Marvel’s big splash with The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) may be over before it has really gotten started.
Last week, Marvel Studios was officially back in the spotlight. The Fantastic Four: First Steps soared into theaters with an impressive $218 million global debut, signaling a major win for both Disney and Marvel during a critical point in the summer movie season.
Of that total, $118 million came from the domestic box office, while another $100 million was pulled in across 52 international markets. The result? A clear message: audiences are eager to see Marvel’s First Family on the big screen again—and in a big way.
Heading into the opening weekend, early industry projections had the reboot—starring Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm/Invisble Woman), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm/Human Torch), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm/Thing), alongside Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal and Ralph Ineson as Galactus—tracking somewhere between $190 million and $210 million globally. But Marvel managed to outpace those expectations, landing firmly on the higher end and setting the tone for what could be a reinvigorated chapter in the MCU.
However, the first second-week drop report has hit, and it is not a good sign for Marvel Studios and Disney.
“Fantastic Four grossed $11.7 million domestically in its second Friday on the big screen, marking a devastating 80% drop from its debut. If the poor turnout continues, the film will most likely fall short of its initial weekend two estimates of $45 to $52 million by Sunday,” Variety reported. “Its domestic grand total currently sits at $170 million and could reach as high as $198 million by the end of the weekend. Marvel shelled out more than $200 million to produce Fantastic Four.
This may not be the big comeback Marvel Studios had hoped for, especially after Captain America: Brave New World (2025) and Thunderbolts* (2025) also failed to make a significant dent at the box office.
How do you feel about this big drop for The Fantastic Four? Let us know in the comments down below!
