{"id":25480,"date":"2025-07-26T16:59:08","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T16:59:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/25480\/"},"modified":"2025-07-26T16:59:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-26T16:59:08","slug":"first-steps-opening-to-120m-125-million-u-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/25480\/","title":{"rendered":"First Steps’ Opening to $120M-$125 Million U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tSATURDAY AM: The Fantastic Four: First Steps<\/a> at $120M-$125M is one of the sixth best openings for a Marvel Cinematic Universe title post Covid and that\u2019s a great thing. For all the \u201cdoes it or does it not beat Superman<\/a>?\u201d in the Coke and Pepsi fight between Marvel and DC \u2013 who cares? It\u2019s the fourth $100M-plus opening of the year for a movie and that spells \u201cexcellent\u201d for the business. Not to mention, it\u2019s solid footing for a superhero movie.<\/p>\n

\n\tThere is still a path to $125M, as we told you the movie has been pacing like James Gunn\u2019s Superman. Yesterday\u2019s first\/day previews for Fantastic Four came in at $57M, which is $900K ahead of Superman\u2018s $56.1M, and the second highest opening day of 2025 to date behind A Minecraft Movie\u2018s $57.1M. Wouldn\u2019t ya know \u2014 the MCU title also received an A- CinemaScore, the same as Superman. If the movie comes in under $125M, box office nerds, it\u2019s not the end of the world or the demise of the superhero movie. As we always report, and this was true pre-Covid, predicting $100M+ openings given the small sampling isn\u2019t a perfect science.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe Hollywood feature directorial debut of WandaVision helmer Matt Shakman is poised to rank as his highest opening at the domestic box office. Ditto for Pedro Pascal (his previous being Gladiator 2 at $55M), Joseph Quinn (same, Gladiator 2), Vanessa Kirby (previous Mission: Impossible Fallout at $61M) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (previous being Jennifer Lawrence\u2019s No Hard Feelings at $15M). <\/p>\n

\n\tSome in the industry had their doubts as to whether Fantastic Four could tip $100M as this was a period movie, however, rivals are applauding Disney<\/a>\u2018s marketing campaign which connected with audiences. Marketing campaign under Disney marketing czar Asad Ayaz leaned into the uniqueness that this was a period MCU movie with its retro-futuristic 1960s aesthetic and optimism as well as introducing Marvel\u2019s first family, and the threat of new big baddie Galactus.<\/p>\n

\n\tPLFs and Imax are contributing a huge 40% of the weekend with 3D alone accounting for 13%. The movie is playing evenly throughout the United States and Canada, but best in South, South Central and West. AMC Disney Springs in Orlando is the highest grossing location so far with just over $176K. <\/p>\n

\n\tDefinite recommend has upticked to 72% which is right around where Superman was at 74%. The Latino\/Hispanic and Asian American moviegoer turnout was higher on First Steps than Superman respectively with (31% to 26%) and (11% to 9%). Black moviegoers turnout was even between both movies at 19%. Caucasian was bigger on Superman over Marvel\u2019s first family, 41% to 34%. <\/p>\n

\n\tUnder 35 turnout on First Steps is 71% to Superman\u2018s 66%. Overall, again, very similar demos between the movies with Fantastic Four showing men over 25 (40%) to Superman\u2018s 43%; men under 25 at 29% to Superman\u2018s 25%, women over 25 at 20% to 19%, and women under 25 at 11% to 13%. Male to female split at 69%\/31% is close to par with Gunn\u2019s Man of Steel pic.<\/p>\n

\n\tThis weekend for all titles is coming in at $194M, which is -32% off from a year ago when MCU delivered the biggest opening for a R-rated movie in Deadpool & Wolverine ($211.4M), that Shawn Levy-directed movie driving a $284.8M overall Friday-Sunday.<\/p>\n

\n\tWe\u2019ll have more updates as the weekend goes on in this crazy San Diego Comic-Con weekend. Speaking of Gunn, he\u2019ll be down here showing off the second season of DC HBO\u2019s Peacemaker season 2. Amazon MGM Studios is also here with Ryan Gosling and Project Hail Mary with Ketchup Entertainment showing off the first public footage of the Warner Bros-made Coyote vs. Acme this morning.<\/p>\n

\n\t1. Fantastic Four (Dis) 4,125 theaters, Fri $57M, 3-day $120M-$125M\/Wk 1<\/p>\n

\n\t2. Superman (WB) 3,930 (-345) theaters, Fri $7.1M (-57%), 3-day $24.5M (-58%), Total $289.1M\/Wk 3<\/p>\n

