Marvel’s Thunderbolts* (The New Avengers) just blasted into U.K. and Ireland theaters on May 1, 2025, and it’s already the king of the box office! The superhero flick pulled in a cool £5 million ($6.65 million) over its opening weekend, playing at 668 spots. That’s about £7,462 per theater, which is pretty darn impressive for a summer kickoff. Directed by Jake Schreier, this one’s got all the Marvel magic—big action, snarky humor, and a killer cast. It might not have smashed records like some of Marvel’s heavy hitters, but with fans raving, it’s got legs to keep going strong.
The movie stars Florence Pugh as the badass Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, David Harbour as the lovable Red Guardian, plus Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as a sneaky mastermind. It’s about a bunch of rough-around-the-edges heroes on a wild mission, and there’s a big twist where they get renamed The New Avengers. That’s all I’ll say to avoid spoilers, but it’s got everyone hyped for Avengers: Doomsday next year. The U.K. and Ireland chipped in $7.7 million to the movie’s global $162.1 million debut, making it the second-biggest market after China. Not too shabby!
Minecraft Is Still Building Big
Okay, A Minecraft Movie is refusing to budge! In its fifth weekend, the Warner Bros. family flick nabbed second place with £2.4 million ($3.3 million), even with a 53% drop from last week. Starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa, it’s now racked up £51.7 million ($68.7 million) in the U.K. and Ireland, making it the biggest movie of 2025 here so far. Worldwide, it’s closing in on $900 million, with the U.K. leading all markets at $67.1 million. That’s wild for a movie based on a blocky video game!
Kids and parents can’t get enough of its colorful, fun vibe, and it’s now passed Quantum of Solace and Black Panther to sneak into the top 50 highest-grossing films ever in the U.K. and Ireland. It’s got a real shot at hitting $1 billion globally, which would be huge for a game adaptation. If you’ve got kids, you know why this one’s still packing theaters—those Minecraft vibes are just too strong.
Sinners Won’t Quit
Then there’s Sinners, Ryan Coogler’s vampire horror flick, which is straight-up killing it in its third weekend. It made £2.3 million ($3.2 million), bringing its U.K. and Ireland total to £7.3 million ($9.6 million). Get this—it only dropped 5% from last week, which is basically unheard of for a big movie. Michael B. Jordan’s dual role is getting all the love, and globally, it’s nearing $250 million, with $179.9 million from the U.S. alone.
The IMAX screenings are a big deal here, pulling in £266,393 at London’s BFI IMAX in just 10 days. Coogler shot it with IMAX cameras, so it’s a total experience, making up 21% of the weekend’s global ticket sales. People are calling it a horror game-changer, and it’s drawing all kinds of crowds in the U.K. I mean, who doesn’t love a good vampire scare?
A Packed Weekend at the Movies
The box office was buzzing this weekend, with the top five films—including a Star Wars: Episode III reissue at £1.7 million and The Accountant 2 at £0.9 million—keeping things lively. Thunderbolts* might’ve bumped Minecraft and Sinners down a spot, but they’re still pulling serious numbers. All together, the top films helped April 2025’s box office soar past £100 million, a 65% jump from March. That’s a hot start to summer!
Thunderbolts*’ £5 million opening crushed last year’s The Fall Guy (£2.4 million), which bodes well for the season. Minecraft’s basically the champ of video game movies now, and Sinners is giving horror fans something to scream about. It’s a great time to hit the theater.
What’s Coming Up?
Thunderbolts* has some breathing room before Final Destination: Bloodlines (May 16) and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (May 23) roll in, so it could keep ruling the roost. Its IMAX and 2D screenings are a big draw, making up 90% of its U.K. cash, and fans are eating it up. Minecraft’s chasing that $1 billion dream, and Sinners might just creep past £10 million here with those crazy-good holds.
The U.K. and Ireland box office is on fire right now, with Thunderbolts* bringing the superhero thrills, Minecraft keeping the kids happy, and Sinners delivering chills. Go catch these in theaters while they’re hot—I’m team Yelena all the way, but who’s your Thunderbolts* fave?
Source: Variety