R rating provided a unique experience for the franchise.
What Thunderbolts* & Captain America: Brave New Worlds' Box Offices Mean For The MCU
The Franchise Might Never Be The Same In One Key Way
I fear that Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*'s disappointing box offices might be the new normal for the MCU. The Fantastic Four: First Steps has a chance to prove that theory wrong, as the film marks the first time Marvel Studios is behind the iconic team, and anticipation for the Fantastic Four is sky-high. That said, even if the final 2025 MCU movie is a box office hit. I still fear that smaller characters and teams will no longer have a good chance at the box office.
I feel like the days of properties like the Guardians of the Galaxy becoming a major box office draw have ended. I believe that Marvel will now have a streak of hits that will ease box office concerns, with huge events and returning fan-favorite characters in the form of the Fantastic Four's debut, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and the Avengers movies. However, the rumored soft reboot of the MCU after Avengers: Secret Wars seems like the best bet to get main players back into the MCU, avoiding box office disappointments like Thunderbolts* and Captain America: Brave New World.
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Captain America: Brave New World
4/10- Release Date
- February 14, 2025
- Runtime
- 118 minutes
- Director
- Julius Onah
Cast
Sam Wilson / Captain America
Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross / Red Hulk
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYCaptain America: Brave New World (formerly titled New World Order) marks Sam Wilson's first MCU big-screen appearance as Steve Rogers' successor after receiving the suit and shield in Phase 4's The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Anthony Mackie returns as the titular Avenger alongside Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, Carl Lumby as Isaiah Bradley, and Tim Blake Nelson as The Incredible Hulk's former ally Samuel Sterns. Harrison Ford makes his MCU debut replacing the late William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross.
After meeting President Thaddeus Ross, Sam is caught in a global crisis. He must expose the mastermind behind a sinister plot before the world descends into turmoil. Captain America: Brave New World marks the big-screen debut of Sam Wilson as Captain America, and Harrison Ford makes his MCU debut, replacing the late William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross.- Franchise(s)
- Captain America, Marvel Cinematic Universe
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Thunderbolts*
8/10- Release Date
- May 2, 2025
- Runtime
- 127 minutes
- Director
- Jake Schreier
- Writers
- Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo
- Producers
- Kevin Feige
Cast
Yelena Belova
Bucky Barnes
Thunderbolts follows seven disillusioned individuals who find themselves trapped in a perilous situation. Tasked with a daunting mission, they must face the most shadowy aspects of their histories in order to survive and achieve their goals.
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel Cinematic Universe
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Deadpool & Wolverine
8/10- Release Date
- July 26, 2024
- Runtime
- 127 Minutes
- Director
- Shawn Levy
Cast
Deadpool
Wolverine
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYA follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
- Franchise(s)
- Deadpool, Marvel Cinematic Universe
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