THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Reaches $350M Worldwide; Expected To End Run With $570M Despite U.S. Struggles

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Reaches $350M Worldwide; Expected To End Run With $570M Despite U.S. Struggles

The Fantastic Four: First Steps hasn't soared as high as expected in North America, but after reaching $350 million worldwide, the movie should ultimately end its run by breaking even. Check it out...

By JoshWilding - Aug 03, 2025 11:08 AM EST
Filed Under: Fantastic Four
Source: Luiz Fernando

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.

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Hit With Steep Decline At Domestic Box Office After $11.7M Friday
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THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Hit With Steep Decline At Domestic Box Office After $11.7M Friday

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bobevanz
bobevanz - 8/3/2025, 11:47 AM
I hope Disney doesn't backtrack after this underperformed. This and Thunderbolts felt unique, it's too bad the GA doesn't seem to care anymore. Oh well I enjoyed it for what it was
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 8/3/2025, 12:41 PM
@bobevanz - too many previous bad movies destroyed the goodwill this franchise once had.
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 8/3/2025, 1:12 PM
@bobevanz - Disney leads #1 on every home release. So these movies are doing their job in keeping Disney+ subscriptions active and VOD rentals and home release sales. You could check out the stats. Brave New World sold 71% of it's copies during it's first week of home release. It currently sits at #10 in Home media sales as of last week. Thunderbolts* is currently #3 in VOD rentals and #1 in home media sales.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 8/3/2025, 1:54 PM
@bobevanz - Also, these movies would have been way more profitable if the secondary market of DVD/Blu-Ray sales were still a factor. That’s basically the only reason the first Hellboy got a sequel. But thanks to streaming, that added safety net is more or less gone.
Pathogen
Pathogen - 8/3/2025, 11:51 AM
My kid and I had fun in it. He liked it better than Superman. I dunno, I haven't seen Superman as I'm bored with James Gunn's formula and humor.
I liked the world and aesthetic of FF, I don't really give a crap about the characters as I never got into them while collecting comics. When they showed up in the events, I was like "oh, ok, they are here too" then forget again.
Canyoublush
Canyoublush - 8/3/2025, 12:14 PM
@Pathogen - Your kid is super smart if he preferred fantastic four to superman. Finally a kid with the intelligence to recognise how flawed superman is. You ain’t missing out on much. Fantastic four is the better film. Superman is rather embarrassing. The box office for that movie proves that the general audience loves to consume disposable junk, like drinking a milkshake from baskin and robbins. Just empty calories.
RipleysCurls
RipleysCurls - 8/3/2025, 1:23 PM
@Canyoublush - you are arguing bit of a broken record though aye? I mean Superman has more going on with Lois alone as a character than the entire team of Fantastic Four combined. If his kid liked it better its because they turned Galactus into Godzilla!
McMurdo
McMurdo - 8/3/2025, 1:31 PM
@RipleysCurls - Wasting your time here. He gave Superman a 7/10 and was quite positive about the film the day after seeing it, then he flip flopped to having a hate boner for it because it was successful and because people here were using it as a critique against the botched characterization of Clark and Kal El in Man of Steel. This kid seethes at the thought of this film being genuinely enjoyed by Superman fans.
RipleysCurls
RipleysCurls - 8/3/2025, 1:34 PM
@McMurdo - its every article tho this one sint even about Superman and yet he has to come and type out the same thing 6 times per article. Is it just brain rot?? Someone like him to BetterHelp......
Thing94
Thing94 - 8/3/2025, 11:54 AM
This was a good movie I hope word of mouth picks up.
Canyoublush
Canyoublush - 8/3/2025, 12:14 PM
@Thing94 - I think it will do better on Disney plus.
KamenRider
KamenRider - 8/3/2025, 12:46 PM
@Canyoublush - I think so too. If you look at the Disney+ top 10 this week and last, both Tim Story F4 films are on it. There is obviously a demand for the F4, but families are waiting until it comes on streaming. I think Disney+ is the main reason people are staying home for MCU films. It’s too successful. This is also the case for Superman, but less so, since HBO Max subscriber numbers are significantly less than Disney+.
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 8/3/2025, 12:59 PM
@Canyoublush - I think that increasingly will be the main thing for a lot of movies across all genres, box office will be less and less about where they make profit and more just to effectively reduce a big screen budget down to a TV one then make all the profits with streaming, digital sales and merch.

It'd be nice if trends change but pre-MCU movie tickets sales were already in decline, for a while that reduced and possibly even had some increases in ticket sales for a decade but COVID forcing the remaining die hard's to find other ways to be entertained realy has impacted the BO majorly.

