Box Office: 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Hits $218M, 'Superman' and 'F1' Surpass $500M

Global Box Office Success for "The Fantastic Four: First Steps"

Marvel's latest superhero film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, made a strong debut at the global box office, earning $218 million worldwide in its opening weekend. This performance surpassed the international launch of Superman, which collected $95 million in 78 markets earlier in July. However, Superman still managed a slightly larger global debut with $220 million.

In its first week, The Fantastic Four: First Steps was released in 52 markets, with Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Brazil being the top-earning regions. Mexico brought in $12 million, while the United Kingdom earned $10.8 million. France and Brazil each contributed $5.7 million and $5.1 million respectively. Despite these successes, the film underperformed in China, where it only earned $4.5 million. This result is not unexpected, as Chinese audiences have historically been less receptive to most superhero films in recent years. Even Superman, a more recognizable and patriotic character, managed to earn $6.6 million in its debut in China.

Directed by Matt Shakman, The Fantastic Four: First Steps follows the iconic superhero quartet—Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Human Torch (Joseph Quinn)—as they battle a planet-devouring cosmic threat. Positive reviews and word-of-mouth are expected to boost the film’s performance in the coming weeks. This initial success is promising for Disney and Marvel, who have faced challenges in maintaining commercial consistency despite their history as Hollywood's most reliable hit-makers.

While last year's Deadpool & Wolverine was a massive billion-dollar hit, the studio's two prior releases this year—Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts—both failed to meet their $180 million budgets. However, The Fantastic Four: First Steps has already shown potential to turn things around.

Other Major Films Reach Milestones

Three other high-budget movies also achieved significant box office milestones over the weekend. Superman and F1 both crossed the $500 million mark, while Jurassic World Rebirth surpassed $700 million globally.

Superman, which was released two weekends before The Fantastic Four: First Steps, added $19.8 million from 78 territories during its latest weekend, marking a 57% decline from its previous peak. The Warner Bros. and DC Studios adaptation has struggled internationally, with a total of $213 million so far. However, the film has seen stronger support from North American audiences, helping it reach a global total of $502 million after three weekends.

Universal's Jurassic World Rebirth and Apple's F1 have been playing for longer periods but still outperformed Superman in international markets during the weekend. This is largely due to the lack of direct competition from other comic book films. Jurassic World Rebirth earned $23.5 million in its fourth weekend, bringing its international total to $416 million. The film has now grossed $718 million worldwide, making it one of three Hollywood releases this year to cross the $700 million threshold. However, it faces high expectations, as the previous trilogy featuring Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard each earned $1 billion globally.

Meanwhile, F1 continues to perform well, earning $20 million from 78 markets in its fifth weekend. With a production budget of $250 million, the Brad Pitt-led racing drama has earned $344 million internationally and $509 million globally so far.

These figures highlight the ongoing competition among major Hollywood releases and the evolving dynamics of the box office landscape. As more films continue to roll out, the industry remains focused on balancing critical acclaim with commercial success.