The Fantastic Four: First Steps was met with a hero’s welcome at the box office, as Marvel’s latest superhero adventure debuted with an impressive $100 million in overseas ticket sales and a global total of $218 million. This opening weekend performance slightly surpassed the international launch of Superman, which garnered $95 million during its debut across 78 markets in July. However, Superman managed to maintain a marginally larger global debut, totaling $220 million.
The Fantastic Four premiered in 52 international markets, with top-earning territories including Mexico ($12 million), the United Kingdom ($10.8 million), France ($5.7 million), and Brazil ($5.1 million). However, the film faced challenges in China, where it only managed to earn $4.5 million. This lackluster performance comes as no surprise, given the country’s recent aversion to superhero films. In comparison, Superman, despite being a more recognizable character, also struggled in China, earning $6.6 million during its opening there.
Directed by Matt Shakman, The Fantastic Four: First Steps follows the superhero team consisting of Mister Fantastic (played by Pedro Pascal), Invisible Woman (played by Vanessa Kirby), The Thing (played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Human Torch (played by Joseph Quinn). Together, they embark on a mission to protect Earth from a planet-devouring cosmic entity. With strong reviews and positive word-of-mouth, the film is expected to continue drawing audiences in the upcoming weeks, which is promising news for both Disney and Marvel.
This encouraging reception comes at a critical time for Disney and Marvel, which have historically been Hollywood’s most consistent box office successes. However, the studio has recently faced challenges in maintaining commercial success. For instance, while last year’s Deadpool & Wolverine was a phenomenal hit, grossing over a billion dollars, earlier releases this year, such as Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts, failed to recoup their $180 million production budgets, resulting in financial losses.
Three other notable films also crossed significant box office milestones over the weekend. Superman and F1 each surpassed $500 million, while Jurassic World Rebirth soared past $700 million in worldwide earnings. Superman, which premiered two weekends before The Fantastic Four, added $19.8 million from 78 territories, although it experienced a steep 57% decline in ticket sales. Currently, Superman has accumulated $213 million internationally, which is below expectations for a film of its caliber.
Despite its challenges, the Man of Steel adventure has received significant support from North American audiences, accumulating $502 million globally after three weekends of release. Unlike Superman, both Jurassic World Rebirth and F1 have maintained stronger performances at the international box office, due in part to the lack of direct competition from other comic book films. Jurassic World Rebirth earned $23.5 million from 82 territories during its fourth weekend, bringing its international total to $416 million. This film has become one of only three Hollywood releases this year to surpass the $700 million mark, achieving a total of $718 million worldwide.
Meanwhile, F1, starring Brad Pitt, continues to perform well, generating $20 million from 78 markets in its fifth week, bringing its international earnings to $344 million and a global total of $509 million. This combination of strong performances indicates a competitive landscape at the box office as superhero films and other blockbusters vie for audience attention.
