Fantastic Four: First Steps is doing well at the box office and has just surpassed another notable superhero film in terms of domestic takings!
Much has been made of the “fall of the MCU” as the franchise that once dominated the box office has slumped over the last few years. 2025 has been rough, as Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts* were both seen as box office underperformers - mostly due to the outrageously high budgets of both films.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps has been debated a bit more in terms of its success. It was a big deal for Marvel to finally get the rights to the comic book that started the company in the first place. Setting it in an alternate 1960s world was an intriguing touch, backed by a great cast.
Yet the movie has been seen as a bit disappointing just because it has yet to come close to the billion-dollar takes of past MCU movies. That’s hampered more by its reported budget of $200 million plus marketing, meaning the movie needs a big take to make a profit.
However, the numbers tell a different story as First Steps has managed to achieve a great milestone for Marvel that also sets it over a surprising superhero adventure!
The Fantastic Four: First Steps surpasses The Incredibles at the US box office
As of Labor Day, First Steps has grossed a worldwide total of $507.8 million. That makes it the tenth highest-grossing film of 2025 so far and easily the highest-grossing Fantastic Four film yet.
Domestically, the movie has taken in $266.12 million. That puts it ahead of The Incredibles, which earned $261.4 million in its domestic run in 2004. It should be noted that there are differences as ticket prices are higher now than they were in 2004. Also, The Incredibles took in an additional $370 million worldwide, bringing its total take to $631.6 million - which means that it will still remain ahead of First Steps on a global front.
It’s an interesting mark, given how so many comic book fans have spent two decades citing The Incredibles as better than any FF movie. The Pixar hit of a super-powered family remains a favorite for its amazing action, animation, voice acting and both celebrating and parodying the superhero genre. It's widely regarded as one of the best superhero movies ever made - and certainly among the all-time best animated superhero movies.
Frankly, it’s amazing Marvel and Disney haven’t put together some sort of FF/Incredibles comic book crossover, given the similarities between both teams. Many critics saw elements of The Incredibles in First Steps, with the focus on the FF as a family more than a superhero team and its own dynamic action.
First Steps is still in theaters and a chance to build on its take to challenge The Incredibles’ box office as its success shows it’s not the failure some are calling it.
Fantastic Four: First Steps now in theaters.