Update July 27, 2025: Disney’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps roared to the top of the domestic box office this weekend, raking in a substantial $118 million. While this opening fell just shy of its $130 million projection, it marked a triumphant return for the beloved Marvel franchise. The film delivered the year’s best opening weekend for a Marvel movie, easily surpassing February’s Captain America: Brave New World ($88.5 million) and May’s Thunderbolts ($74.3 million).
Meanwhile, Warner Bros.’ Superman landed in the second spot, adding $24.9 million to its domestic total, bringing its cumulative gross to $289.5 million since its July 11 debut. The DC film continues its steady performance, underscoring the enduring appeal of superhero blockbusters.
Universal’s Jurassic World Rebirth claimed the third position with $13 million in its fourth weekend, pushing its domestic earnings to an impressive $301.5 million. Rounding out the top five were F1: The Movie with $6.2 million and Smurfs with $5.4 million, showcasing a diverse range of audience preferences.
Original story published July 25, 2025: The Man of Steel has officially met his match.
Marvel Studios’ much-anticipated reboot of The Fantastic Four has exploded onto the scene. Projections suggested an opening weekend of up to $135 million domestically, unseating James Gunn‘s Superman reboot from the No. 1 spot. Directed by Matt Shakman and starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn, The Fantastic Four: First Steps marks the cinematic debut of Marvel’s First Family integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a significant move following Disney’s 2019 acquisition of 21st Century Fox.
The fresh take on Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm is already earning praise, boasting an 89% certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This critical success is a notable achievement, given that previous Fantastic Four films struggled to connect with audiences and critics alike. The 2005 and 2007 films were financially adequate but critically panned, and the 2015 reboot was widely disliked, grossing only $167 million worldwide.
With a production budget exceeding $200 million, First Steps represents a crucial opportunity to revitalize the property and a vital win for Marvel. This comes at a time when recent releases like Thunderbolts and Captain America: Brave New World have faced challenges in meeting expectations.
Compared to other superhero films this year, First Steps has surpassed Marvel’s earlier installments. It’s also performing strongly against Warner Bros.’ Superman, which opened to $125 million domestically and $217 million globally. However, the MCU reboot’s opening is still short of last year’s R-rated hit, Deadpool & Wolverine, which debuted with a massive $211 million domestically.
Marvel spared no expense for First Steps, hosting high-profile premieres in Berlin, Paris, London, and Sydney, culminating in a star-studded Hollywood event featuring a drone show and a live orchestra led by composer Michael Giacchino. With strong critical reception and limited competition, The Fantastic Four: First Steps appears poised to reignite Marvel Studios’ box-office momentum.
Other notable releases this weekend include Sony’s romantic comedy Oh, Hi! and Lionsgate’s horror film The Home, both expected to fall outside the top five. Instead, established films are predicted to dominate the box office. Superman is projected to earn up to $30 million in its third week, followed by Universal’s Jurassic World Rebirth with an estimated $15 million. Warner Bros./Apple Studios’ F1: The Movie anticipates around $6 million, while Sony’s I Know What You Did Last Summer and Paramount’s Smurfs are vying for fifth place, each expected to gross just over $5 million.
NEW RELEASES
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Director: Matt Shakman
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios
The Fantastic Four must balance their heroic duties with their family bonds to defend Earth from the cosmic threat of Galactus and his Herald, Silver Surfer. The Marvel adventure runs one hour and 55 minutes and is rated PG-13. It has a certified “fresh” rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and “generally favorable” reviews totaling 64% on Metacritic.
Oh, Hi!
Director: Sophie Brooks
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
A romantic weekend getaway for Iris and Isaac takes an unexpected turn. Starring Molly Gordon and Logan Lerman, the romantic comedy runs one hour and 35 minutes and is rated R. It is certified “fresh” with a 62% score on Rotten Tomatoes and “generally favorable” reviews totaling 63% on Metacritic.
The Home
Director: James DeMonaco
Distributor: Lionsgate
Max begins working at a retirement home only to discover sinister secrets held by residents and staff. Starring Pete Davidson, John Glover, Bruce Altman, and Ethan Phillips, the horror film runs one hour and 37 minutes and is rated R. It is certified “rotten” with a 29% score on Rotten Tomatoes and “mixed or average” reviews totaling 46% on Metacritic.
Here are the predicted box-office rankings for the top five:
1. The Fantastic Four: First Steps
2. Superman
3. Jurassic World Rebirth
4. F1: The Movie
5. I Know What You Did Last Summer
