'The Fantastic Four' Smashes 'Superman' Box Office Record

Newsweek

2 days ago

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"Superman" may have had an early lead on Marvel's First Family, but now it looks like the FF could still leave the Man of Steel in their dust.
DC's "Superman" previously held the record for highest box office sales in Thursday night previews for 2025, with $22.5 million. Now, Marvel is reporting "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" sped past that figure, earning $24.4 million in Thursday previews.
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If those numbers are a preview of things to come, then things look very good for "The Fantastic Four." Deadline offered up numbers in comparison, including 2019's "Captain Marvel which earned only $20.7 million in previews, and 2016's "Captain America: Civil War," which did only slightly better with $25 million in previews.
Both "Captain Marvel" and "Captain America: Civil War" would go on to earn above and beyond the $1 billion mark.
Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing in "The Fantastic Four: First Steps".
Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing in "The Fantastic Four: First Steps".
DISNEY
The preview numbers are also much more impressive than either of Marvel's other offerings this year: "Captain America: Brave New World" ($12 million) and "Thunderbolts*" ($11.5 million).
If things continue to trend well for "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," it will be a welcome and much-needed shot in the arm for Marvel Studios, which has been suffering a rough year.
While "Deadpool & Wolverine" did well in 2024, both "Thunderbolts*" and "Brave New World" underperformed at the box office, inspiring more conversations about superhero fatigue or if Marvel had lost its spark.
The success "The Fantastic Four" has garnered so far is no doubt helped by the near-unanimous critical praise heaped upon the film since early reactions started coming out.
Critic Nick Zednik summed up many of the high points named by other reviewers when he wrote that the film "is pun-intended, fantastic and the best pure MCU film since GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 and that's not hyperbole The story is clear, tight, and the family dynamic is so emotionally effective. Giacchino score rocks. Visually astounding. Galactus was great and it's just the right amount of everything. Vanessa Kirby ate and left no crumbs. Kirby and Stan would be proud of this one."
#TheFantasticFour is pun-intended, fantastic and the best pure MCU film since GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 and that's not hyperbole The story is clear, tight, and the family dynamic is so emotionally effective. Giacchino score rocks. Visually astounding. Galactus was great and… pic.twitter.com/xps7GsCJDZ — Nick Zednik (@NickZednik) July 22, 2025
"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" is in theaters now. The film is directed by Matt Shakman. It stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Paul Walter Hauser, Natasha Lyonne, Julia Garner, Ralph Ineson, Mark Gatiss, and Sarah Niles
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