The Fantastic Four: First Steps breaks Marvel's box office slump with a $218 million global debut
The Fantastic Four: First Steps launched with a bigger-than-expected opening weekend, raking in an estimated $118 million domestically and another $100 million overseas for a global debut of around $220 million, according to Comscore.
Heading into the weekend, projections had forecast a $115 million North American take, making First Steps one of the studio's best-performing non-sequel debuts in recent years.
The film, which introduces a fresh version of Marvel's original superhero team, cost at least $300 million to produce and market.
And unlike many recent Marvel entries, First Steps doesn't require fans to brush up on previous films or plotlines to understand what's happening.
'It is a no-homework-required movie,' Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said at a recent publicity event, according to The New York Times. 'It literally is not connected to anything we've made before.'
The standalone approach appears to be paying off.
Marvel has seen several stumbles in recent years, including 2021's Eternals and this year's Thunderbolts, which has grossed just $382 million — the studio's lowest total (adjusted for inflation) since it launched its cinematic universe in 2008.
Sequels haven't fared much better, fueling chatter about 'superhero fatigue.'
Analysts have also pointed to an overcomplicated web of storylines to leaving some audience members lost.
But First Steps seemingly marks a promising reset.
Directed by WandaVision's Matt Shakman, the film stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the latest version of Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and the Thing.
Additionally, Julia Garner plays the Silver Surfer.
The franchise has a rocky past. A 1994 adaptation was shelved before release, and the 2005 and 2007 versions were met with critical backlash despite moderate ticket sales.
A 2015 reboot fared worse, both at the box office and with fans.
This new iteration, however, has earned praise for its strong ensemble cast and a more grounded story.
'The movie is a step-up in concept, storytelling and appeal,' said box office analyst David A. Gross. 'We haven't had this kind of performance from the genre for a long time.'
The film's release also arrives amid a quieter year for superheroes in general.
Only four titles in the genre were released in 2025, down from eight just two years ago, with nothing else scheduled until Supergirl lands in June 2026.
'This is the new normal,' Gross added, noting studios are adjusting output to match changing demand.
Marvel wasn't the only studio celebrating over the weekend.
Warner Bros. Discovery also hit a major milestone, with Superman soaring past $500 million globally and Apple's F1, which Warner distributed, hitting $509 million in ticket sales.
Superman marks the first theatrical release from DC Studios under new co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, who stepped in back in 2022 with a 10-year plan to reboot the brand across film and television.
The film now ranks as the fourth-highest-grossing Superman title ever, trailing only Batman v Superman, Man of Steel, and Justice League.
Meanwhile, F1 has officially become Apple's top-grossing theatrical release to date — racing past 2023's Napoleon.
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