‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ scores Marvel's first $100 million box
office opening of 2025
[July 28, 2025]
By LINDSEY BAHR and ITZEL LUNA
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Marvel’s first family has finally found box office
gold. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” the first film about the
superheroes made under the guidance of Kevin Feige and the Walt Disney
Co., earned $118 million in its first weekend in 4,125 North American
theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday.
That makes it the fourth biggest opening of the year, behind “A
Minecraft Movie,” “Lilo & Stitch” and “Superman,” and the biggest Marvel
opening since “Deadpool & Wolverine” grossed $211 million out of the
gate last summer. Internationally, “Fantastic Four” made $100 million
from 52 territories, adding up to a $218 million worldwide debut. The
numbers were within the range the studio was expecting.
The film arrived in the wake of another big superhero reboot, James
Gunn's “Superman,” which opened three weekends ago and has already
crossed $500 million globally. That film, from the other main player in
comic book films, DC Studios, took second place with $24.9 million
domestically.
The box office success of “First Steps” and “Superman” means “the whole
notion of superhero fatigue, which has been talked about a lot, can I
think be put to rest. I always say it’s bad movie fatigue, not superhero
fatigue,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for data firm
Comscore.
“First Steps” is the latest attempt at bringing the superhuman family to
the big screen, following lackluster performances for other versions.
The film, based on the original Marvel comics, is set during the 1960s
in a retro-futuristic world led by the Fantastic Four, a family of
astronauts-turned-superhuman from exposure to cosmic rays during a space
mission.
The family is made up of Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), who can stretch
his body to incredible lengths; Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), who can
render herself invisible; Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), who transforms
into a fiery human torch; and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), who
possesses tremendous superhuman strength with his stone-like flesh.
The movie takes place four years after the family gained powers, during
which Reed’s inventions have transformed technology, and Sue’s diplomacy
has led to global peace.
Both audiences and critics responded positively to the film, which
currently has an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and promising exit poll
responses from opening weekend ticket buyers. An estimated 46% of
audiences chose to see it on premium screens, including IMAX and other
large formats.
The once towering Marvel is working to rebuild audience enthusiasm for
its films and characters. Its two previous offerings this year did not
reach the cosmic box office heights of “Deadpool & Wolverine," which
made over $1.3 billion, or those of the “Avengers”-era. But critically,
the films have been on an upswing since the poorly reviewed “Captain
America: Brave New World,” which ultimately grossed $415 million
worldwide. “Thunderbolts," which jumpstarted the summer movie season,
was better received critically but financially is capping out at just
over $382 million globally.
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This image released by Disney shows H.E.R.B.I.E, left, and The
Thing, portrayed by Ebon Moss-Bachrach, in a scene from "The
Fantastic Four: First Steps." (Marvel/Disney via AP)
 Like Deadpool and Wolverine, the
Fantastic Four characters had been under the banner of 20th Century
Fox for years. The studio produced two critically loathed, but
decently profitable attempts in the mid-2000s with future Captain
America Chris Evans as the Human Torch. In 2015, it tried again
(unsuccessfully) with Michael B. Jordan and Miles Teller. They got
another chance after Disney's $71 billion acquisition of Fox’s
entertainment assets in 2019.
The “Fantastic Four's” opening weekend results were a little less
than some rival studio projections, Dergarabedian said. Nonetheless,
the film is expected to carry movie theater earnings well into
August.
Holdovers dominated the top 10, but one other newcomer managed to
make the chart. The dark romantic comedy “Oh, Hi!” earned $1.1
million from 866 screens.
“Jurassic World Rebirth” landed in third place in its fourth weekend
with $13 million, followed by “F1” with $6.2 million. The Brad Pitt
racing movie also passed $500 million globally. “Smurfs” rounded out
the top five with $5.4 million in its second weekend.
The box office is currently up over 12% from last year.
Top 10 movies by domestic box office
With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors
in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and
Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:
1. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” $118 million.
2. “Superman,” $24.9 million.
3. “Jurassic World Rebirth,” $13 million.
4. “F1: The Movie,” $6.2 million.
5. “Smurfs,” $5.4 million.
6. “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” $5.1 million.
7. “How to Train Your Dragon,” $2.8 million.
8. “Eddington,” $1.7 million.
9. “Saiyaara,” $1.3 million.
10. “Oh, Hi!,” $1.1 million.
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