Marvel Studios’ Fantastic Four: First Steps has officially launched with a strong preview performance in the United States, pulling in an estimated $24 million on Thursday night. This places it ahead of Superman, which previously held the 2025 record for the biggest Thursday pre-show debut at $19.7 million. With favorable early reception and a wide release across over 4,125 theaters, industry analysts now project an opening weekend in the range of $120 to $130 million domestically.
This level of performance marks a potential rebound for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which has seen mixed results at the box office in recent years. While the preview numbers do not yet reach the heights of Marvel’s peak releases, they do indicate renewed audience interest, especially for a film that introduces the first official chapter of MCU Phase Six.
Set in a stylized retro-futuristic 1960s world, Fantastic Four: First Steps skips the typical origin formula and instead plunges its characters straight into cosmic conflict. Directed by Matt Shakman and featuring a cast led by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, the film centers on the team’s confrontation with Galactus, portrayed by Ralph Ineson. Industry insiders note that the ensemble’s chemistry and the film’s unique tone may be contributing factors to its strong start.
Internationally, First Steps has had a more uneven rollout. In France, the film debuted with an estimated $1.4 million from 151,000 admissions across 553 theaters, making it the fifth-largest opening day of 2025. It outpaced Superman’s $1.2 million debut in the region and matched the launch of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Reception in France appears mixed to positive, with a 3.1-star critic rating and a 3.7-star audience score—roughly equivalent to a B+ CinemaScore.
In Asia, however, the film has faced a more muted reception. In South Korea, it opened on Wednesday with $536,000 and 73,000 admissions—the lowest Wednesday MCU debut in the market since the pandemic began. Audience sentiment is cautiously favorable, with a 9.1 Golden Egg rating on CGV but a lower 7.9 score on Megabox. By comparison, previous MCU titles such as Black Widow, Ant-Man 3, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 had significantly stronger starts in the region.
In China, Fantastic Four grossed only $150,000 from limited Thursday previews across 1,000 screens. Total pre-sales for the Friday to Sunday period closed at $865,000, slightly ahead of Superman at $821,000 but well behind films like Deadpool and Wolverine ($3.7 million) and Jurassic World: Rebirth ($3.9 million). Industry observers estimate that the film could see a modest $6 million to $10 million opening weekend in the Chinese market, depending on Friday’s word of mouth.
Despite the mixed international performance, early signs suggest that Fantastic Four: First Steps could still make a notable global impact. Projections for the five-day worldwide total currently range between $190 million and $210 million, fueled primarily by the film’s strong U.S. performance and moderate showings in Europe.
Following two underwhelming MCU releases in the U.S., First Steps arrives with exhibitor confidence reflected in its wide distribution footprint. Although it plays in slightly fewer theaters than this year’s Thunderbolts (4,330) and last year’s Thor: Love and Thunder (4,375), it remains one of the widest rollouts ever for a Fantastic Four film.
With positive buzz and a sizable audience turnout, Fantastic Four: First Steps may well mark a turning point for Marvel Studios as it seeks to reignite enthusiasm in its cinematic universe. Whether that momentum can be sustained through Phase Six remains to be seen, but the early numbers are a promising start.
