diff --git src/bp-messages/bp-messages-template.php src/bp-messages/bp-messages-template.php
index b327a6d..eec958f 100644
--- src/bp-messages/bp-messages-template.php
+++ src/bp-messages/bp-messages-template.php
@@ -2051,7 +2051,14 @@ function bp_the_thread_subject() {
  * @return string
  */
 function bp_get_the_thread_recipients(){
-	if ( 5 <= bp_get_thread_recipients_count() ) {
+    /**
+     * Filters the number used to determine whether a list of thread recipients or an "x recipients" string is displayed.
+     *
+     * @since BuddyPress (2.2.0)
+     *
+     * @param int $value Number to determine whether a list of thread recipients or an "x recipients" string is displayed.
+     */
+	if ( apply_filters( 'bp_get_the_thread_recipients_number', 5 ) <= bp_get_thread_recipients_count() ) {
 		$recipients = sprintf( __( '%s recipients', 'buddypress' ), number_format_i18n( bp_get_thread_recipients_count() ) );
 	} else {
 		$recipients = bp_get_thread_recipients_list();