Thunderbolts* Is Best Example of MCU’s Shift to Quality Over Quantity, Says Disney

In May 2024, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced Marvel would be shifting its focus to quality over quantity. Instead of four movies and TV shows per year, Marvel would scale back and only release two to three movies and about two TV shows in one year. Today, Iger champions Thunderbolts* as a successful example of Disney’s new release strategy.

What did Bob Iger say about Thunderbolts*?

Iger participated in a conference call with media analysts on Wednesday morning. Iger touted the success of Thunderbolts* and stressed that it’s only the beginning for more quality-focused Marvel movies.

“We all know that in our zeal to flood our streaming platform with more content, that we turned to all of our creative engines, including Marvel, and had them produce a lot more,” Iger said via The Hollywood Reporter. “We’ve also learned over over time that quantity does not necessarily beget quality. And frankly, we’ve all admitted to ourselves that we lost a little focus by making too much. By consolidating a bit and having Marvel focus much more on their films, we believe that will result in better quality. And I think the first and best example is Thunderbolts*. I feel very good about that.”

Released on May 2, Thunderbolts* grossed $74 million in its domestic opening weekend. While not a home-run gross for Thunderbolts*, it’s a solid return to form for Marvel thanks to positive reviews and critical acclaim.

Thunderbolts* is the second of three Marvel movies on the 2025 slate. Captain America: Brave New World was released earlier this year in February. While the Anthony Mackie-led project grossed $415 million worldwide, the reviews were mixed to negative, with many criticizing the plot and its connection to the MCU.

The third and most important Marvel movie of 2025 is The Fantastic Four: First Steps. This marks the introduction of the Fantastic Four in the MCU. Marvel’s First Family will play a significant role in future phases, so much is riding on the film’s critical and box office performance. The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on July 25.