For most now, it seems, going to the movies is less the go to once a month trip and mostly only a once a year event meaning you get a couple big hits a year and everything else on middling to low returns instead of nine of more doing near to or over a billion dollars WW.
RipleysCurls
RipleysCurls - 8/3/2025, 1:24 PM
@KamenRider - Disney Plus has nothing to watch of course itll do well on Disney plus
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 8/3/2025, 11:55 AM
Marvel shills like jw really selling the idea that Superman is more expensive after this blunder.

F4 has 2 big stars in Pascal and Kirby. All the "trades" are saying are 200+M the last time i checked, no exact number. Add reshoots and marketing.

Funny to look back at claims that Superman will be in trouble when it arrives or it will outgross it.

Marvel still has nostalgia in play for Doomsday
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 8/3/2025, 11:59 AM
And well curated headline from mr shill.

"US struggles" lolz. If one will just look at thea headline without context one will think it is doing well.

If this is a DC movie, how colorful the insults in the headline will be.

And yes, i said this yesterday and mr cassidy removed it in fear of their disney overlords

😂😂😂😂
AllsGood
AllsGood - 8/3/2025, 12:03 PM
@vectorsigma - And James Gunn said there will be NO Superman 2.

Writing a script for with a movie with Superman involved.

BUT don't get too excited it's a long way off from happening.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 8/3/2025, 12:05 PM
@AllsGood - any dcu film in the pipeline is exciting for me.
AllsGood
AllsGood - 8/3/2025, 12:22 PM
@vectorsigma - The Only Movie I care about is Marvel Studios Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

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vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 8/3/2025, 12:22 PM
@AllsGood - i think ill also like this better than doomsday
AllsGood
AllsGood - 8/3/2025, 12:35 PM
@vectorsigma - At least we know that Spider-Man and the Angry Hulk will be a big part of Doomsday.
F4ntasticClunge
F4ntasticClunge - 8/3/2025, 12:40 PM
@vectorsigma - bruh you're the only one trying to spin anything. Superman is documented to cost more 😅 what are tou even trying to say here?
RolandD
RolandD - 8/3/2025, 1:32 PM
@AllsGood - I am not sure that Gunn ever said that there will not be a Superman 2. The only clear statement that he has said that I am aware of is that he is working on on the next major appearance of Superman and that movie is not a direct sequel.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 8/3/2025, 1:40 PM
@F4ntasticClunge - both studios are lying obviously.

But just look at the cast and who has more star power? Kirby alone could cost more than corenswet brosnahan and hoult.

But yeah sure, believe what disney is telling you 😭
da2213viking
da2213viking - 8/3/2025, 11:56 AM
Pretty good movie. Saw it yesterday. Definitely very slow paced. Still enjoyed it. 7/10. Cast was pretty solid. Some rushed aspects plotwise. Action was kinda dull outside of the teams first encounter on Galactus ship. That scene was probably my fav part. Movie revenue has changed so much in the last 5 years. Its a bummer its not 2010-2019 again. Golden years for box offices. Doubt we will ever get there again.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 8/3/2025, 1:26 PM
@da2213viking - it's a slog outside of the space journey to Galactus. And it's so muted. I wanted it to be brighter.
AllsGood
AllsGood - 8/3/2025, 11:58 AM
Better than Everyone is forgetting the other 3 Fantastic Four movies. Looks like The Fantastic Four: First Steps is doing a little better but about the same.

1) Fantastic Four (2005) = $333,535,934

2) Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) = $269,186,446

3) Fantastic Four (2015) = $167,882,881
bobevanz
bobevanz - 8/3/2025, 12:05 PM
@AllsGood - now that's a cope if I've ever seen one
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 8/3/2025, 12:06 PM
@bobevanz - to be fair he is not going mia like in thunderbolts
TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 8/3/2025, 11:58 AM
"Superman crossed the $550 million mark this weekend with $551.2 million. It's eyeing a $640 million - $680 million run globally."

WB and DC Studios should be extremely happy with this number,considering the state both DC and Superman were in prior to its release.

"The Fantastic Four has crossed $350 million at the worldwide box office this weekend. When all is said and done, it's looking at a $520 million - $570 million total haul."

