It goes without saying that Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts* made an impression on audiences all over the world. Widely regarded as one of the best movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2019's Avengers: Endgame, it had a lot to live up to when those initial reactions surfaced online, but it had no problem pulling that off, exceeding all expectations - with many calling it one of the best Marvel movies ever made. When you consider its thoughtful approach to mental health and the all-around entertainment value that the film's plot provided fans with, it's easy to see why this nuanced outing became such a fan-favorite.
It stars Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen, David Harbour, and Julia Louis Dreyfus, who all reprise their roles from previous MCU movies and / or Disney Plus TV shows. Meanwhile, Lewis Pullman joins the fray as the mysterious Bob, a character who will likely carry great importance in the future of the franchise.
Although Thunderbolts* somewhat underperformed at the box office, it did earn back its budget and didn't fall too short of the break-even mark during its theatrical release. It is expected to be a long-term success story for the studio through VOD releases, merchandising, home media releases and, indeed, streaming. Speaking of the latter, when can we expect it to arrive on Disney Plus?
Thunderbolts* will reportedly release on Disney Plus on August 27
According to a Greek TV spot, Thunderbolts* will premiere on Disney Plus on August 27. Although Marvel Studios has yet to officially announce the date on social media, the snippet of the TV spot has been circulated online, with fans now fully expecting the film to debut on the service on that date.
Since the launch of the streaming service back in 2019, there has also been a clear pattern in terms of recent movies making their Disney Plus debut, with the average release date being somewhere between 80 and 100 days after each respective film's theatrical release window. The range can vary somewhat depending on how the film is performing at the box office; if Marvel or Disney can ensure it continues to pick up moviegoers each week, they might extend that window. It's still usually within that range, though, with the only real exception being Avatar: The Way of Water, (which waited a full six months before arriving due to its exceptional box office performance). However, the August 27 date for Thunderbolts would make the MCU film the record-holder for having the longest gap between its theatrical and streaming releases.
It's an interesting choice from Marvel to say the least. Thunderbolts* can no longer benefit from an extended theatrical run as its theatrical release window has closed. There were simply too many major summer releases for it to enjoy an extended run and that ultimately impacted its box office legs (with July's releases of Jurassic World Rebirth, Superman, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, there would have simply been too much competition in the superhero / sci-fi realm for it to hold its own two months after its release). Even with the unanticipated extended wait for Thunderbolts*, Marvel Studios will likely be keen to release it on Disney Plus extremely soon so that it can enjoy a streaming renaissance - and it will.
Fans had predicted that Thunderbolts* would likely release on Disney Plus on a Wednesday between Wednesday, August 13 at the earliest, and the last Wednesday in September. Taking that into account, the tentative August 27 date doesn't seem so late as it's smack down in the middle of those predictions. A bit later by Marvel standards for sure, but thankfully not too far away anymore.
In the meantime, Thunderbolts* is now available to purchase on VOD and DVD / Blu-ray / 4K UHD.
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