ThoughMarvel’sThe Fantastic Four: First Stepshasn’t been as financially successful asprevious MCU movies, the next three are certain to be box office bankers. Though it was well-received,The Fantastic Four: First Stepsstruggled at the box office. While this might be disappointing for Marvel, the MCU’s next movies are guaranteed heavy hitters.
The Fantastic Four: First Stepswas positioned as a fresh start for Marvel’s First Family after two decades of uneven big-screen adaptations. Officially bringing the team into the MCU timeline,First Stepsboasted numerous Marvel charactersand some thrillingMarvel Easter eggs. Despite this, the movie’s box office performance has been disappointing.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Is Having An Underwhelming Box Office Run
The Fantastic Four: First Stepsis certainly performing better than some recent MCU entries. However, its numbers are undeniably underwhelming for a moviemeant to introduce such an important corner of Marvel lore. Currently sitting under the $400 million mark worldwide, the film ranks in the lower third of MCU releases.
That putsThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsahead of infamous underperformers likeThe MarvelsandEternals. However, it’sfar below the billion-dollar benchmarksset by past tentpole releases. Part of the issue is thatFirst Stepswas never marketed as a must-see event in the same way other MCU introductions, likeBlack PantherorGuardians of the Galaxywere.
Why Marvel Movies Have Been Struggling At The Box Office
Marvel’s box office troubles can’t be pinned on a single factor – they’re the result of a perfect storm. Superhero fatigue is real, withgeneral audiences less willing to rush out for every costumed adventure, especially after more than 30 interconnected films. As a result, the MCU has moved back to more standalone adventures.
This was supposed to liberate audiences from feeling like they had to attend each movie, and the result was they didn’t. Whilemany resent the amount of homework the MCU can require, mandated viewing does guarantee attendees.First Stepsstruck a middle ground. It was set in a separate universe from the primary MCU timeline but also feeds directly intoAvengers: Doomsday.
Poor or middling reviews also haven’t helped the MCU. The days when MCU movies were near-universally praised seem distant.Ant-Man and the Wasp: QuantumaniaandEternalsbothsuffered from weak word of mouth, turning what could have been solid hits into disappointments.
Oversaturation is another major problem for the MCU. The Disney+ shows, while initially exciting, haveblurred the line between “essential” and “optional” viewing. For casual viewers, the idea of keeping up with multiple series and films per year is exhausting. Add in the increasing competition from non-superhero blockbusters, and it’s clear the MCU is no longer the only cinematic event.
Several major movies haverekindled event cinema. The “Barbenheimer” phenomenon drew audiences to see bothBarbieandOppenheimer, whileTop Gun: Maverickoffered thrilling and must-see cinematography capabilities. Moreover, the previously ailing DCEU has been replaced, with the DCU’sSupermanopening triumphantly.
For several years, the MCU movies were the only ones that audiences were actually going to the cinema to see. That has changed in the last few years, with filmmakersmaking a concerted effort to justify a big-screen experience. Where Marvel once dominated, others are quickly catching up. There are, however, some guaranteed heavyweights on the horizon.
The Next 3 MCU Movies Have A Much Higher Chance Of Box Office Success
Despite the downturn, Marvel’s next three projects are positioned to reverse the trend in a big way. First up isSpider-Man: Brand New Day, the follow-up to the multiverse-shatteringSpider-Man No Way Home. Given the previous Spider-Man film’s $1.9 billion haul and Tom Holland’s enduring popularity, this sequel isalmost guaranteed to be a massive hit.
With several beloved MCU characters joining Web-Head, its appeal willspan multiple sub-franchises. Sony and Marvel have built a reliable formula with these movies, and the fan anticipation for Peter Parker’s next chapter is sky-high. It might struggle to meetNo Way Home’s success, but it will get people into the movie theater.
Following that isAvengers: Doomsday, the first Avengers film in seven years. Every previous Avengers entry has beena billion-dollar juggernaut, withAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgamebreaking records. The sheer event nature of the title, combined with the debut of major new villains, should drive audiences back in droves.
The return of Robert Downey Jr. is sure to be a huge draw,even for those more curious than compelled. The mystery alone of how Marvel will navigate his casting is intriguing enough for audiences. However, RDJ’s star power is also a factor, enticing audiences out to see the movie – particularly among MCU audiences.
Finally, there’sAvengers: Secret Wars. This adaptation of the beloved Marvel Comics crossover has been teased for years and promises a multiverse-scale spectacle. With thepotential to unite characters from across decades of Marvel films(including pre-MCU favorites), this could rivalEndgameas one of the biggest movies of all time.
It’s widely expected forSecret Warsto be a soft reboot of the franchise, much like the comics’ “Secret Wars II.” In the comics, Marvel used this as anopportunity to select characters from across the multiverse to retain, retiring and replacing certain legacy characters. As such,Doomsdaycould be even more climactic and important for the MCU thanEndgame.
If so, large audiences could be expected. This woulddrive up the box office success, perhaps even to Infinity Saga levels. Certainly, at least, the poor performance ofThe Fantastic Four: First Stepswill be quickly forgotten.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Cast
The Fantastic 4: First Steps features Marvel’s First Family navigating their dual roles as superheroes and family members in a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world. They defend Earth from a formidable space god, Galactus, and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer, testing their familial bonds and heroic resolve.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the first sequel to the MCU’s Spider-Man trilogy starring Tom Holland as the titular wall-crawler. After wiping his identity from the public’s memory in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker continues his crime-fighting adventures without the aid of Iron Man technology or the support of his former allies.
Avengers: Doomsday
Avengers: Doomsday is the fifth Avengers film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will bring together heroes, new and old, to face off against Victor von Doom - played by the returning Robert Downey Jr.. Avengers 5 will also mark the beginning of phase 6 of the MCU.
Avengers: Secret Wars
Avengers: Secret Wars is an anticipated installment in Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, serving as the finale of The Multiverse Saga. Scheduled for release in December 2027, the film’s plot remains under wraps, fueling curiosity about its role in the expansive Marvel narrative.
