Box Office Smash: ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Dominates with $57 Million Opening Day – Second-Best of the Year!

“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” kicked off with an impressive $57 million from 4,125 theaters on its opening day. This makes it the second-highest opening day of the year, just behind the “Minecraft Movie,” which earned slightly more. The film has also made its way into IMAX and premium theaters, highlighting its visual appeal.

Interestingly, it narrowly edged out the recent “Superman,” which made $56.1 million just two weeks ago. It remains to be seen if “Fantastic Four” will go on to outdo “Superman’s” total opening weekend of $125 million.

This release marks the strongest start for a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film since “Deadpool & Wolverine” last year. With Marvel’s characters acquired by Disney after buying 20th Century Fox in 2019 for $71 billion, this film shows the potential benefits of that acquisition. The previous “Fantastic Four” ventures from Fox didn’t do as well, both critically and financially.

What sets “First Steps” apart is its relatively standalone story within the Marvel franchise. Newcomers Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach star, introducing fresh faces into the MCU. Additionally, early reviews have been positive, earning an “A-” from CinemaScore, a polling service that gauges audience reactions.

Despite a hefty $200 million production budget, the film’s success will hinge on its staying power at the box office. Previous Marvel releases this year, like “Captain America: Brave New World” and “Thunderbolts,” underperformed, leading to financial losses. To thrive, “Fantastic Four” must attract large audiences consistently.

Disney is eager for this film to create buzz as it prepares for a nearly 18-month hiatus from superhero films. The next installment, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” will arrive only in July 2026, distributed by Sony. Meanwhile, “Avengers: Doomsday” is set for December 2026, making “Fantastic Four” a pivotal part of the MCU’s future.

In second place, “Superman” fell to $7.1 million on Friday, a drop of 57% from the previous week. It is expected to hit $289 million domestically after its third weekend, securing its position among 2025’s top earners.

“Jurassic World Rebirth” slid to third with $3.6 million, maintaining strong performance over its fourth weekend and projected to surpass $301 million total. “F1,” the racing thriller, added $1.8 million but faces uncertainty about profitability with a $250 million budget.

Finally, “Smurfs” rounded out the top five with $1.72 million. While it opened modestly, it has shown some staying power as the lone new animated film for families, reaching almost $22.9 million in its first 10 days.

As moviegoers, we can see the landscape of the box office changing. With superhero films continuing to dominate, any new insights and narratives from these releases can shape future projects both creatively and financially, influencing what audiences will see next.

For more on box office trends, check out Box Office Mojo.

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Disney,Marvel Studios,The Fantastic Four: First Steps