Like Superman, Marvel and especially the F4 IP were not in the best place when this movie released, so despite coming under $600 million, Marvel and Disney should be thankful it wasn't less.
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 8/3/2025, 1:07 PM
@TheJok3r - That and if the $200M budget was accurate F4 only needed to get around $500M to break even on ticket sales alone and will likely do very well on digital sales and streaming on top of that. Shame it wasn't headed for more when so well recieved but is what it is however main thing being with two well reviewed films SM4 should do well. If SM4 is also well recieved that will likely be reflected in interest and ticket sales for Avengers Doomsday which is the one with a likely stoopidly high budget that may need the billion plus BO of prior Avengers films.
Forthas
Forthas - 8/3/2025, 11:58 AM
Marvel has to rebuild its brand to the point where it was consistently making $750 million to $1 billion. These are very good baby steps and the one thing that they are doing that their competitors are not is that they are not trying to cram multiple super heroes with their own franchise into a stand alone franchise. This will serve them in the long run the way it did when the MCU started. Like the title states...first steps!
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 8/3/2025, 12:03 PM
@Forthas - dude. Move on, the dceu is dead 😭😭😭😭

That crammed superhero movie will be the highest grossing cbm this year and given the current landscape, it is not easy to do.
da2213viking
da2213viking - 8/3/2025, 12:07 PM
@Forthas - Every comment you make is a cope against superman. Its sad. Keeping moving those goalposts. "Cram multiple superheroes with there own franchise into a stand alone franchise." Yeah okay. Like Iron man wasnt in Spiderman. Capt America Civil war ring a bell? How about just last year with D&W? I mean get real bro. Its fun to see these characters show up. I guess you where equally mad when Flash and Wonder woman showed up in BvS? Probably not.

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regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 8/3/2025, 12:21 PM
@Forthas

“they are not trying to cram multiple super heroes with their own franchise into a stand alone franchise.”

Brave New World had Red Hulk and The Leader. Thunderbolts had characters from various series. The next Spider-Man movie has Hulk and Punisher.
Canyoublush
Canyoublush - 8/3/2025, 12:24 PM
@Forthas - The only reason superman is making money is because of the additional superheroes in it. The studio don’t have any faith in the IP so they just had to add the justice gang to make it mor appealing. Gunn couldn’t even make a Superman film without turning it into a justice ledge knockoff. Every instalment that follows will stick to the exact same formula. Man of steel will literally be the last solo superman film without additional heroes.
da2213viking
da2213viking - 8/3/2025, 12:28 PM
@Canyoublush - Yes superman is only making money because of the Million and Millions of Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl amd Mr. Terrific fans. Holy crap man. Like whatever you are taking I would love a double of it.
Forthas
Forthas - 8/3/2025, 12:31 PM
@vectorsigma -

"That crammed superhero movie will be the highest grossing CBM this year and given the current landscape, it is not easy to do."

And that is the problem! It should have been easy to do with the most well known superhero on earth and yet it is barely going to do that and will FAIL to match the box office of a better Superman film from 12 years ago. The DCU is going backwards.
Forthas
Forthas - 8/3/2025, 12:36 PM
@da2213viking - Clearly I was referring to the initial start of the MCU ...here let me quote myself since you missed it...

"This will serve them in the long run the way it did when the MCU started."

Of course there are team ups AFTER the set up of the franchise regulars. I know you have been cheerleading for Superman and it is hard for you to see it fail so badly. The total collapse of the DCU must be hard to watch.

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Canyoublush
Canyoublush - 8/3/2025, 12:36 PM
@da2213viking - Nah superman is a joke. It’s flawed. It doesn’t work. You can’t have the kid in the desert praying for superman to come save him and then guy gardener shows up instead. 🤦🏿‍♂️ If the film is called superman it needs to be about superman. The justice gang outshined superman in his own movie sigh. They did most of the saving and heavy lifting. D&W is literally about both heroes. Do you not understand basic math? Did you even finish school?

Spider-Man homecoming, Peter defeats the vulture all by himself. Ironman wasn’t present during the climatic battle, wake up. In superman, Lois lane does more saving than Clark! Why? Because he spends the entire film lying on his back like a battery charging at 50%. What a joke. Gunn doesn’t respect the character. Supergirl calling him a b***** is the final nail in the coffin. In fact Christopher Reeves, Jerry and Joe (the creators) are all rolling in their graves.

This isn’t Superman. It’s TikTok nonsense. This is guardians of metropolis. Furthermore Krypto saved superman from Ultraman. A flipping pet dog saves the day by mauling Lex too. Wow. Every other Superhero film will feature the protagonist actually resolving the crisis but with this superman is more like a punching bag than anything else. Just you wait and see what else Gunn does with the IP. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Hey look the movie is fun it really is…... when you are four years old. Time to grow up.
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