Table of Contents
Marvel’s Fantastic Four: First Steps debuted with $118M domestically and $218M worldwide, falling short of Superman’s $220M global launch. Despite a steep -42% Saturday drop, the MCU film marks the fourth $100M+ opening of 2025, proving superhero fatigue isn’t killing the genre.
Key Box Office Takeaways
- Domestic Opening: $118M (below tracking’s $120M–$135M projections).
- Global Total: $218M ($2M behind Superman).
- Audience Demographics: Fewer families (8% under 13 vs. 21% norm for PG-13 superhero films).
- PLF/IMAX Impact: 40% of revenue, with IMAX alone contributing $16M.
Why the Drop?
- Front-Loaded Demand: Sharp Saturday decline (-42%) compared to Superman (-33%) and Deadpool & Wolverine (-36%).
- Rural Underperformance: Suburban/rural turnout lagged by -13% vs. metro areas.
- Competition: Families opted for Superman ($24.8M 3rd weekend) and Jurassic World Rebirth ($13M 4th weekend).
Silver Linings
- Strong Older Audience: Best ratings came from ages 35+ (72–80% “definite recommend”).
- IMAX Success: Second-highest MCU IMAX share (14% of total).
- Global Appeal: Latino/Asian turnout higher than Superman (31% and 11%, respectively).
Weekend Box Office Top 5
- Fantastic Four: First Steps – $118M (NEW)
- Superman – $24.8M (-57%) | $289.5M Total
- Jurassic World Rebirth – $13M (-45%) | $301.5M Total
- F1 – $6.2M (-37%) | $165.6M Total
- The Smurfs – $5.4M (-51%) | $22.7M Total
The Bottom Line
While Fantastic Four’s opening wasn’t record-breaking, its $100M+ performance reinforces superhero viability. The film’s retro-1960s aesthetic and Galactus hype may fuel legs, but Disney needs stronger family turnout to hit long-term targets.
