The Fantastic Four: First Steps Expected to Dominate Box Office

Marvel Studios’ latest release, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, is generating significant buzz as it gears up for a major global box office opening this weekend.
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Set for Major Global Box Office Opening
Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps is anticipated to generate between $190 million and $210 million globally this weekend, reigniting interest in superhero films. This comes on the heels of DC Studios’ success with Superman, which has surpassed $409 million worldwide. The global opening for First Steps is estimated to be around $220 million, closely following Superman.
International and Domestic Projections
The international box office projection for Fantastic Four stands at $90 million to $100 million, with potential for growth, especially if families are drawn to the film’s themes. Domestically, projections range from $100 million to $110 million across 4,100 theaters in the U.S. and Canada. The film features a star-studded cast including Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and offers premium viewing experiences such as PLFs, Dolby, IMAX, Dbox, and 4DX. Previews in the U.S. begin at 2 p.m. Thursday.
Advance Ticket Sales and Historical Context
Advance ticket sales commenced seven weeks ago, with domestic presales currently at $20 million, comparable to the pre-opening figures of Superman and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which opened at $125 million and $118.4 million respectively.
Significance of the Reboot
This reboot marks the first time Marvel Studios, under Kevin Feige, has acquired the Fantastic Four IP, which includes iconic characters like Dr. Doom, following the Disney-Fox merger. The original Fantastic Four films from 2005 and 2007 performed well with worldwide grosses of $333.5 million and $302 million respectively, but did not reach the heights of Spider-Man. The 2015 reboot by Josh Trank was a critical and commercial failure, grossing only $170 million.
Anticipated Success and Reviews
Fantastic Four: First Steps is poised to achieve the largest opening for Marvel Studios this year, following underwhelming performances from Thunderbolts ($74.3 million opening) and Captain America: Brave New World ($88.8 million opening). The last significant box office opening for the MCU was Deadpool & Wolverine, which opened with $211.4 million in the U.S./Canada.
Currently, Fantastic Four: First Steps holds the title for the best reviews in the franchise, boasting an 89% certified fresh rating, significantly higher than Trank’s 9% and the previous films directed by Tim Story, which scored 27% and 37% respectively.
Global Release Strategy
The film will release globally on a day-and-date basis, starting with international markets on Wednesday, including France, Indonesia, Italy, and the Netherlands. The UK, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Korea, and Mexico will follow on Thursday, with China, India, Japan, and Spain rounding out the release on Friday.
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In terms of comparable performances this year, Captain America: Brave New World debuted with $95 million in similar markets, while Superman also opened to $95 million and Thunderbolts to $88 million. Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania had a stronger debut at $119 million.
Expectations are high for major markets in Europe, along with Mexico, Brazil, and Australia. However, Korea faces local competition from Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy, and China’s market remains soft.
Recently, the cast of Fantastic Four: First Steps participated in launch events across Sydney, London, Paris, and Berlin, showcasing extensive footage.
The Hollywood premiere at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion featured a lavish pre-party, complete with photo opportunities, a performance by Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino, and an impressive drone show.