Two new movies are set to break a 14-year-old Hollywood trend this weekend
Marvel superheroes are battling it out with vampires for box office supremacy.
Two new movies are set to break a 14-year strong Hollywood trend this weekend, with both Thunderbolts* and Sinners projected to break $30million (£22.6million) within the same window.
Released as the latest instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thunderbolts* sees a motley crew of superhero D-listers join forces to take on corrupt politician Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus).
In doing so, they find a sense of brotherhood and redemption in a world sorely lacking its Avengers.
Meanwhile, Sinners (directed by the MCU’s own Ryan Coogler) features Michael B Jordan in dual roles as a pair of twin brothers battling vampires in their 1930s juke joint.
Both films have been released to critical acclaim, with many proclaiming Thunderbolts* to be something of a return to form for the flagging MCU.
And, with the film tracking to make over $30million worldwide in its opening weekend, it’s set to be joined there by Sinners, pulling in a similar figure after its third week of release.
Sebastian Stan, Hannah John-Kamen, Florence Pugh, Wyatt Russell and David Harbourstar in Marvel’s Thunderbolts* (Picture: AP) Bloody vampire film Sinners is expected to join Thunderbolts* at the top of the box office (Picture: Warner Bros. Entertainment/Eli Ade. All Rights Reserved/PA)This achievement by two very different films bucks a long-standing trend in which the lion’s share of the money is taken by just one film – as opposed to shared between two.
The last time this happened was in 2011, with the release of Kenneth Branagh’s Thor facing off against Universal Pictures’ Fast Five during the same release window.
Here, the God of Thunder achieved a worldwide gross of $449,326,618 (£382.7million) while Fast Five took a whopping $626,137,675 (£471.7million).
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Previous Page Next PageThe presence of MCU alumnus Michael B Jordan aside, Sinners is a very different prospect from its multiplex neighbour.
Set in the 1930s deep South, it follows twin brothers ‘Smoke’ and ‘Stack’ as they attempt to open a juke joint in their hometown.
The party is soon interrupted when a gang of vampires (led by Skins star Jack O’Connell) arrive on their doorstep, thirsty for blood. Featuring some shocking violence, throbbing tunes and steamy sex scenes, it’s a far cry from its director’s more sanitised Marvel work.
Audiences have dubbed the horror film a modern ‘masterpiece’ – contributing to a 98% fresh score on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
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Previous Page Next Page Comment nowThunderbolts* or Sinners? What will you be watching this weekend?Comment NowThunderbolts* meanwhile, finds the MCU in a darker place than usual, with Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) struggling with her emotions after the death of her sister (Black Widow, as played by Scarlett Johansson).
Crossing paths with fellow mercenaries John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), she joins forces with her dad (David Harbour) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) to take down shady politician Valentina and pet project Bob (Lewis Pullman).
Florence Pugh stars as miserable mercenary Yelena Belova (Picture: Marvel Studios)Described as ‘easily one of the best MCU movies in a long time,’ the 36th film in the franchise has connected with fans thanks to its surprisingly grown-up themes and strong cast.
What links both films is that they’ve managed to get bums on seats and, in their good reviews and positive word of mouth, proved that there’s life in the old dogs (vampires and the MCU) yet.
In the words of a certain Bob, we’re so full, so filled.
Thunderbolts* and Sinners are out in UK Cinemas now.
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