Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps, released on July 25, 2025, was hailed as a triumphant reintroduction of Marvel’s First Family to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), boasting a stellar cast and glowing reviews. Directed by Matt Shakman and starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, the film promised a fresh take on the iconic superhero team, battling the cosmic threat of Galactus. Its opening weekend delivered a robust $117.6 million domestically and $218 million globally, marking Marvel’s biggest debut of the year. However, the second weekend, spanning August 1-3, revealed a far bleaker picture than initially reported, with a catastrophic 66-67% drop in domestic earnings to $40 million, signaling a troubling lack of staying power. This article delves into the film’s box office performance, the factors behind its steep decline, audience and critic reactions, and the implications for Marvel’s Phase 6, drawing on web sources and social media sentiment.

A Promising Start Undone by a Brutal Drop

The Fantastic Four: First Steps launched with high expectations, riding a wave of positive buzz from its San Diego Comic-Con trailer and a cast that included Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing. The film’s $117.6 million domestic opening across 4,125 theaters was a win for Marvel, outpacing Captain America: Brave New World ($115.6 million) and Thunderbolts* ($100 million) in 2025. Globally, it added $100 million internationally, for a $218 million debut, positioning it as a potential cornerstone for Marvel’s Phase 6, leading into Avengers: Doomsday in 2026.

The second weekend, however, painted a starkly different story. Early estimates pegged the film at $40 million domestically, a 66% drop from its opening, with some sources, like ComicBook.com, reporting a 67% decline to $38 million. This marked one of the MCU’s worst second-weekend drops, surpassing Captain America: Brave New World’s 68% and Thunderbolts*’s 56%, but trailing behind Superman’s more resilient 53% drop. The film’s Friday-to-Friday decline was particularly brutal, with an 80% fall from its opening day, grossing $11.7 million on its second Friday alone. By the end of the second weekend, the domestic total stood at $198.4 million, with a global haul of $368.7 million, making it the 12th film of 2025 to cross $350 million worldwide.

The narrative of a “bomb” emerged from this precipitous decline, amplified by social media posts on X that labeled the film a “flop” and declared “Disney Marvel is a damaged brand.” While the global figures are respectable, the domestic drop raised alarms, particularly given the film’s $200 million-plus production budget, which requires an estimated $500 million to break even. The steeper-than-expected falloff suggests challenges in retaining casual audiences, despite strong reviews and an A- CinemaScore.

Factors Behind the Box Office Plummet

Several factors contributed to The Fantastic Four: First Steps’s second-weekend struggles. First, competition from new releases played a significant role. The Bad Guys 2, an animated sequel, opened with $22.2 million, while Paramount’s The Naked Gun reboot, starring Liam Neeson, earned $17 million, both siphoning family and comedy audiences. Neon’s horror film Together also debuted with $10.8 million over five days, appealing to younger viewers seeking edgier fare. Meanwhile, holdovers like James Gunn’s Superman ($13.9 million in its fourth weekend) and Jurassic World Rebirth ($8.7 million) maintained strong legs, further crowding the market.

Analysts also point to the Fantastic Four’s historically lukewarm popularity. Jeff Bock, an analyst for Exhibitor Relations, noted on X that the Fantastic Four “is not a top-tier Marvel franchise,” suggesting its characters lack the cultural cachet of Spider-Man or Superman. A 2022 Talker survey found none of the Fantastic Four characters in America’s top 10 favorite superheroes, unlike DC’s Man of Steel. Previous Fantastic Four films, including Fox’s 2005 and 2015 iterations, were critical and commercial disappointments, potentially tainting the brand. Erik Kain of Forbes echoed this, stating, “No Fantastic Four movie prior to this has been very good,” which may have dampened casual interest.

Superhero fatigue and shifting consumer habits also played a role. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has acknowledged that recent MCU films like The Marvels and Thunderbolts* suffered from audiences feeling overwhelmed by the need to follow Disney+ series. The availability of superhero films on streaming platforms like Disney+ has led some viewers to wait for home viewing, especially amid economic pressures. A May 2025 CBS poll found 65% of Americans stressed about finances, making theater visits a luxury. This trend, deepened by the COVID-19 pandemic, has made audiences selective, favoring established properties like Superman, which benefited from less competition in its early weeks.

Despite its 86% Rotten Tomatoes score and 92% Popcornmeter, the film’s front-loaded performance suggests it primarily drew die-hard Marvel fans. The 66-67% drop aligns with other MCU blockbusters like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (63%) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (67%), but its steeper Friday decline (80%) indicates a lack of repeat viewership. Posts on X highlighted this, with one user noting the film was “extremely frontloaded,” dropping 79.6% from its opening Friday.

