'Fantastic Four: First Steps' earns $57 million opening day, ranking second-highest debut of 2025
The figure puts the Marvel Cinematic Universe entry just behind A Minecraft Movie, which earned $57.11 million on its opening day.
According to Disney, the film, which plays in IMAX and other premium formats, slightly outperformed DC Studios' Superman, which opened to $56.1 million earlier this month.
Industry analysts suggest it may be a close competition as Fantastic Four aims to surpass Superman's projected $125 million three-day debut.
Directed by Matt Shakman, the film introduces new MCU cast members Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. The narrative functions largely outside the core MCU storylines, offering a standalone experience for audiences.
Early feedback has been favourable, with CinemaScore reporting an 'A-' rating from opening-day ticket buyers.
The $200 million production is Marvel's third release of the year. Its predecessors, Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts, opened with $88.5 million and $76 million, respectively, but did not achieve box office profitability.
Fantastic Four: First Steps represents Marvel's latest effort to revive legacy IPs acquired through Disney's 2019 purchase of 20th Century Fox.
The studio is expected to pause superhero film releases until Avengers: Doomsday in December 2026, following Sony's release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day in mid-2026.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Taron Egerton explains why he turned down Wolverine role in Marvel's future X-Men plans
Taron Egerton has addressed long-standing fan speculation linking him to Marvel's Wolverine role, confirming he has no plans to join the MCU as the X-Men character. Speaking during promotion for his Apple TV+ series Smoke, Egerton shared why he has chosen to pass on the opportunity. Appearing on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Egerton acknowledged the ongoing support from fans, calling it 'lovely,' but distanced himself from the idea of taking over the role made iconic by Hugh Jackman. 'There was a moment… where I thought, 'That'd be cool,'' he said. However, he explained that Jackman's return in Deadpool & Wolverine felt appropriate and added, 'Quite right too.' When asked if he would reconsider if offered the role now, Egerton replied, 'They are some big shoes to fill… I don't know that I want that much attention on me, frankly.' He emphasised his preference for his current level of fame, stating, 'I'm very comfortable with the level it's at now, where I get asked for a selfie maybe a couple of times a day.' In a separate interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Egerton said he finds the fan support flattering but added, 'No one is ever going to accept anyone in that role other than Hugh Jackman.' With Marvel reportedly planning a new X-Men lineup following Secret Wars, fans continue to speculate who will take on key roles.
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Ioan Gruffudd reflects on cancelled third 'Fantastic Four' film and his role in legacy reboot
Ioan Gruffudd, who played Mister Fantastic in Fox's Fantastic Four films, has spoken about the cancelled third instalment of the franchise. Speaking to Vulture ahead of the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, he reflected on the original plan for a trilogy. 'The mindset was that we were going to do three,' he said. 'I think the second movie was equally successful as the first … the plan was to do three movies, but these decisions are beyond my control.' Gruffudd also praised his co-star Doug Jones, who played the Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. He described him as 'a terrific artist' and said he particularly enjoyed their collaboration on the sequel. Despite both 2000s films earning over $300 million globally, Fox opted not to proceed with a third and instead rebooted the franchise in 2015. That version, starring Miles Teller, received a negative reception from critics and fans. Gruffudd addressed how the end of the franchise affected him personally. 'As an actor, you almost grieve every part that you've played,' he said. 'Because this was two movies over several years, the character becomes part of you.' While expressing support for Marvel's latest reboot, First Steps, Gruffudd confirmed he is not involved in the current iteration. 'Fans are convinced that I'm going to be in a particular aspect of this universe that hasn't been written or filmed yet,' he said. 'But I haven't been approached.' Since its release on July 25, First Steps has grossed nearly $200 million globally but experienced a 66% decline in its second weekend.
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Hideo Kojima praises Fantastic Four reboot for retro-futuristic style and efficient storytelling structure
Renowned game creator Hideo Kojima has publicly praised Fantastic Four: First Steps, describing the film as 'truly fantastic' and highlighting its unique retro-futuristic aesthetic. Kojima shared his thoughts on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, where he applauded the film's immersive 1960s world-building and thematic tone. Kojima noted the film's attention to detail in recreating a stylized 1960s environment, citing its fashion, architecture, branding, and even food items. 'Not only the fashion, color schemes, design, cityscapes, TV and anime programs, costumes and spacesuits, rockets, and cars, but even corporate names, food items (cereals, soft drinks), and storage media (magnetic tapes, discs) are thoroughly created with a 1960s look and sense of the future,' he wrote. Watched 'Fantastic Four: First Steps.' From the fashion, color palette, design, cityscape, TV and cartoon shows, to the costumes, spacesuits, rockets, cars—not to mention company names, food items (cereal, soda), and storage media (magnetic tapes, discs)—everything is crafted… — HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) August 3, 2025 Drawing comparisons to Bewitched and The Incredibles, Kojima praised the film's family-centered narrative and lighter tone. He suggested that Fantastic Four: First Steps reflects a broader shift in superhero storytelling post-pandemic—from darker realism to colorful nostalgia. Kojima also applauded the film's storytelling efficiency, particularly its choice to explain the team's backstory through an in-universe television program. He explained that detailing the origin story in full would have slowed the film's pace, noting that the streamlined narrative successfully immerses audiences from the start. 'In terms of being the 'First Steps' to 'restart' this series, it's truly 'Fantastic,'' he added. While Kojima's praise adds to the film's critical momentum, its commercial performance tells a more mixed story. After a strong debut, the film is projected to earn around $42 million in its second weekend—a 64% drop. Despite that, it has crossed the $200 million mark in ten days, making it the highest-grossing MCU film of the year so far. Directed by Matt Shakman, the film stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner, and Ralph Ineson as Galactus.
