Marvel’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” has stormed the domestic box office, topping superhero competitor “Superman” to finish No. 1 with $118 million. The reboot was a major comeback for the series, falling within range of analysts’ expectations but short of a hopeful $130 million.
According to Paul Dergarabedian, senior analyst at Comscore, the film’s success shows that audiences love going to superhero movies in theaters, doubling down on the “Thunderbolts” success. Shawn Robbins, director of analytics at Fandango, calls it a “zero-homework-required” release, as it stands separate from the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s established storylines.
The film’s fresh start may be just what Marvel needs to revitalize the franchise, which has seen declining box office performance in recent years. With 37 movies released since “Iron Man” in 2008, including four “Avengers” movies that combined for over $10 billion at the box office, some experts argue that the franchise is experiencing fatigue.
However, director Shawn Robbins believes that “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” has successfully carved out its own identity, allowing it to attract both die-hard fans and casual comic book enthusiasts. With Disney releasing Marvel Cinematic Universe TV series on its streaming service, which may have complicated the franchise, this film’s success could be a turning point.
The top spot at the box office was not without competition, with Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Superman” finishing second with nearly $25 million and Universal Pictures’ “Jurassic World Rebirth” coming in third with $13 million. Despite the decline of the box office in recent years, industry experts believe that this month’s movie slate has lifted it 12.3% year-to-date compared to the same time last year.
With a potential second post-pandemic summer box office reaching $4 billion, Paul Dergarabedian is optimistic about Marvel’s future prospects. As the film industry continues to evolve, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” has proven that even in a crowded market, there is still room for fresh starts and new experiences.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/27/business/fantastic-four-box-office