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 opened with $76 million in domestic ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday, kicking off 

 with a solid No. 1 debut that fell shy of Marvel’s more spectacular launches.

All eyes had been on whether “Thunderbolts” — a team-up of antihero rejects similar to “Avengers” – could restore the Walt Disney Co. superhero factory to the kind of box office performance the studio once enjoyed so regularly. The results – similar to the debuts of “The Eternals” ($71 million) and “Ant-Man and the Wasp” ($75 million) — suggested Marvel’s malaise won’t be so easy to snap out of.

Some had expected a bigger opening for “Thunderbolts” because of the film's good word-of-mouth. Unlike most recent MCU entries, reviews (88% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) have been excellent for “Thunderbolts,” directed by Jake Schreier and starring 

, David Harbour and Sebastian Stan. Audiences gave it an “A-” CinemaScore.

That kind of response should power the movie to strong business in the coming weeks. Though bigger MCU films — including 2024’s “Deadpool vs. Wolverine” (with a $211 million opening on the way to $1.34 billion worldwide) — have monopolized movie screens immediately, “Thunderbolts” could gather steam more steadily. Or, it could go down as another example of Marvel struggling to rekindle its golden touch.

Marvel spent about $180 million to produced the movie, which added $86.1 million in overseas sales. The film also teases the next MCU chapter, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” due out July 25.

“Marvel set the bar so high for so many years that a $76 million opening may seem to some like it should have done $100 million or something like that,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. “This is a great reset. They're hitting the reset with ‘Thunderbolts." The great reviews and the word-of-mouth should hold it (in) good stead.”

The Walt Disney Co. also might not have expected such stout competition from 

 The Warner Bros. release, which had led the box office the last two weeks, continued to hold remarkably well. In its third week, it grossed $33 million, a dip of only 28%.

“Sinners,” a 1932-set vampire movie about bootlegging brothers (both played by Michael B. Jordan) who open a juke joint in their Mississippi hometown, has proven a spring sensation in theaters. It has collected $179.7 million domestically and $236.7 million globally thus far.

Warner Bros. also nabbed third place with 

 the smash-hit video game adaptation. In its fifth weekend, it rung up another $13.7 million to bring its North American gross to nearly $400 million. Worldwide, it has totaled $873.4 million. Warner Bros. added “Block Party Edition” screenings over the weekend for a sing-along and “meme-along” experience. The film has seen some rowdy screenings from TikTok-inspired moviegoers.

 arrived in theaters. Its release brought some closure to one of Hollywood’s greatest tragedies. Distributor Falling Forward Films didn't report box office, but estimates suggested “Rust” grossed approximately $25,000 in 115 theaters.

Following Hutchins’ death, the film’s armorer, 

, was sentenced to prison for involuntary manslaughter. First assistant director 

 to probation after pleading no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon. Involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin, a co-producer on the film, 

As part of a wrongful death settlement, Matt Hutchins, Hutchins' husband, was made an executive producer on the film.

 starring Nicolas Cage as a man trying to surf a “locals-only” Australian beach. The Madman Films release collected a modest $674,560 from 884 theaters.

With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:

3. “A Minecraft Movie,” $13.7 million.

7. “The King of Kings,” $1.7 million.

The Associated Press

Author

Marvel Studios’ “Thunderbolts” opened with $76 million in domestic ticket sales. Studio estimates released Sunday showed the film kicking off the summer box office with a solid No. 1 debut, though it fell shy of Marvel’s more spectacular launches.

'Thunderbolts' kicks off the summer movie season with $76 million at the box office

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