The Fantastic Four: First Steps overtakes a major pre-Avengers: Endgame Marvel movie with the latest box office data. Directed by Matt Shakman, the 2025 entry stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. First Steps is set in a retro-futuristic version of the MCU’s multiverse and follows The Fantastic Four as they face the threat of Galactus (Ralph Ineson).
The Marvel Phase 6 movie has been met with positive critical reception since its debut on July 25, with The Fantastic Four: First Steps holding onto an 87% on Rotten Tomatoes. Box office performance has matched this, as First Steps originally opened to $218 million globally, yet continues to rise on the charts, breaking various box office records.
According to data from The Numbers, The Fantastic Four: First Steps has officially overtaken Ant-Man among Walt Disney Studios’ all-time highest-grossing theatrical releases. While Ant-Man earned just over $518.8 million globally during its theatrical run in 2015, First Steps has now surpassed that milestone, positioning itself higher in Disney’s box office rankings, with a $519.7 million worldwide box office.
What This Means For The Fantastic Four: First Steps
The box office success of First Steps indicates a solid return for Marvel Studios and a turning point for the Fantastic Four brand. After years of failed adaptations and audience skepticism, Marvel has managed to reintroduce the characters in a way that resonates with both longtime fans and new viewers, and it shows through the film’s box office returns.
Overtaking Ant-Man demonstrates that the series has the potential not only to succeed but to compete with the MCU’s more established pillars, especially as First Steps is sitting at number 68 on the All-Time Worldwide Box Office for Walt Disney Movies list. The next Marvel movie to beat will be 2018’s Ant-Man and the Wasp at $623.1 million.
Our Take On Fantastic Four’s New Box Office Milestone
Not long ago, The Fantastic Four were considered one of the most mishandled properties in superhero film history. Therefore, First Steps surpassing Ant-Man is a symbolic victory for Marvel Studios. However, the milestone doesn’t guarantee long-term dominance as the studio faces pressure to sustain this momentum, especially as Marvel continues to recalibrate its line-up amid shifting audience expectations.
That being said, First Steps has already done what many thought impossible in making The Fantastic Four matter again. With strong reviews, growing fan enthusiasm, and now a spot above Ant-Man in Disney’s all-time box office rankings, The Fantastic Four: First Steps has ultimately proven itself as a modern Marvel film, taking its first real step forward in the wider MCU.
- Release Date
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July 25, 2025
- Runtime
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115 minutes
- Director
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Matt Shakman
- Writers
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Jeff Kaplan, Josh Friedman, Ian Springer, Eric Pearson, Kat Wood, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee
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Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic
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Vanessa Kirby
Sue Storm / Invisible Woman
