‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Rockets to Marvelous $24.4M in Box Office Previews

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Mr. Fantastic and and his family have cleared the launch pad in high style.

In a triumphant start, Matt Shakman’s highly praised superhero film titled “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” earned an impressive $24.4 million during its Thursday previews in North America. This figure surpassed the year’s highest preview earnings so far, outperforming DC’s Superman by $1.9 million, and marking the largest preview gross since Marvel’s double title release of “Deadpool & Wolverine” a year ago, which brought in $38.5 million.

This news is particularly encouraging for Marvel Studios, which is owned by Disney and currently seeking redemption following a challenging period (with Deadpool and Wolverine being the exceptions). It’s also worth noting that today, July 25, Disney will reach a significant milestone by becoming the first Hollywood studio to sell over $3 billion in global tickets. Moreover, Marvel holds three out of the top five highest preview grosses for the year, despite Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts earning roughly half as much as First Steps did.

This positive news is particularly beneficial for Marvel Studios, a division of Disney that’s looking to regain its footing after a tough spell (with Deadpool and Wolverine being the exceptions). It’s also important to mention that Disney will soon become the first Hollywood studio to sell more than $3 billion in tickets worldwide, reaching this milestone on July 25. Furthermore, Marvel has three of the top five highest preview earnings for the year, despite Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts earning around half as much as First Steps did.

The anticipated opening for the new “Fantastic Four” movie in North America is projected to be between $100 million and $110 million, with similar expectations overseas. However, due to fast ticket sales in advance, positive reviews, and excellent early audience feedback, this star-studded reboot might actually open at a higher figure.

In the last fortnight, Superman made a strong debut with $125 million domestically and $95 million internationally, although it fell slightly short of expectations due to its historically pro-American themes. However, The Fantastic Four might outperform Superman in foreign markets because the earlier films from the franchise, produced by 20th Century Fox, primarily generated their earnings abroad.

In the movie “First Steps,” set in New York City, Pedro Pascal portrays Reed Richards, a brilliant scientist, who, along with his wife Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), her brother Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and their friend Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), embarks on a space voyage. During this journey, they encounter a cosmic storm that alters their genetic makeup upon their return to Earth, bestowing them with extraordinary abilities.

The recently released movie continues with the quartet basking in their global hero status, but there’s no time for celebration. They are compelled to journey back into space once more, as Earth encounters a visit from the Silver Surfer (portrayed by Julia Garner), who delivers a grim message: our planet is facing imminent destruction at the hands of a formidable cosmic entity known as Galactus.

Aiming for success at the box office, it’s hoped that Fantastic Four will appeal not only to comic book enthusiasts but also families, as a balanced audience. This approach could potentially counteract the ongoing feeling of superhero burnout among viewers. As David Rooney puts it in his review for The Hollywood Reporter, “The title team may possess extraordinary powers, but they are also a family, grappling with everyday challenges just like many of us do.

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2025-07-25 18:24