Global Box Office: Ready for Takeoff

Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, released July 25, 2025, is tracking toward a global opening weekend of $190 to $210 million, slightly behind DC’s Superman, which launched at $217 million.

Domestically, it’s projected to earn $100 to $110 million, with around $90 to $100 million internationally, aligning neatly within the $190 to $210 million forecast range.

Thursday Previews: A Box Office Milestone

The film pulled in $24.4 million during Thursday preview screenings, the highest for 2025. That beats Superman’s preview numbers, highlighting early consumer enthusiasm.

By the close of its opening day, analyses estimate it may hit $57 million, putting it on course for a strong weekend total between $120 to $125 million domestically, well ahead of earlier $100 to $110 million projections.

That debut, combined with a strong Rotten Tomatoes score of 88%, makes it the best opening among Avengers: Doomsday’s Phase 6 entries so far.

India Opening and Piracy Woes

In India, the film earned ₹5.10 crore (net) on its opening day, a solid performance considering competition from Saiyaara.

Unfortunately, piracy quickly became an issue, with illegal versions of the film circulating on torrent sites, raising fresh concerns about online piracy’s damaging reach.

What This Means in Context

The 2015 Fantastic Four reboot was a flop, pulling in just $168 million globally on a $120 million budget and scoring a miserable 9% on Rotten Tomatoes. First Steps is already set to outsell that entire run in just its opening weekend.

It’s also outperforming earlier MCU entries in 2025 such as Thunderbolts ($74 million opening) and Brave New World ($88.8 million).

Early Word of Mouth & Future Prospects

Critics and audiences are responding to the film’s ensemble chemistry, its emotionally grounded storytelling, and stylish 1960s setting.

Reddit chatter suggests a consensus that word of mouth could push the total closer to or beyond $230 million globally, though some caution a steeper weekend drop could limit final grosses.

Summing It Up

• Opening weekend range: $190 to $210 million global.
• Domestic forecasts: $120 to $125 million potential, up from earlier $100 to $110 million estimates.
• Preview success: $24.4 million, the highest of the year.
• Critical reception: 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.
• India’s start: ₹5.10 crore net on day one.

Here’s the thing: First Steps is not just a superhero movie. It’s Marvel showing that it still knows how to blend heart, humor, and spectacle. It may not beat Superman entirely, but it’s already exceeded expectations and looks to be a strong reboot of the Fantastic Four legacy.