Fantastic Four’s First Steps Dethrones Man of Steel at Box Office
Hey, I’m Riley Carter. Okay, but like… why is this a thing? Another day, another box office upset—and Marvel’s Fantastic Four: First Steps just smashed expectations, swooping into the number one spot and leaving Man of Steel in its wake.
According to preliminary domestic figures from Box Office Mojo, Fantastic Four: First Steps hauled in an estimated $65 million over its opening weekend. Deadline’s tracking had predicted a strong debut, but it still managed to outpace the Damon Lindelof–produced sophomore outing by nearly 25 percent. Variety confirmed the film’s early results, noting that this marks the first time a Marvel property has unseated Superman-related content at the top since Man of Steel’s 2013 release.
Fans have been buzzing about the reboot ever since the first teaser dropped last fall. The ensemble cast, led by Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards and Hailee Steinfeld as Sue Storm, struck a chord with audiences who were craving a fresh take on the iconic team. Production notes obtained by The Hollywood Reporter reveal the filmmakers leaned into a more grounded origin story, blending sci-fi spectacle with relatable family dynamics. That creative gamble appears to have paid off—at least according to the latest weekend tallies.
Comparatively, Man of Steel, which enjoyed a steady run in re-release screenings, slipped to second place with an estimated $18 million. Box Office Mojo analysts point out that the 11-year-old property benefited from nostalgia-driven promotions, but couldn’t keep pace with the new Marvel juggernaut. Industry veteran Pam Wertheimer, quoted in Deadline, attributes the shift to younger demographics flocking to theaters for “a vibes-driven adventure that feels both fresh and familiar.”
International numbers are also encouraging. Variety reports that overseas earnings reached roughly $120 million, bringing the worldwide weekend total to $185 million. That puts First Steps on track to cross the $500 million mark globally within its first ten days, a milestone rarely hit by a team-up origin flick outside of Avengers installments.
Critics have weighed in as well. Rolling Stone praised the film’s balance of heart and heroics, while Empire highlighted its “infectious energy and clever nods to comic lore.” Even audiences polled by CinemaScore gave First Steps a glowing A-minus, underscoring strong word-of-mouth heading into next week’s releases.
Meanwhile, warnerMedia’s Superman property will look to bolster its run with digital sales and premium VOD, but sources at Box Office Pro suggest the theatrical crown has officially changed hands. What happens now that Fantastic Four is riding high? Will Cavill’s Superman get a second wind, or will Marvel’s newest quartet reign supreme all summer long?
So yeah – that happened. Anyway, catch you at the next box office breakdown.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, Box Office Mojo, Deadline, Variety
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
