Fantastic Four (2025) Divides the MCU Fandom — But Dominates the Box Office Anyway

Marvel’s Fantastic Four: First Steps delivered a strong box office debut this weekend, earning over $118 million domestically and $218 million worldwide — the biggest opening for Marvel in 2025 so far. But while the financial win is clear, early fan response suggests Marvel’s latest reboot may be headed for another polarizing legacy.

The film stars Joseph Quinn as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Pedro Pascal as Ben Grimm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Johnny Storm. Directed by Matt Shakman, it introduces a 1960s-styled world where the Fantastic Four already exist as a unit, avoiding origin story fatigue and leaning into moodier, character-led storytelling.

Fantastic Four: First Steps Gives Marvel Its Biggest Opening Weekend Of 2025

Fantastic Four (2025) opened with an estimated $118 million domestically and an additional $100 million from international markets, for a total of $218 million worldwide. This marks Marvel’s first $100M+ launch in over a year, surpassing the openings of both The Marvels and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Preview screenings brought in $24.4 million on Thursday night, the biggest of the year, edging out Minecraft: The Movie and Superman (2025). With a reported budget of $215 million, the film is expected to pass the half-billion mark globally if its momentum holds—making it Marvel’s strongest showing since Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Critics have responded positively, with the film currently sitting at 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, while the audience score is holding at 87%. Metacritic, meanwhile, lists the film at 64, indicating generally favorable reviews with some reservations.

Julia Garner's Silver Surfer Casting Remains A Focal Point For Fans

One of the most discussed elements of the film remains Julia Garner’s casting as Silver Surfer. Garner delivers a subdued, spectral performance that stands apart from previous versions of the character, aiming for philosophical weight rather than power-driven presence.

While some fans have praised the move—calling it Marvel’s most emotionally resonant take on the Surfer—others remain unconvinced. Reddit threads and comment sections continue to question the gender-swap and minimalist screen time. The backlash began months before the film's release and only intensified as marketing ramped up.

Garner addressed the criticism prior to the premiere, telling fans, “I’m still gonna do my job.” Regardless of viewer stance, she’s become the centerpiece of the film’s post-release conversation.

Marvel Trades Multiverse Chaos For A Slower, More Grounded Reboot

Unlike recent MCU entries, Fantastic Four intentionally avoids larger multiverse entanglements or Avengers tie-ins. Instead, the focus is on personal dynamics, a contained villain arc, and the emotional weight of responsibility—more in line with Marvel’s Phase One than its sprawling Phase Four and Five slate.

This approach is dividing audiences. Some welcome the return to grounded storytelling. Others are calling the film’s third act “anticlimactic” and “too safe.” The lack of high-stakes spectacle may limit long-term excitement, especially for fans craving larger franchise connections.

What’s clear is that Marvel is repositioning the Fantastic Four as a tonal anchor for what comes next. Whether that works may depend on how the next wave of MCU titles follows this lead—or ignores it entirely.

Fantastic Four Could Define Marvel's Next Phase—But It’s Not There Yet

Fantastic Four arrives at a time when Marvel is clearly recalibrating. With box office fatigue, streaming saturation, and mixed reactions to its recent films, the studio needed a win. Financially, First Steps delivers. Critically, it’s a step forward. But narratively, the film still plays things cautiously.

The reboot sets a solid foundation for future sequels, but it doesn’t take the kind of risks that might fully reignite fan obsession. Compared to DC’s Superman (2025)—which also debuted with a grounded tone and less reliance on legacy characters—Marvel’s effort feels more controlled than bold.

There’s a sense that Fantastic Four is building toward something, but not quite there yet.

Fantastic Four: First Steps is in theaters now. For a deeper breakdown of performances, tone, and visual style, read the full review here. For commentary on Julia Garner’s response to early backlash, visit this post.