The Fantastic Four: First Stepshas climbed theMarvel Cinematic Universe’s box office charts. Marvel’s First Family is finally home, and with that comes the highest-grossinglive-action Fantastic Four movie. That said, whileThe Fantastic Four: First Steps' worldwide total currently stands at $368.7 million, the Fantastic Four movie dealt with a 66% drop from its opening weekend.
The year has been harsh on theMCU’s slate of projects. BothCaptain America: Brave New WorldandThunderbolts*underperformed. While the Fantastic Four reboot might not be flying as high as the studio might have expected, it is still posting solid numbers for the Fantastic Four franchise. The film is expected to be theMCU’s best 2025 entry.
According to data fromBox Office Mojo,The Fantastic Four: First Stepshas already passedThunderbolts*’s entire domestic box officeafter two weekends. The Marvel movie led by Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova ended its run in North America with just $190.2 million, while theMCU Fantastic Four moviestands above it, at $198.4 million, with a long road ahead.
What The Fantastic Four: First Steps Passing Thunderbolts*’s Domestic Box Office Means
Thunderboltsunderperforming at the box office was surprising. While the movie focused on an obscure team from Marvel Comics, fan-favorite MCU characters, like Pugh’s Yelena and Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, and positive reviews,Thunderboltshas an 88%Rotten Tomatoesscore by critics, which seemed to point to it being a hit.The New Avengers revealwas also a major addition.
AfterThunderboltsdelivered in terms of reception but could not do the same when it came to the box office,The Fantastic Four: First Steps' theatrical run is encouraging for Marvel. The MCU reboot of Marvel’s First Family has already passedThunderbolts’s entire domestic gross, with the filmless than $15 million from surpassingThunderbolts*’s global box office total.
$190,253,709
$192,162,589
$382,416,298
$198,427,635
$170,300,000
$368,727,635
In terms of budgets,Thunderboltshad reported production costs set at $180 million, whileThe Fantastic Four: First Steps' budgetwas atthe $200 million mark. To that effect, it is exciting for Marvel that the Fantastic Four movie is already eclipsingThunderbolts’s domestic numbers so early in its run, asThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsneeds to finish higher.
Our Take On The Fantastic Four: First Steps Passing Thunderbolts*’s Domestic Box Office
Despite the New Avengers twist being revealed right afterThunderboltsopened in theaters, the MCU movie was still focused on obscure characters that connected it to multiple Disney+ MCU series. As such,Thunderboltsdid not have the same kind of broader appeal that the Fantastic Four reboot has.Marvel’s First Family is easily the most recognizable team of the two.
It was only natural thatThe Fantastic Four: First Stepswould passThunderbolts*’s domestic box office, and soon its global run, quickly. In a year when Marvel movies did not come close to their past glory, the Fantastic Four reboot, looking likely to finish its run as the MCU’s best performer of 2025, bodes well for the team’s MCU future.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Cast
The Fantastic 4: First Steps features Marvel’s First Family navigating their dual roles as superheroes and family members in a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world. They defend Earth from a formidable space god, Galactus, and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer, testing their familial bonds and heroic resolve.
Thunderbolts*
Thunderbolts follows seven disillusioned individuals who find themselves trapped in a perilous situation. Tasked with a daunting mission, they must face the most shadowy aspects of their histories to survive and achieve their goals.