\n\t3. Jurassic World Rebirth (Uni) 3,550 (-304) theaters, Fri $3.65M (-45%), 3-day $13M (-45%), Total $301.5M\/Wk 4<\/p>\n

\n\t4. F1 (WB) 2,615 (-479) theaters, Fri $1.8M (-36%), 3-day $6.3M (-36%), Total $165.6M\/Wk 5<\/p>\n

\n\t5. Smurfs (Par) 3,504 theaters, Fri $1.72M (-57%), 3-day $5.6M (-49%), Total $22.9M\/Wk 2<\/p>\n

\n\t6. I Know What You Did Last Summer (Sony) Fri $1.62M (-72%), 3-day $5M (-61%), Total $23.4M\/Wk 2 <\/p>\n

\n\t7. How to Train Your Dragon (Uni) 2,346 (-502) theaters, Fri $850K (-48%), 3-day $2.79M (-48%), Total $257M\/Wk 7<\/p>\n

\n\t8. Saiyaara (YRF) 210 (-85) theaters, $390K (+143%), 3-day $1.8M (+131%), Total $3.7M\/Week 2<\/p>\n

\n\t9. Eddington (A24) 2065 (-46) theaters, Fri $478K (-73%), 3-day $1.6M (-64%), Total $8M\/Wk 2<\/p>\n

\n\t10. Oh Hi! (SPC) 886 theaters, Fri $743K, 3-day $1.5M\/Wk 1<\/p>\n

\n\tFRIDAY MIDDAY UPDATE: Marvel Studios<\/a> and Disney\u2019s The Fantastic Four: First Steps is looking a lot like DC\u2019s Superman right now in its opening: an estimated $56 million Friday and a three-day total of around $125M.<\/p>\n

\n\tFamily movies, and this is Marvel\u2019s first family, tend to see a lot of walk-up business on Saturday, so that\u2019s working in the Matt Shakman-directed movie\u2019s favor. We\u2019ll monitor changing demos throughout the weekend, but Superman pulled in 31% parents and kids (9% under 12). Fantastic Four pulled in 7% kids under 12 last night with a 93% general audience according to Comscore\/Screen Engine\u2019s PostTrak. The under-35 crowd was massive last night at 70% versus Superman\u2018s 66%. Friday\u2019s cume of course includes last night\u2019s $24.4M in previews.<\/p>\n

\n\tExits are very good: 70% definite recommend from the main audience and 70% from kids under 12. <\/p>\n

\n\tWe\u2019ll have more updates as they come. <\/p>\n

\n\tRELATED: \u2018The Fantastic Four: First Steps\u2019 International Box Office \u2013 Latest<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tFRIDAY AM UPDATE after THURSDAY EXCLUSIVE: Marvel Studios and Disney\u2019s The Fantastic Four: First Steps came in higher than DC\u2019s Superman as far as previews go, with a studio-reported $24.4 million.<\/p>\n

\n\tThat\u2019s higher than MCU\u2019s Captain Marvel ($20.7M), which went on to post a Friday of $61.7M and a 3-day of $153.4M. It\u2019s also not far from Captain America: Civil War, which posted a $25M Thursday before a $75.5M Friday and $179.1M opening frame.<\/p>\n

\n\tWant more? Marvel numbers are fun. First Steps\u2019 Thursday night alone also came close to toppling the opening weekend of the previous Fox-Marvel movie Fantastic Four from Josh Trank, which debuted to $25.6M. The original Tim Story-directed Fantastic Four at Fox debuted to $56M, with the 2007 sequel Fantastic Four: Silver Surfer opening to $58M.<\/p>\n

\n\tMCU\u2019s take starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Julia Garner will beat that opening, as its earlier-week projections were for $100M-$110M.<\/p>\n

\n\tiSpot shows that Disney had a lower spend on Fantastic Four on linear than Warner Bros did on Superman, $14.6M-$28.1M. Disney\u2019s campaign reached 950 million household TV ad impressions while Superman\u2018s hit 1.52 billion. Fantastic Four: First Steps spot ran during NBA games (17.7%), Good Morning America (3.5%), SportsCenter (3.4%), Bachelor in Paradise (2.7%) and MLB games (2.7%). The top networks for First Steps spots by impressions were ABC (31.0%), ESPN (8.5%), FX (6.8%), Freeform (6.3%) and National Geographic (4.6%). Note the above doesn\u2019t include cross-promo spots Disney had with other brands.<\/p>\n

