The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has had some struggles with its recent theatrical projects. The oversaturation of streaming titles has made the interconnected universe feel less like an exciting event to keep up with in theaters a couple of times a year, and more like homework and required viewing at home. So, while the newest MCU films have fared well at the box office relative to other blockbusters, their total gross is lacking compared to their tentpole releases earlier in the studio's history. Now, Thunderbolts* has surprisingly broken the trend of recent Marvel flicks, showing strong legs in its second weekend at the box office.

The newest box office report for this weekend indicates that Thunderbolts* will retain the number one spot it had after its opening weekend. This isn't a surprise in and of itself, but when looking at the exact amount the movie has made in its second week,...