After a strong opening weekend, Captain America: Brave New World has hit turbulence at the box office, plummeting in its second week.
Despite retaining the No. 1 spot, the Anthony Mackie-led Marvel blockbuster earned just $28.2 million domestically in its sophomore weekend, marking a staggering 68% drop from its $88 million three-day debut ($100 million over four days), according to studio estimates. The sharp decline reinforces concerns that Marvel Studios is struggling to recapture its once-unshakable dominance.
One of Marvel’s Steepest Drops Yet
While blockbuster films often see significant declines in their second week, Brave New World now ranks among the worst second-weekend drops in MCU history. Only two films—The Marvels (down 78%) and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (down 70%)—have posted bigger declines.
Advertisement The film, which was expected to be a return to form for Marvel, has received a lukewarm reception. It earned a B- CinemaScore from audiences and faced criticism from reviewers. Many had hoped this installment would help steer Marvel back on course following its post-Endgame struggles, but the numbers suggest otherwise.
However, Brave New World has still managed to rack up $289.4 million worldwide, with international markets contributing nearly half of that total. And with minimal competition in the coming weeks, the film could stabilize.
Horror Hit ‘The Monkey’ Scares Up Strong Debut
The biggest new release of the weekend was The Monkey, the latest horror flick from Oz Perkins, following his 2024 success Longlegs. Based on a Stephen King short story, the eerie thriller opened with $14.2 million for Neon—marking the indie distributor’s second-best debut, trailing only Longlegs ($22.4 million).
Neon capitalized on an eerie marketing strategy, hosting a funeral-themed premiere at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles and special screenings at Hollywood Cemetery. The low-budget horror flick, produced by James Wan, cost just $10 million to make and has received solid reviews (77% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), though audiences gave it a C+ CinemaScore—a common trend for horror films.
Suggested: ‘THE MONKEY’ Becomes Fandango’s Best Horror Ticket Pre-Seller of 2025
Meanwhile, Sean Baker’s indie darling Anora continued gaining momentum ahead of next week’s Academy Awards, racking up key wins at the Independent Spirit Awards over the weekend.
Other Box Office Standouts
The charming Paddington in Peru took third place with $6.5 million, bringing its domestic total to $25.2 million after two weeks. While its U.S. numbers remain modest, the marmalade-loving bear has dominated internationally, grossing $125 million overseas.
China’s animated box office juggernaut Ne Zha 2 added $3.1 million from just 800 theaters, bringing its U.S. total to $1.7 billion—overtaking Inside Out 2 ($1.66 billion) as the highest-grossing animated film of all time.
Meanwhile, Lionsgate’s faith-based drama The Unbreakable Boy, starring Zachary Levi, struggled in its debut, earning just $2.5 million from 1,687 theaters.
Weekend Box Office Top 10:
- Captain America: Brave New World – $28.2 million
- The Monkey – $14.2 million
- Paddington in Peru – $6.5 million
- Dog Man – $5.9 million
- Ne Zha 2 – $3.1 million
- Heart Eyes – $2.9 million
- Mufasa: The Lion King – $2.5 million
- The Unbreakable Boy – $2.5 million
- Chhaava – $1.5 million
- One of Them Days – $1.4 million
With the film industry closely watching Marvel’s next moves, all eyes will be on how Brave New World holds up in the weeks ahead. Will it stabilize, or is this another sign that the MCU’s golden era is fading?
Source: Fortune