Mister Fantastic and his family have made a grand entrance into the cinematic universe with the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Directed by Matt Shakman, this highly anticipated superhero movie has debuted with a remarkable $24.4 million in Thursday previews at the North American box office. This impressive figure marks the highest preview gross of the year, surpassing rival DC's Superman, which earned $22.5 million, and is the most significant figure since the Marvel blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine last year, which grossed $38.5 million during its previews.
This news is particularly encouraging for Disney-owned Marvel Studios, where chief Kevin Feige and his team have been seeking a turnaround after a challenging few years—except for the success of Deadpool & Wolverine. Additionally, Disney is set to achieve a significant milestone by becoming the first Hollywood studio to surpass $3 billion in global ticket sales, a benchmark expected to be reached today, July 25. Marvel Studios currently holds three of the top five preview grosses of the year, although the other two films—Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*—grossed less than half of what First Steps has achieved.
Both Disney and Marvel are projecting a strong North American opening for Fantastic Four in the range of $100 million to $110 million, with similar expectations for overseas markets. However, based on brisk advance ticket sales, positive reviews, and enthusiastic early audience scores, this all-star reboot could potentially exceed these projections. For context, Superman opened successfully with $125 million domestically and $95 million overseas, although it fell slightly short of expectations due to the pro-American themes historically associated with the comic-book character.
The Fantastic Four may have an advantage over Superman in international markets, considering that previous installments of the franchise, produced by 20th Century Fox, garnered a significant portion of their revenue from overseas ticket sales. Set against the vibrant backdrop of New York City, First Steps is receiving acclaim for its early 1960s retro style and features an outstanding cast. Pedro Pascal stars as the brilliant scientist Reed Richards, who embarks on a space expedition alongside his wife, Sue Storm (played by Vanessa Kirby), her brother Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and their close friend Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach).
During their journey, their rocket ship encounters a cosmic storm that alters their DNA, granting them extraordinary superpowers. The film picks up after the four heroes have returned to Earth and achieved worldwide fame. However, their newfound status does not afford them time to celebrate, as they must venture back into space when the enigmatic Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) arrives with a dire warning: the planet is on the brink of destruction due to a cosmic entity named Galactus.
As the excitement builds around The Fantastic Four: First Steps, fans are eager to see how this thrilling reboot will unfold and whether it can reclaim Marvel’s box office dominance.
