In a significant shift at the box office, Marvel’s Fantastic Four: First Steps secured the top position this weekend, grossing $118 million in its opening. This marks a notable achievement for Marvel, which has been working to regain footing in the competitive film landscape. Meanwhile, DC’s Superman maintained a respectable second place with $24.9 million in its third weekend.
The latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) not only took the crown but also set a new record for the franchise’s “First Family.” With its opening figure, it more than doubled the previous record set by 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, which had an opening of $58.1 million. This latest film outperformed the entire domestic run of the 2015 reboot, indicating a strong revival for the series.
Comparisons within the MCU show that, excluding the recent Deadpool and Wolverine film, Fantastic Four‘s opening is the best since Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3, which earned $118.4 million in May 2023. While some analysts might view the opening as underwhelming, it is a promising sign for Marvel, especially after the Thunderbolts and Captain America: Brave New World films opened at $74.3 million and $88.8 million, respectively.
Box Office Performance and Audience Reception
The film’s critical reception has also been encouraging, with a score of 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and a strong 93% audience score. Additionally, it received an A- CinemaScore, reflecting positive audience feedback. Superman, which debuted with $125 million, boasts similar ratings, further illustrating the competitive nature of this weekend’s box office.
Internationally, Fantastic Four grossed approximately $100 million, bringing its total worldwide earnings to $218 million, slightly edging out Superman, which has reached $217 million. Both franchises can find comfort in their performances, providing a much-needed boost for their respective studios.
The production budget for Fantastic Four is reported at $200 million, and without major competing films on the horizon, it is projected to reach a domestic total of around $300 million unless significant drops occur in the coming weeks.
Other Box Office Highlights
In third place, Jurassic World Rebirth continued to perform well, declining only 45% to earn $13 million in its fourth weekend. This film has amassed $301.5 million domestically and $718.4 million globally against a production budget of $180 million.
The Apple Original film F1: The Movie came in fourth with $6.2 million, raising its domestic total to $165.6 million. Despite its competition, the film has also crossed the $509.7 million mark worldwide, making it a commercial success.
In contrast, The Smurfs experienced a significant decline, dropping 51% to earn $5.4 million in its second weekend. With a total of $22.8 million domestically, the film struggles against a budget of $58 million, raising doubts about its overall profitability.
As the box office landscape evolves, the fortunes of Marvel and DC seem to be stabilizing, providing a sense of optimism for both franchises. With Fantastic Four likely to remain at the top next weekend, it faces new competitors including a Naked Gun reboot and the animated feature Bad Guys 2, both set for release soon.