Marvel's new 'Fantastic Four' blasts off with $218 million in box office debut
Marvel Studios
- "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" hit theaters on July 25.
- The film earned $218 million worldwide during its opening weekend.
- It was a needed win for Marvel Studios, which has worried about "superhero fatigue."
It's a fantastic weekend to be Marvel.
"The Fantastic Four: First Steps," directed by Matt Shakman, has earned $218 million worldwide since debuting in theaters on Friday. That's $118 million in domestic ticket sales and $100 million internationally.
This weekend's box office numbers are a needed victory for Marvel, which has struggled to replicate its enormous success with previous films like "Avengers: Endgame," which earned $1.2 billion during its opening weekend.
More recent Marvel films, like "Thunderbolts*," which was critically well-received, surpassed the $100 million mark during its opening weekend. But the threat of superhero fatigue among viewers has weighed on studios.
DC Studios also saw big numbers for its latest superhero movie. "Superman" earned well over $200 million during its opening weekend earlier this month.
"The Fantastic Four: First Steps," based on the 1961 comic book, stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the titular heroes. This iteration takes place in an alternative universe set in the 1960s.
Representatives for Marvel and The Walt Disney Studios did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.