Audience and Critic Reactions: A Tale of Two Narratives

The critical and audience reception for The Fantastic Four: First Steps was overwhelmingly positive, making its box office stumble surprising. Critics lauded the film’s fresh take, with Variety calling it a “grand introduction” to the MCU’s First Family, praising its cast and director Matt Shakman’s blend of heart and spectacle. The film’s 86% Rotten Tomatoes score and A- CinemaScore reflect strong approval, matching Superman’s audience grade. Fans on X praised the chemistry of Pascal, Kirby, Quinn, and Moss-Bachrach, with some calling it “the reboot we’ve waited for.” Yet, the vocal minority on X labeled it a “flop,” with posts like “Fantastic Four craters with a 67% drop” fueling a narrative of failure.

The disconnect between reviews and box office performance suggests a failure to capture casual moviegoers. Collider described the drop as a “wake-up call,” noting that only die-hard fans showed up, while casual audiences, wary of MCU’s recent inconsistencies, stayed away. The film’s standalone nature, emphasized by Feige as “not connected to anything we’ve made before,” may have confused viewers accustomed to MCU interconnectivity. Additionally, its summer release, as the last major blockbuster of the season, faced a quieter August, but competition from diverse genres—animation, comedy, and horror—diluted its momentum.

Implications for Marvel and Phase 6

The second-weekend drop raises concerns for Marvel’s Phase 6, which hinges on The Fantastic Four: First Steps as a lead-in to Avengers: Doomsday, featuring the team alongside Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. While the film’s $368.7 million global total is a milestone, surpassing The Marvels ($199.7 million) and Thunderbolts* ($382.4 million), its trajectory suggests it may fall short of the $500 million needed to break even. Projections estimate a final global haul of $520-570 million, a modest profit but below expectations for a tentpole release.

The drop mirrors broader MCU challenges. Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts* underperformed, with domestic totals of $200 million and $190 million, respectively, signaling a shift in audience priorities. Superman, with $331.2 million domestically by its fifth weekend, outperformed Fantastic Four due to its iconic status and lighter competition. Marvel’s reliance on the Fantastic Four to anchor Phase 6, including tie-ins to Avengers: Doomsday, may be tested if casual audiences remain skeptical. Posts on X suggest an “MCU problem” rather than a broader comic book movie issue, pointing to brand fatigue.

However, the film’s performance isn’t a total disaster. It has already outgrossed Thunderbolts* domestically and is poised to surpass Captain America: Brave New World. Its seventh-place ranking among 2025’s domestic earners, with $208 million by August 7, is notable, though it trails Superman and Jurassic World Rebirth. The lack of major competition in early August could allow it to stabilize, with upcoming releases like Freakier Friday and Weapons targeting different demographics.

Looking Ahead: Can the Fantastic Four Recover?

The narrative of The Fantastic Four: First Steps bombing “worse than reported” is partly overstated, driven by social media hyperbole. While the 66-67% drop is severe, it’s not unprecedented for MCU blockbusters, and the film’s global performance remains solid. Its third weekend, projected at $15.5 million domestically (a 60% drop), suggests a continued slide but also resilience in a competitive market. With no major superhero releases until Spider-Man: Brand New Day in July 2026, the film has room to recover, particularly internationally, where it added $170.3 million by August 3.

For Marvel, the challenge lies in rebuilding trust with casual audiences. The studio’s recent misses, like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels, have heightened scrutiny, and Fantastic Four’s drop underscores the need for broader appeal. The film’s tie-in to Avengers: Doomsday and its strong reviews could drive long-term interest, especially as it approaches streaming on Disney+. For now, The Fantastic Four: First Steps stands as a cautionary tale of high expectations meeting market realities, with its ultimate legacy hinging on whether it can reclaim momentum in the weeks ahead.

Conclusion

The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrived as Marvel’s bold bid to revitalize its First Family, backed by a stellar cast and critical acclaim. Its $117.6 million domestic opening was a triumph, but the second weekend’s 66-67% drop to $38-40 million revealed a struggle to retain casual audiences, exacerbated by competition, superhero fatigue, and the Fantastic Four’s historically niche appeal. While social media labeled it a “flop,” the film’s $368.7 million global total and seventh-place domestic ranking tell a more nuanced story. As Marvel navigates Phase 6, Fantastic Four’s stumble serves as a reminder of the challenges facing even the MCU’s most promising releases, with its recovery dependent on sustained word-of-mouth and a lighter August slate. Whether it can stretch past $500 million remains uncertain, but its journey reflects the high stakes of superhero cinema in 2025.