This weekend, The Fantastic Four: First Steps suffered from one of the biggest second weekend drops in the MCU's history, landing between Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
After grossing an estimated $40 million in North American theaters this weekend, this harsh 66% drop was worsened by stronger-than-expected competition from The Naked Gun, The Bad Guys 2, and holdovers like Jurassic World Rebirth and Superman.
The overall box office landscape has changed, though, and even $40 million means The Fantastic Four: First Steps still had the sixth biggest weekend of 2025, reaching $198.4 million in the U.S. That took two weekends and is more than Thunderbolts* made during its entire run ($190.2 million). It will pass $200 million tomorrow, topping Captain America: Brave New World's $200.5 million run.
When all is said and done, the reboot will likely end its stint in the U.S. with $280 million - $295 million.
As of now, The Fantastic Four: First Steps has crossed $350 million at the worldwide box office after grossing $39.6 million overseas this weekend. That's a 60% drop, but with a $368.7 million total, it will surpass $400 million next week and is guaranteed to gross at least $500 million. When all is said and done, it's looking at a $520 million - $570 million total haul.
Superman, meanwhile, crossed the $550 million mark this weekend with $551.2 million. It's eyeing a $640 million - $680 million run globally, meaning the Man of Steel will earn upwards of $100 million more than the movie starring Marvel's First Family.
Ultimately, both movies will only just about break even (Superman was the more expensive of the two, by at least $50 million according to the trades), so studios really need to start figuring out how to make these movies for less.
In related news, Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima has shared his review of The Fantastic Four: First Steps and loved the movie. The visionary video game developer signed off by calling it "truly 'fantastic.'"
Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they face their most daunting challenge yet.
Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.
Also appearing are Natasha Lyonne as Rachel Rozman, Paul Walter Hauser as Harvey Elder/Mole Man, Sarah Niles as Lynne Nichols, and Mark Gatiss as Ted Gilbert. John Malkovich was set to play Red Ghost, but was cut due to time constraints.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is directed by Matt Shakman from a screenplay by Josh Friedman and Eric Pearson and Jeff Kaplan & Ian Springer.
In our review of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, we concluded, "The Fantastic Four is an exceptional introduction to the MCU’s First Family, and thanks to a Jack Kirby-infused feel that’s unlike anything we’ve seen before, it proves to be a quintessential superhero movie with Marvel Studios at its brilliant best.
The movie is now playing in theaters.