Marvel’s new Fantastic Four movie, called First Steps, made a big splash at the box office with a huge $218 million in its opening weekend. That includes $118 million from theaters in the U.S. and Canada, and $100 million from international markets.
“It’s the fourth biggest opening of the year and Marvel’s best since Deadpool & Wolverine,” said one industry analyst.
A Closer Look at the Numbers
The movie hit theaters on July 25 and played in over 4,000 theaters in North America. It brought in nearly $118 million domestically and another $100 million overseas, for a total of $218 million globally in just three days. That puts it ahead of other recent Marvel films like Thunderbolts and Captain America: Brave New World.
Critics and fans seem to like it. The movie has an 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences gave it an A– on CinemaScore, which tracks viewer reactions after screenings. Nearly half of moviegoers chose premium screens like IMAX, which helped boost earnings.
Why This Is a Big Deal for Marvel
This strong performance is a big win for Marvel, especially because the Fantastic Four franchise hasn’t had much success before. Past versions of the film didn’t do well—one released in 2015 only made $56 million total in the U.S.
Compared to other superhero movies this year, Fantastic Four is holding its own. DC’s new Superman movie made a little more in the U.S. opening weekend ($125 million), but Fantastic Four did slightly better internationally. All this shows that people are still excited about superhero movies—if they’re done well.
Can It Keep the Momentum?
Even though the first weekend was great, the second weekend saw a sharp drop. The movie made just under $12 million on Friday and is expected to end the second weekend with around $40 million. That’s a 66% drop from the opening—steeper than what we’ve seen with other recent superhero films.
What this means is that while fans rushed to see it right away, fewer people are coming back or spreading the word. Some experts now think the movie might end its U.S. run with around $190–200 million. That’s still better than Thunderbolts and Brave New World, but not quite the massive hit Marvel may have hoped for.
What’s Next for Marvel and the Fantastic Four?
This movie is a step in the right direction for Marvel, especially after a few disappointing releases. It shows that audiences are still willing to turn out for the right film—especially if it's tied to characters they know and care about. Marvel is already planning more films in this story line, including a new Avengers movie and possibly a Fantastic Four sequel.
For now, Fantastic Four: First Steps is off to a solid start. The real test will be whether it can keep bringing in audiences in the weeks to come.
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