Marvel’s latest offering, Fantastic Four: First Steps, has surged to the top of the box office, earning $118 million in its opening weekend. The film’s debut has successfully outpaced DC’s Superman, which remains in a solid second place with $24.9 million in its third weekend. This marks a significant shift as Marvel reclaims its position in the competitive superhero film landscape.
Although the opening figure for Fantastic Four is on the lower end of initial projections, it still represents the best start for Marvel’s First Family on screen. The film more than doubled the previous high of $58.1 million set by Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer in 2007. This new release also outperformed the entire domestic run of the poorly received 2015 reboot, which struggled to connect with audiences.
Examining the broader context, Fantastic Four‘s opening is particularly noteworthy within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Excluding the recent Deadpool and Wolverine crossover, this debut stands as the best since Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3, which opened to $118.4 million in May 2023.
Though some industry observers may label the opening as disappointing, the overall reception has been encouraging for Marvel, which has been in a period of recalibration. The film’s cost is estimated at $200 million, and without significant competition in the coming weeks, it is projected to reach a domestic total of around $300 million, positioning it well for profitability.
Superman Holds Steady Amid Competition
Meanwhile, Superman, directed by James Gunn, continues to perform admirably, bringing its domestic total to $289.5 million and worldwide earnings to $502.7 million. Despite facing a notable drop of 57% this weekend, the film’s resilience against a Marvel blockbuster suggests a robust audience interest. Its budget stands at $225 million, and projections indicate it may surpass $330 million domestically, solidifying its status as a success for the DC Universe.
Both films have received positive critical acclaim, with Fantastic Four holding an impressive 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a A- CinemaScore from viewers. Comparatively, Superman opened with a similar reception, garnering a 93% audience score.
In the realm of other films, Jurassic World Rebirth maintained momentum in its fourth weekend, earning $13 million to raise its domestic total to $301.5 million. The film has achieved a worldwide gross of $718.4 million, clearly establishing itself as a hit for Universal against a production budget of $180 million.
The Apple Original film F1: The Movie continues to perform well, down only 37% in its fifth weekend, with earnings of $6.2 million. It has reached a total of $165.6 million domestically and is expected to close around $180 million in the U.S.
On the other hand, The Smurfs saw a steep decline of 51% in its second weekend, earning $5.4 million and totaling $22.8 million domestically. The animated film faces challenges ahead, particularly with a budget of $58 million.
Looking forward, Fantastic Four is expected to remain at the top of the box office next weekend, facing new releases including a reboot of Naked Gun and the animated film Bad Guys 2.
The competitive landscape of superhero films continues to evolve, with both Marvel and DC securing significant openings this month, breathing new life into their franchises. As audiences flock to theaters, the impact of these films on the future of the genre remains to be seen.
