Marvel Studios and Disney’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps is shaping up to be a major theatrical win for the MCU. As early numbers roll in, the film is showing strong momentum. It looks like Marvel’s iconic team may even outpace DC’s Superman reboot in what has become a surprisingly close summer box office clash. With a reported $56 million on Friday and an estimated $125 million opening weekend, the Fantastic Four box office is turning heads and exceeding expectations.
Fantastic Four Box Office Crushes Preview Expectations
The Thursday night previews alone delivered an impressive $24.4 million. This beats Superman’s performance and even tops Marvel’s Captain Marvel, which earned $20.7 million on its preview night. Captain Marvel later posted a $61.7 million Friday and a $153.4 million opening weekend. The preview number for Fantastic Four also comes close to Captain America: Civil War. That film earned $25 million on Thursday and eventually reached a $179.1 million opening weekend.
To put things into perspective, Thursday’s $24.4 million alone nearly matched the full opening weekend of 2015’s Fantastic Four, directed by Josh Trank. That version debuted with just $25.6 million. The new preview total also rivals the openings of the original Fox versions. Fantastic Four (2005) opened with $56 million, while Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) started with $58 million. Clearly, Marvel Studios’ reboot is on track to surpass every prior iteration of the franchise.
Fantastic Four Box Office Driven by Younger Audience
Family movies — and this is Marvel’s first family — typically benefit from strong Saturday walk-up ticket sales, which could further boost weekend totals. That’s something working in director Matt Shakman’s favor as the weekend unfolds.
As for audience demographics, data from Comscore/Screen Engine’s PostTrak shows that Fantastic Four attracted 93% general audience and just 7% kids under 12 on Thursday night. In comparison, Superman drew 31% parents and kids, including 9% under 12. The under-35 crowd came out strong for Fantastic Four, making up 70% of viewers. That’s an even larger share than Superman‘s 66%. While the branding feels family-friendly, the film is clearly resonating more with younger adult audiences.
Marketing Strategy: Less Spending, More Impact
Interestingly, Disney spent significantly less than Warner Bros. on linear TV advertising — just $14.6 million compared to Superman’s $28.1 million. Despite that, Fantastic Four still reached an impressive 950 million household TV ad impressions.
Interestingly, Disney spent significantly less than Warner Bros. on linear TV advertising—just $14.6 million compared to Superman’s $28.1 million. Despite the smaller budget, Fantastic Four still managed to generate an impressive 950 million household TV ad impressions.
Disney’s campaign focused on major programs and high-visibility networks to maximize reach. A large share of ads aired during NBA games (17.7%), Good Morning America (3.5%), SportsCenter (3.4%), Bachelor in Paradise (2.7%), and MLB games (2.7%). The five networks with the most impressions were ABC (31%), ESPN (8.5%), FX (6.8%), Freeform (6.3%), and National Geographic (4.6%).
What’s more, these numbers don’t include the many cross-promotional spots aired across Disney’s own brands and platforms. By using its internal assets, Disney built a much more efficient and far-reaching campaign than the spending total might suggest.
Weekend Rankings Show Fantastic Four’s Strength
The early numbers speak volumes. While Superman is still pulling solid figures in its second week, Fantastic Four: First Steps is poised to dominate the weekend. Here’s how the top five looked on Thursday:
- Superman (WB): $4.76M Thursday | $264.6M Total (Week 2)
- Jurassic World Rebirth: $2.38M Thursday | $288.5M Total (Week 3)
- I Know What You Did Last Summer: $1M Thursday | $18.4M (Week 1)
- Smurfs: $1.26M Thursday | $17.4M (Week 1)
- F1: $1.13M Thursday | $159.3M (Week 4)
What the Fantastic Four Box Office Means for the MCU
With a stacked cast — Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Julia Garner — and strong fan anticipation, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is positioned not just to launch a new era for the franchise but to reassert Marvel Studios’ box office dominance.
The numbers are still rolling in, but it’s already clear: the Fantastic Four box office is primed for a big win, and this opening could shape the MCU’s direction heading into Secret Wars and beyond.
Stay tuned for the latest updates on MCU’s upcoming projects, and subscribe to Marvel Updates’ YouTube channel.
