The access media may be painting a rosy pictures of Disney/Marvel’s new Fantastic Four movie, but the Saturday box office slide could be concerning for the House of Mouse.
In a summer dominated by superhero spectacles, Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrived in theaters on July 25th amid high expectations for a franchise reboot.
Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm in The Fantastic Four: First Steps – YouTube, Marvel Entertainment
Directed by Matt Shakman and starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Marvel’s First Family, the film aimed to revitalize the property after previous iterations faltered.
However, early box office data reveals a mixed picture: a solid but underwhelming domestic opening marred by a sharp internal weekend decline, suggesting that initial fan enthusiasm may not translate to broader, sustained appeal.
A Strong Start Followed by a Steep Slide
The Fantastic Four: First Steps kicked off with $24.4 million from Thursday previews, the highest such figure of 2025, just edging out DC’s Superman ($22.5 million). This propelled Friday’s total (including previews) to $57 million, marking the second-biggest opening day of the year behind A Minecraft Movie ($57.1 million).
The Human Torch and Silver Surfer in The Fantastic Four: First Steps – Youtube, IGN
Initial projections hovered around $120 million to $125 million for the three-day domestic weekend, with some insiders optimistic about surpassing Superman’s $125 million debut.
Yet, Saturday brought a reality check: earnings dipped to $33.2 million, a 42% drop from Friday’s non-preview-adjusted haul. This decline is notably steeper than recent superhero comparables, such as Superman’s 33% drop, Deadpool & Wolverine’s 36%, Captain America: Brave New World’s 32%, and Thunderbolts’s 22%.
Sue Storm in The Fantastic Four: First Steps – YouTube, Marvel Entertainment
Sunday estimates came in at $27.8 million (a projected 16% ease from Saturday), pushing the domestic total to around $118 million—below the high end of forecasts and short of pre-release hype that pegged it at $125 million to $135 million.
This front-loaded pattern—where opening day is inflated by die-hard fans but subsequent days falter—highlights a potential erosion in casual audience turnout, something that once propelled Marvel projects.
As one analyst noted on X, the MCU has seen increasing front-loading post-lockdowns, with First Steps representing a new peak in this trend, indicating brand fatigue among general viewers.
A post on X detailing Marvel’s frontloading problem with Fantastic Four – X, @Luiz_Fernando_J
Rural and suburban areas, key for family-driven blockbusters, underperformed by 13%, while families comprised only 17% of the audience (versus the 21% norm for PG-13 superhero films), and kids under 13 just 8%.
International Struggles Amplify Concerns
Globally, the film is tracking toward $220 million to $230 million for its opening, with $49.2 million international through Friday. While Latin America and Europe showed some strength—Mexico led with $4.1 million, followed by the UK ($2.8 million) and France ($2.7 million)—key markets lagged.
In #China’s #BoxOffice, another tough day for #TheFantasticFour locally, now out of the Top5 in #6, with #TheFantasticFourFirstSteps grossing soft $1.7M over 40k screenings (-4k from FRI) on LOWEST SAT EVER for the MCU, dropping -4.6% from FRI Opening Day instead of having the… pic.twitter.com/TvcyCV1HLC
— Luiz Fernando (@Luiz_Fernando_J) July 26, 2025
China, a traditional MCU powerhouse, disappointed with a mere $1.7 million on Saturday (a 4.6% drop from Friday, against typical boosts like Superman’s +12.8%), and projections for a $4.5 million to $5 million opening there
Word-of-mouth in China is mixed, with a Douban score of 6.2/10, and some labeling it the “lowest Saturday ever for the MCU” in the market, forecasting a 95%+ second-weekend plunge.
The cast of Fantastic Four: First Steps – YouTube, Marvel Entertainment
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Japan and Korea also faced local competition, muting results. Overall, international projections sit at $100 million to $105 million for the weekend, but the soft performance in Asia raises red flags for long-term global legs.
Compared to earlier 2025 MCU entries (which ultimatley flopped) like Captain America: Brave New World ($181 million global start) and Thunderbolts ($162 million), First Steps holds steady but doesn’t signal the breakout Marvel needed heading into its next Avengers film.
Audience Metrics vs. Box Office Reality
On the surface, reception appears positive: an A- CinemaScore, 92% Rotten Tomatoes audience score, and strong definite recommends from older demographics (35+).
The Thing and Herbie the Robot in Fantastic Four: First Steps – YouTube, Marvel Entertainment
Critics have praised its retro-futuristic vibe and fresh MCU entry point, with some calling it a “mojo-restoring” effort. IMAX and premium large-format screens contributed 40% of the weekend gross, showing its appeal to high-end viewers.
However, the weekend’s internal drops contradict this optimism.
Budget and Implications for MCU’s Future
With a reported budget of $200 million to $250 million (plus marketing), First Steps needs to exceed $600 million to $650 million worldwide to break even theatrically.
Current trajectories suggest a domestic finish around $300 million if legs weaken like recent MCU films (Captain America: Brave New World ended at $200.5 million, Thunderbolts at $189.9 million).
Silver Surfer from Fantastic Four First Steps (2025); Screenshot
Globally, projections range from $650 million to $770 million, but front-loading could cap it lower.
Competition from holdovers like Superman ($24.8 million in weekend three) and Jurassic World: Rebirth ($13 million in weekend four) diluted family attendance as well. If word-of-mouth doesn’t reverse the trend, First Steps risks joining the ranks of post-2020 MCU entries that started strong but faded fast.
In summary, while The Fantastic Four: First Steps secured a respectable opening and outperformed prior franchise attempts, the 42% Saturday slide and international softness point to declining interest beyond core fans.
Galactus in Fantastic Four: First Steps – YouTube, Marvel Entertainment
For Marvel, this signals the need for stronger casual engagement to sustain the MCU’s once-unassailable dominance. As the summer winds down, all eyes are on the film’s second weekend to gauge if it can stretch its legs or if this is another stumbling block in the multiverse saga.
How do you feel about this Fantastic Four box office slip? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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