The battle between Marvel Studios and DC Studios at the box office may be too close to call. Two weeks ago, James Gunn’s “Superman” reboot opened to $125 million. That figure was actually a scorching $3 million higher than Sunday estimates. This weekend, Mark Shakman’s reboot of Marvel’s first family, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” brought in $118 million over the three-day frame. No one at Marvel Studios or Disney will complain about coming in behind the Man of Steel, however, not with a global launch of $218 million for the summer tentpole.
Outside of last year’s “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which debuted to $211 million domestic and earned $1.3 billion worldwide, this is the biggest Marvel Studios opening since “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” found $181 million in November 2022. It’s also substantially higher than the $88 million debut for “Captain America: Brave New World” in February, or the marginally disappointing $74 million “Thunderbolts*” earned in May. With a reported $200 million production budget, “First Steps” is on track to be a profitable launch for Disney and Marvel.
Dropping to second and down 57% was the aforementioned “Superman” with another $24.8 million and $289 million domestic to date. Globally, the Warner Bros. release has taken in $502 million so far. It should pass $650 million worldwide by the end of August.
Proving dinosaur love never dies, “Jurassic World Rebirth” continued its run in third with another $13 million and $301 million so far. Worldwide, the Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey thriller has taken in $718 million, with $800 million still a possibility with Japan not adding to the coffers until August 8.
In another major win for financier Apple Studios and distributor Warner Bros., Joseph Kosinski’s “F1” crossed the $500 million mark. The Brad Pitt, Damon Idris, Kerry Condon, and Javier Bardem drama has now taken in $165. million in the U.S. and almost double that amount overseas at $344 million. Its up-to-date tally is. now $509 million.
Notably, another reboot, “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” dropped a not-so-great 60% in its second weekend. After eight days, the Sony Pictures release has taken in $23 million domestic and $45 million globally. Its independently run sister division, Sony Pictures Classics, had a much better weekend as the Sundance acquisition “Oh, Hi!” earned a fantastic $1.1 million in just 866 theaters for a $1,288 per. Additionally, Danny Boyle’s “28 Years Later” crossed the $150 million mark globally, more than making up for its reported $60 million production cost.
Ari Aster’s “Eddington” dropped 62% in its second frame for another $1.6 million and $8.1 million domestic so far. The reported $25 million A24 production can at least take solace that it will surpass Aster’s last financial disappointment, “Beau is Afraid,” which ended its run at $8.1 million 2 years ago.
Friday’s new releases include “The Bad Guys 2” and “The Naked Gun.”
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