There was never any doubt that the Thunderbolts* would come together, at least where locking down the No. 1 spot at the weekend box officewas concerned. No, the only question facing the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s ragtag team was how much money their film could make? Unfortunately, director Jake Schreier’s contribution to the MCU didn’t crack the $100 million mark domestically, but it did bring in an estimated $76 million in the United States and Canada. However, Thunderbolts* fared far better overseas with an additional $86.1 million for a worldwide total of $162.1 million against a reported production budget of $180 million.

Where Thunderbolts* truly excelled was how the superhero squad’s first misadventure performed with audiences and critics. Schreier’s movie currently registers a "Certified Fresh" 88% on the Tomatometer against 257 reviews posted to Rotten Tomatoes. Meanwhile, the fans responded even more favorably to the debut of the "New Avengers." The superhero action comedy...