Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps, released on July 25, 2025, continues its box office journey with mixed fortunes. While the film has managed to become the most successful entry for the Fantastic Four franchise, it is simultaneously witnessing steep declines in its weekly earnings, especially in North America. Still, one major milestone lies ahead – this weekend, the superhero film is expected to surpass the total worldwide gross of Thor (2011), the film that marked the Marvel Cinematic Universe debut of Chris Hemsworth as the iconic God of Thunder.
Domestic Box Office Performance
At the North American box office, The Fantastic Four: First Steps collected $1.5 million on its third Thursday, registering a sharp 49.5% drop compared to the previous Thursday. With this, the film’s domestic total now stands at $238.2 million.
The movie had opened strongly with over $100 million in its debut weekend. However, soon after the opening rush, the collections began sliding sharply, placing the film among Marvel releases that struggle with consistency in box office legs despite impressive starts.
International Box Office
Overseas, The Fantastic Four: First Steps has fared in a very similar manner. The film’s performance has remained uneven, with some markets reporting good initial turnouts but failing to sustain momentum in the weeks that followed. As of now, the film has grossed $204.6 million internationally.
Worldwide Collection Breakdown
- North America (Domestic): $238.2 million
- International Markets: $204.6 million
- Worldwide Total: $442.8 million
With these figures, the film currently holds the 8th spot among the highest-grossing Hollywood films of 2025 worldwide.
Competition with Thor (2011)
Marvel fans are closely watching as The Fantastic Four: First Steps inches towards a major box office milestone. Chris Hemsworth’s debut MCU film Thor had released in 2011 and concluded its theatrical run with a total of $449.32 million worldwide, including $181.03 million from North America alone.
Now, The Fantastic Four: First Steps stands less than $10 million away from overtaking Thor’s record. With the weekend business expected to add another big chunk to its tally, the F4 film will almost certainly surpass the Asgardian hero’s first outing by Sunday, thus rewriting box office history within the Marvel franchise.
Position Inside the MCU
For the Fantastic Four IP, this is a landmark moment. The superhero team has traditionally struggled at the box office compared to other Marvel properties. Previous films from the brand performed much lower, with none of them achieving the kind of global scale this 2025 adaptation has managed.
By crossing the $442 million mark and heading towards the $450 million threshold, The Fantastic Four: First Steps has already secured its crown as the highest-grossing Fantastic Four movie ever made, distancing itself from the earlier lacklustre performances of the franchise. The film has also avoided the stigma of being counted among the lowest-earning MCU movies.
About the Film
The Fantastic Four: First Steps takes a family-driven narrative approach, balancing superhero spectacle with emotional bonds. The storyline revolves around Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm as they face an existential threat to Earth. Their biggest challenge comes in the form of the cosmic entity Galactus and his mysterious herald, the Silver Surfer.
While audiences have praised the visuals and VFX-driven sequences, many critics pointed out that the plot was predictable and lacked the fresh spark expected from the Fantastic Four’s much-awaited MCU debut. Despite that, the family-first theme has resonated with a section of moviegoers.
Outlook Ahead
Going forward, industry experts believe the film will continue to add decent numbers internationally and eventually cross the $450 million global mark. However, given its steep weekly drops, surpassing $500 million may be difficult unless it receives strong support from upcoming markets or shows a surprise uptick due to word of mouth.
Nevertheless, for Marvel, The Fantastic Four: First Steps represents a recovery for a franchise that had previously faced repeated setbacks and creative failures. The fact that the movie is on the verge of outgrossing Thor proves that even with imperfections, the Fantastic Four brand still holds potential to expand within the MCU saga.
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