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Exhibitors’ roller-coaster summer took another upswing as THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS kicked off to $118M.

Hollywood handicappers originally projected a $100-110M launch, but by mid-weekend they were buzzing about $125M. Nonetheless, STEPS has put Marvel back on track after some past missteps that had moviegoers suffering from superhero fatigue.

The Disney/Marvel PG-13 sci-fi action adventure opened at 4,125  theatres ($28,606). It’s done $100M internationally, for a worldwide cume of $218M. BUDGET BUZZ: $200M to produce. Rotten Tomatoes critics are smiling at 87% and audiences are applauding at 93%.

Directed by Matt Shakman (WANDAVISION), it stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn & Ebon Moss-Bachrach. STEPS is tracking best for first choice with over-25 men (14 points over norm).

The franchise’s last episode, FANTASTIC FOUR, opened 8/27/2015 via 20th Century-Fox and did $56.1M domestic & $167.9M worldwide on a production budget of $120M. Disney/Marvel have breathed new life into what was a previously dormant Fox franchise.

Domestic ticket sales this weekend were $184.8M, according to Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian. That’s up 35.1% from the prior weekend, but down 35% vs. this time last year (when Disney/Marvel’s DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE opened to $211.4M domestic). Comscore’s year to date tally has 2025 at $5.20B, up 12.32% from $4.63B in 2024. The prior weekend showed 2025 up 14.98% vs. last year. Going back to  6/8, 2025 was up 26.08%, per Comscore.

Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: Warner Bros./DC Studios’ SUPERMAN was #2 in weekend three with $24.86M (-57.47%) at 3,930 theatres ($6,326). It’s done $289.5M domestic and $502.7M worldwide. BUDGET BUZZ: $225M to produce.

Universal/Amblin Entertainment’s JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH was #3 in weekend four with $13M (-45.15%) at 3,550 theatres ($3,662). It’s done $301.5M domestic & $708.4M worldwide. BUDGET BUZZ: $180M to produce.

Next weekend (8/1) 🐝🐝🐝🐝: Universal/ DreamWorks Animation’s PG rated action adventure THE BAD GUYS 2 is opening at about 3,700  theatres.

Directed by Pierre Perifel (THE BAD GUYS), it’s tracking best for first choice with men under 25 (two points over norm). The franchise’s original episode, THE BAD GUYS, opened 4/22/2022 and did $97.5M domestic & $250.4M worldwide on a production budget of $70M.

Paramount/Fuzzy Door Productions’ action crime comedy franchise reboot THE NAKED GUN is opening at about 3,200 theatres and stars Liam Neeson as Detective Frank Drebbin, Jr.

GUN, which Akiva Schaffer (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE series) directed, is tracking best for first choice with men over 25 (five points over norm).

The first episode, THE NAKED GUN: FROM THE FILES OF POLICE SQUAD!, opened 12/2/1988 and did $78.8M worldwide on a production budget of $12M.