^{(L-R): Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch in Marvel’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” Disney}

“Fantastic Four: First Steps” Reignites Marvel Momentum With $218 Million Global Debut

Disney and Marvel Studios have proven there’s still plenty of life in the superhero genre. Their latest release, “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” opened with a powerful $118 million at the domestic box office and an additional $100 million internationally, bringing its global opening weekend total to an impressive $218 million.

The film, which introduces a fresh take on Marvel’s iconic “First Family,” has also garnered critical praise, earning an 88% “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. That makes it one of Marvel’s best-reviewed films in recent years—an important milestone following a stretch of mixed reactions to the studio’s post-Avengers content.

A Box Office Boost in a Time of Superhero Fatigue

In recent years, “superhero fatigue” has been a growing concern in Hollywood. While mega-hits like Avengers: Endgame shattered records, subsequent releases like The Marvels and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania underperformed both critically and commercially.

Yet in just two weeks, two superhero titles—DC’s “Superman” and now Marvel’s “Fantastic Four: First Steps”—have each debuted with over $100 million in domestic earnings, challenging the narrative that audiences are tired of caped crusaders.

“The lesson is that if you build great movies, audiences will head to the multiplex,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore.

Strategic Timing and Strong Reception Fuel Success

Marvel strategically positioned Fantastic Four: First Steps as the last MCU theatrical release for at least a year, creating a sense of urgency among fans. That bet appears to be paying off.

“Marvel bet big by making Fantastic Four the centerpiece of their current phase,” said Shawn Robbins, founder of Box Office Theory. “The franchise has had its hiccups, but this film is winning over longtime fans and pulling back casual viewers who drifted after Endgame.”

The studio has been fighting to restore its brand reputation following a series of less impactful titles. Between 2021 and 2024, five MCU films fell below the 67% Rotten Tomatoes “Fresh” threshold, with three scoring under 50%, including:

• Captain America: Brave New World – 48% critics score, $413M global gross
• The Marvels – 45% critics score, $363M global gross
• Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania – 46% critics score, $476M global gross

In contrast, Fantastic Four: First Steps matches Thunderbolts’ strong 88% critical score, while already outpacing it in global revenue.

A Turning Point for Marvel Studios

For Marvel, the early success of Fantastic Four signals that the studio’s “quality over quantity” strategy is beginning to work. After years of densely packed release schedules and streaming content dilution, Disney has opted to slow things down—and the result is a cleaner, more focused rollout of marquee titles.

“This summer has been magical for Disney and a reaffirmation that Marvel’s reboot strategy is taking hold,” said Dergarabedian. “Fantastic Four shows what can happen when you give beloved characters a strong script, solid direction, and space to breathe.”

Marvel’s long-term roadmap includes new entries from Blade, X-Men, and a follow-up Avengers saga. Analysts suggest that the strong performance of Fantastic Four could provide the momentum needed to keep the MCU front and center at the global box office.

Final Thoughts

With $218 million in worldwide earnings and critical momentum behind it, Fantastic Four: First Steps marks more than just a box office win—it represents a rebirth for Marvel’s cinematic universe. As studios continue to recalibrate their approach to franchise filmmaking, Marvel’s success this weekend is proof that audiences are still willing to show up—when the storytelling delivers.

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