‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ scores Marvel’s first USD100 million box office opening of 2025
 Posted on : Jul 29, 2025, 8:56AM   2 total views  Category : Entertainment
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.” PHOTO: Marvel/Disney via AP

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 USD118 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 USD211 million out of the gate last summer. Internationally, “Fantastic Four” made USD100 million from 52 territories, adding up to a USD218 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 USD500 million globally. That film, from the other main player in comic book films, DC Studios, took second place with USD24.9 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 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes and promising exit poll responses from opening weekend ticket buyers. An estimated 46 per cent 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 USD1.3 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 USD415 million worldwide.

“Thunderbolts,” which jumpstarted the summer movie season, was better received critically but financially is capping out at just over USD382 million globally.

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 USD71 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 USD1.1 million from 866 screens.

“Jurassic World Rebirth” landed in third place in its fourth weekend with USD13 million, followed by “F1” with USD6.2 million. The Brad Pitt racing movie also passed USD500 million globally. “Smurfs” rounded out the top five with USD5.4 million in its second weekend.

The box office is currently up over 12 per cent 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 US and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:

1. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” USD118 million.
2. “Superman,” USD24.9 million.
3. “Jurassic World Rebirth,” USD13 million.
4. “F1: The Movie,” USD6.2 million.
5. “Smurfs,” USD5.4 million.
6. “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” USD5.1 million.
7. “How to Train Your Dragon,” USD2.8 million.
8. “Eddington,” USD1.7 million.
9. “Saiyaara,” USD1.3 million.
10. “Oh, Hi!,” USD1.1 million.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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