Strategic marketing efforts, including a viral promotional video and the film's rebranding to include an asterisk, have successfully rekindled interest among MCU fans.

Meanwhile, the animated 'A Minecraft Movie' continues to perform well, earning $7.9 million in its sixth week, bringing its domestic total to nearly $409 million.

In contrast, new releases like 'Shadow Force' and 'Clown in a Cornfield' struggled to make a significant impact at the box office, with 'Clown in a Cornfield' earning just $3.7 million.

Marvel's 'Thunderbolts' has topped the box office for its second weekend, grossing $33.1 million and bringing its North American total to $128.5 million, with a global total of $272 million.

Disney CEO Bob Iger has praised 'Thunderbolts' as a prime example of Marvel's renewed focus on quality content, despite its modest opening weekend gross of $76 million.

With an A- CinemaScore and a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, 'Thunderbolts' has received positive feedback from both audiences and critics, bolstered by its star-studded cast, including Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan.

As the summer movie season approaches, 'Thunderbolts' will face more competition starting Memorial Day weekend with the release of 'Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning'.

The film's 44% drop from its opening weekend is a solid performance compared to recent MCU releases, indicating strong audience retention.

The asterisk in 'Thunderbolts*' signifies a narrative twist, indicating that the antihero team is transitioning to become known as 'The New Avengers,' which Marvel hopes will boost interest ahead of the sequel.

The film has shown strong performance in international markets, particularly in Europe and Latin America, contributing to its overall success.

Media analysts have noted that the film's strong holding power is reminiscent of Marvel's past successes, highlighting the importance of long-term playability over initial box office numbers.

Looking ahead, the upcoming release of 'Final Destination: Bloodlines' on May 16 is expected to introduce tougher competition for 'Thunderbolts' and other films that have enjoyed a relatively low-competition environment.