Fantastic Four: First Steps Maintains Box Office Lead Despite Second Weekend Drop
The superhero film "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" held its top box office position in its second weekend, despite a significant 66% earnings drop, leading a slow August for cinema.
Subscribe to unlock this story
We really don't like cutting you off, but you've reached your monthly limit. At just $5/month, subscriptions are how we keep this project going. Start your free 7-day trial today!
Get StartedHave an account? Sign in
Overview
- "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" maintained its number one spot at the North American box office in its second weekend, despite a notable 66% drop in earnings to $40 million.
- The film's global total reached $369 million, with nearly $40 million earned internationally in its second weekend, showcasing its continued worldwide appeal.
- Despite strong reviews, "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" experienced an unexpected decline, similar to Marvel's "Thunderbolts," highlighting a challenging August box office start.
- Comedies "The Bad Guys 2" and "The Naked Gun" debuted in second and third place, respectively, with "Superman" and "Together" also entering the top six, trailing the lead film.
- Industry analysts anticipate that upcoming highly-anticipated movies are expected to boost August box office numbers, potentially reversing the current slow trend.
Report issue
Read both sides in 5 minutes each day
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by emphasizing the "stumble" and significant box office drop of "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," despite it holding the top spot. They highlight its 66% decline and unfavorable comparison to previous Marvel films, creating a narrative of underperformance. In contrast, other films are described with more positive language, subtly underscoring the perceived struggle of the summer's last major blockbuster.
"Though the movie’s debut weekend may have given box office results a strong push toward the $4 billion summer benchmark, August is off to a slow start, he said."
Chicago Tribune"The film was accompanied by comedies “The Bad Guys 2” and “The Naked Gun” in the top three box office rankings."
Associated Press"The drop is a potentially troubling sign for Marvel, suggesting the superhero blockbuster might not have much longevity at the box office and could be struggling to entice casual moviegoers."
USA TODAYArticles (3)
Center (3)
FAQ
After its second weekend, "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" earned approximately $198.4 million domestically and had a global total of around $368.7 million.
The film experienced a 66% drop in its second weekend, which was larger than Marvel's "Thunderbolts" 55% decline and greater than "Superman"'s 53% decrease in its second weekend.
Comedies "The Bad Guys 2" and "The Naked Gun" debuted in second and third place respectively at the box office, with "Superman" and "Together" also entering the top six, trailing behind "The Fantastic Four: First Steps."
Industry analysts note that August started slowly at the box office despite the strong debut of "The Fantastic Four: First Steps." They expect upcoming anticipated releases to boost box office numbers and emphasize that films will need to rely on good reviews and longevity in the theater to succeed.
"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" is on course to be the highest-grossing Fantastic Four movie ever, outperforming the previous three Fantastic Four films and beating the final box office totals of recent MCU films "Captain America: Brave New World" and "Thunderbolts."
History
- This story does not have any previous versions.