\n\tHere\u2019s how the rest of the week went:<\/p>\n

\n\t1.) Superman (WB) 4,275 theaters, Thu $4.76M (-28% from Wed), Week $86.8M (-51%), Total $264.6M\/Wk 2<\/p>\n

\n\t2.) Jurassic World Rebirth (Uni) 3,854 theaters, Thu $2.38M (-12%), Week $35.7M (-41%), Total $288.5M\/Wk 3<\/p>\n

\n\t3.) I Know What You Did Last Summer (Sony) 3,206 theaters, Thu $1M (-16%), Week $18.4M\/Wk 1<\/p>\n

\n\t4.) Smurfs (Par) 3,504 theaters, Thu $1.26M (-9%), Week $17.4M\/Wk 1 <\/p>\n

\n\t5.) F1 (Apple\/WB), 3,094 theaters, Thu $1.13M (-13%), Week $15.3M (-26%), Total $159.3M\/Wk 4 <\/p>\n

\n\tPREVIOUS EXCLUSIVE, Thursday PM: Superhero movies aren\u2019t dead, silly. The second comic-book movie in the past two weeks, Disney\/Marvel Studios\u2019 The Fantastic Four: First Steps is conquering around $23 million in previews tonight that began at 2 p.m.. Domestic outlook was $100M-$110M, but the Matt Shakman-directed movie is bound to shoot higher. The numbers are from sources, not Disney.<\/p>\n

\n\tThese mark the best previews for an MCU title year to date, double that of Thunderbolts* ($11.5M, $31.8M Friday, $74.3M opening) and 92% higher than Captain America: Brave New World ($12M, $40.9M Friday, $88.8M 3-day). First Steps\u2018 current RT critic score is 88% and audience is 92% for the 1960s-futuristic-themed movie, which are close to the respective figures of Thunderbolts* (88%\/93%), and critically higher than last summer\u2019s Deadpool & Wolverine (78%) and about the same with that R-rated MCU title\u2019s audience rating (94%).<\/p>\n

\n\tFantastic Four\u2018s Thursday is also the 12th time that an MCU movie has posted previews north of $20M+ (2019\u2019s Avengers: Endgame still owns the all-time domestic preview record with $60M). <\/p>\n

\n\tTonight\u2019s figure is similar to the $22.5M previews that James Gunn\u2019s Superman did two Thursdays ago (granted, that figure included an extra $2.8M in Amazon Prime member advance screenings). For those with short memories, Superman went on to do a $56.1M Friday (of which previews repped 40%) and an opening of $125M off an A- CinemaScore, 84% Rotten Tomatoes critics score and 92% audience rating.<\/p>\n

\n\tSocial media analytics firm RelishMix reports that Fantastic Four is the first movie of the year to break the billion mark in regards to social media reach across TikTok, Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube, ahead of Jurassic World Rebirth (921M) and Superman (953M). Other movies with a billion followers on social media include 2021\u2019s Spider-Man: No Way Home (1.2 billion) and Deadpool & Wolverine (1.15 billion).<\/p>\n

\n\tRelishMix says \u201cthis cast is fully social and nearly completely activated, especially after the world premiere red carpet<\/a>, including Pedro Pascal at 11.4M, Joseph Quinn at 5.6M, Vanessa Kirby at 2.6M and Julia Garner at 1.5M.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe analytics org reports, \u201cConvo on\u00a0The Fantastic Four: First Steps is running positive\u00a0as fans are interested in Marvel delving into the \u201860s retro-futurist setting and the promise of a new chapter for the comics universe. Comments include, \u2018Setting it in the \u201960s was a good idea. This looks better than the previous Fantastic Four movies.\u2019 and \u2018This is maybe the first Marvel film I\u2019m genuine excited for \u2014 can\u2019t wait to see it.\u2019 The individuality of the film is alluring to many: \u2018So excited to get a new Marvel film where I haven\u2019t had to watch hours of existing movies\/shows as a prerequisite for watching!\u2019 The film\u2019s villain, Galactus, is a cool element for many: \u2018Galactus is Coming this movie is about to be Fantastic!\u2019 and, \u2018The shadow of that helmet \u2014 chills.’\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SATURDAY AM: The Fantastic Four: First Steps at $120M-$125M is one of the sixth best openings for a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25481,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[6460,96,5228,2839,951,5397,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-25480","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-movies","tag-disney","tag-entertainment","tag-marvel-studios","tag-movies","tag-superman","tag-the-fantastic-four-first-steps","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25480","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25480"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25480\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25481"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}