After enduring three unsuccessful theatrical films and one unreleased project, the Fantastic Four are finally resonating with audiences. Their latest reboot, titled The Fantastic Four: First Steps, has made an astonishing impact at the box office, earning more in just one day than the entire domestic run of the 2015 reboot. This latest installment marks a significant revival for Marvel's First Family, delivering the film adaptation fans have eagerly awaited for years.
As the weekend box office estimates continue to roll in, it’s evident that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has successfully revitalized the Fantastic Four brand. According to Variety, The Fantastic Four: First Steps generated an impressive $57 million on its opening Friday, making it the second-largest opening day of the year, trailing only behind A Minecraft Movie, which earned $57.11 million. Remarkably, this new film outperformed the entire domestic gross of the 2015 Fantastic Four, which managed to rake in only $56 million over a span of 63 days.
In an even more impressive feat, the opening day of The Fantastic Four: First Steps surpassed the opening weekend of the original 2005 Fantastic Four, which made approximately $56 million when adjusted for inflation. This strong performance signifies that audiences are ready to embrace the Fantastic Four once again.
The success of The Fantastic Four: First Steps compared to the 2015 Fantastic Four, often referred to as Fant4stic, is not surprising. The previous film faced multiple production challenges, culminating in a now-infamous tweet from director Josh Trank that criticized the movie before it even premiered, resulting in a dismal 9% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The 2015 film only grossed $25 million during its opening weekend, finishing second at the box office. In contrast, The Fantastic Four: First Steps achieved nearly that amount with $24.4 million from its Thursday preview screenings alone.
With their iconic status in Marvel Comics, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is poised to perform like a true Marvel sequel. The film is on track to surpass the opening weekends of several other origin films from the Multiverse Saga, such as Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Eternals. It’s even vying for higher earnings than films from the earlier Infinity Saga, including Doctor Strange, Ant-Man, Captain America: The First Avenger, and Thor.
The performance of The Fantastic Four: First Steps mirrors that of the original Iron Man, signaling a promising future for Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After years of being overlooked, the Fantastic Four are finally receiving the recognition they deserve, captivating audiences once again. The film is already pacing ahead of anticipated releases like Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts, proving that these beloved heroes may be just what the MCU needed.
With significant roles planned for the Fantastic Four in upcoming projects such as Avengers: Doomsday in 2026, Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027, and a potential sequel in 2028, it appears that the Fantastic Four are set to become the new faces of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
