Marvel’s latest attempt at reviving its iconic superhero team has finally arrived, with “Fantastic Four: First Steps” opening to a respectable $118 million. Despite some initial concerns about frontloaded weekend numbers, the film’s solid start suggests it could reach the $500 million mark globally.
Directed by Matt Shakman, the movie brings a renewed energy reminiscent of classic Marvel blockbusters. Critics are already praising its genuine family-like dynamic, with an impressive 87% Tomatometer score. While not breaking records, the film’s decent box office performance is still notable, particularly considering its modest $200 million budget.
The success of “First Steps” should provide a welcome relief for Marvel, which has faced criticism in recent years over some of its releases. With a new Spider-Man film and another Fantastic Four outing on the horizon, 2026 promises to be an exciting year for the MCU. In comparison, Warner Bros.’ upcoming Superman adaptation is struggling to gain traction, with its domestic total currently below $365 million.
On the other hand, Universal’s “Jurassic World Rebirth” continues to perform reasonably well, albeit at a slower pace than expected. Paramount’s “Smurfs” sequel has underperformed, but Sony’s “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and Danny Boyle’s “28 Years Later” are already showing signs of profitability.
Disney’s summer lineup is dominated by Pixar’s “Elio,” which has become the studio’s lowest-grossing film to date. However, the upcoming live-action remake of “Lilo & Stitch” is poised to take the top spot in the charts.
As for comedies, Akiva Schaffer’s “The Naked Gun” reboot and Universal’s “The Bad Guys 2” sequel will be keeping a close eye on audiences’ return to summer blockbusters.
Source: https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/weekend-box-office-fantastic-four-scores-big-win-for-marvel