The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Box Office: A Marvel-ous Start or a Cosmic Flop?

The Fantastic Four: First Steps' box office has been a hot topic since its July 25, 2025, release, with Marvel’s First Family aiming to reclaim their cinematic glory.

Despite a strong opening, the film’s performance has sparked debates about whether it’s a triumph or a stumble for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

With a worldwide gross of $471,745,811, as reported by Box Office Mojo, the film has shown promise but also faced challenges in sustaining momentum.

Let’s dive into the numbers, explore why the film is underperforming, and uncover what this means for Marvel’s future in this fun yet fact-packed analysis.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Box Office Performance In A Nutshell:

• Worldwide Gross: $471,745,811, with $249,533,629 domestic (52.9%) and $222,212,182 international (47.1%).

• Opening Weekend: $118 million domestically, the third-best MCU opening since 2022.

• Second Weekend Drop: A steep 66% drop to $40 million domestically, signaling front-loaded interest.

• Budget Concerns: Estimated $200 million production budget, requiring around $500 million to break even.

• Franchise Milestone: The highest-grossing Fantastic Four film, surpassing 2015’s Fant4stic ($168 million globally).

Why Did The Fantastic Four: First Steps Start Strong?

The film’s opening weekend was a beacon of hope for Marvel, grossing $118 million domestically and $218 million globally, outpacing projections of $115 million in the U.S. alone.

Directed by Matt Shakman, the retro-futuristic 1960s setting and a stellar cast—Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm—drew crowds.

The film’s premium large-format screenings, including IMAX, accounted for 46% of ticket sales, with IMAX alone contributing $16 million domestically. This strong start marked the biggest domestic opening for a Fantastic Four film, surpassing 2005’s Fantastic Four ($330 million globally) and 2007’s Rise of the Silver Surfer ($301 million globally).

The buzz around the film’s fresh take, focusing on family dynamics over CGI-heavy action, resonated with audiences and critics. Positive reviews, like those praising its “back-to-basics” approach, helped fuel initial excitement.

The film also benefited from being Marvel’s first original hit in six years, not relying on sequel hype, which gave it a unique edge in a crowded superhero market.

What Caused the Steep Box Office Drop?

Despite its promising debut, the film experienced a 66% drop in its second weekend, earning $40 million domestically, a decline comparable to MCU underperformers like Thor: Love and Thunder (67.7% drop).

By its third weekend, it added just $15.5 million domestically, a 60% drop from the prior weekend, bringing its domestic total to $230.69 million after 17 days.

Several factors contributed to this slide:

• Front-Loaded Audience: The film’s opening was driven by MCU fans and superhero enthusiasts, but it struggled to attract repeat viewers or broader family audiences.

  
  

  Only 8% of opening weekend ticket buyers were kids under 13, compared to higher family turnout for films like Superman ($502.7 million globally).

  
  

• Competition: New releases like The Bad Guys 2 ($22.2 million opening) and The Naked Gun ($17 million opening) siphoned audiences in subsequent weeks. DC’s Superman also held strong, grossing $289.5 million domestically in its third weekend, outpacing First Steps in staying power.

  
  

• Superhero Fatigue: Posts on X suggest audiences may be tiring of lesser-known Marvel teams, favoring iconic characters like Spider-Man or Deadpool. The film’s failure to sustain momentum mirrors 2025’s MCU struggles, with Thunderbolts (88% Rotten Tomatoes score) and Captain America: Brave New World also underperforming.

  
  

How Does It Compare to Other MCU Films?

To understand The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ performance, let’s look at its numbers in context. The film’s $471.7 million worldwide gross makes it the eighth highest-grossing Hollywood film of 2025, surpassing Thunderbolts ($382.4 million) and Captain America: Brave New World ($415.3 million).

However, it’s projected to fall short of the $500 million needed to break even, given its $200 million budget and additional marketing costs.

Here’s a detailed breakdown for you:

The film has already outgrossed Fant4stic in one day and is the highest-grossing Fantastic Four film ever. Yet, its inability to reach $500 million globally, unlike MCU hits like Spider-Man: No Way Home or Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, raises concerns about its profitability.

Why Is the Film Struggling Internationally?

Internationally, the film earned $222.2 million, with top markets including Mexico ($6.2 million), the UK ($5.7 million), and France ($3.5 million). However, its 47.1% international share is lower than expected for superhero films, which typically rely heavily on overseas markets. For comparison, Superman had a 43% international share but stronger overall legs.

Factors impacting international performance include:

• Market Saturation: Superhero films face stiff competition in markets like China and Japan, where local films dominated. The film’s retro aesthetic may not have resonated as strongly globally.

• Lack of Star Power: While Pedro Pascal and the cast are acclaimed, they may not carry the same international draw as stars like Tom Cruise or Chris Hemsworth, whose films (F1: The Movie, $545 million globally) performed better overseas.

• Cultural Disconnect: The film’s 1960s New York setting and American-centric themes may have limited appeal in some regions, unlike Jurassic World Rebirth ($718.4 million globally), which leveraged universal dinosaur appeal.

What Does This Mean for Marvel’s Future?

The film’s underperformance casts a shadow over Marvel’s 2025 slate, particularly with Avengers: Doomsday on the horizon, where Doctor Doom (a Fantastic Four villain) plays a key role.

The film’s post-credit scene teases this connection, but its box office struggles suggest audiences may be skeptical of new MCU teams. Marvel’s recent track record—seven of 13 post-pandemic films failing to hit $500 million globally—points to a need for reinvention.

Positive critical reception and the film’s family focus are bright spots, but Marvel may need to lean harder on star power or iconic characters to regain its box office dominance.

Despite not reaching the heights of MCU juggernauts, The Fantastic Four: First Steps has carved out a respectable spot in 2025’s box office landscape

Its $471.7 million haul is a win for the franchise’s legacy, but its steep drops and failure to break even highlight challenges in a post-pandemic market.

Some Closing Thoughts:

As Marvel navigates superhero fatigue and audience expectations, the Fantastic Four’s journey offers lessons for future blockbusters.

Will Marvel’s First Family rise again, or is this a sign of tougher times ahead? Only time, and the box office, will tell.

Stay tuned to this space as we bring you all the latest updates on this flick's theatrical performance!