Fantastic Four Triumphs at Box Office: Surpasses Disney’s Top-Rated Film on Grossing Chart!

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is ascending a significant ladder in the box office rankings. Directed by Matt Shakman of WandaVision fame, this latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe features Pedro Pascal as Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as the Invisible Woman, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the Thing, and Joseph Quinn as the Human Torch.

The 2025 release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps saw an impressive debut on July 25, securing the top opening weekend for the MCU this year with a gross of $117.6 million. Despite experiencing one of the sharpest second-week falls in the franchise’s history at -67.1%, the film has made a remarkable recovery, currently standing as the top earner of the year globally for the MCU.

According to Deadline, as of Saturday morning, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is expected to achieve a 3-day domestic total of $8.7 million by the close of its fourth weekend. Although it has dropped to the fourth position domestically beneath the newly released Nobody 2, this performance will elevate its total domestic earnings to $246.9 million.

This achievement will propel The Fantastic Four: First Steps up the ranks of the highest-grossing Disney films at the domestic box office. By Sunday’s end, it is projected to surpass the $245.8 million domestic total of 1999’s Toy Story 2 (which boasts a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes), positioning it at No. 52.

In this ascent, it will also overtake the domestic grosses of other notable Disney titles, including 2011’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides ($241.1 million domestic), 2014’s Maleficent ($241.4 million), and 2006’s Cars ($244.1 million).

Implications for The Fantastic Four: First Steps

With its recent box office success, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is well on its way to entering Disney’s Top 50 domestic films. It only needs an additional $7.7 million to surpass the $254.6 million gross of Mufasa: The Lion King.

However, advancing much further may prove challenging as the competition intensifies. Many Marvel Cinematic Universe films that have performed strongly in their initial four weeks block the path to the Top 25.

Notable examples include Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (No. 32 with $359 million) and Iron Man 3 (No. 26 with $409 million).

Our Perspective on The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Box Office Achievement

Despite some early setbacks, the upward trajectory of this new MCU film demonstrates that it still retains significant market momentum. With a production budget of over $200 million, the film’s theatrical breakeven point could be as high as $500 million.

With the expected domestic earnings, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is likely to surpass the $450 million global mark this weekend, positioning it closer to achieving its breakeven point by the end of its theatrical run. Even if it falls short, the subsequent income from VOD sales and rentals, along with streaming revenues from Disney+, should ensure its profitability in the long term.