WARNING: This article includes SPOILERS from The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Bob Iger addresses the significant box office decline for The Fantastic Four: First Steps during its second week. This film represents the culmination of Marvel’s First Family finally being integrated into the highly cherished Marvel Cinematic Universe, significantly marking the launch of Phase 6 for Marvel Studios.

Since the conclusion of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the Phase 6 movie has garnered a wealth of positive feedback and commendable word-of-mouth, as audiences revel in the MCU’s unique interpretation of these legendary heroes. Nevertheless, The Fantastic Four: First Steps premiered in one of the most fiercely contested months of 2025, competing against numerous major releases for audience attention and box office revenue.

During a recent earnings call with Disney’s CEO Bob Iger, he provided insights regarding The Fantastic Four: First Steps, including the notable 66% drop in its second-week box office performance. Iger expressed that Disney takes great pride in what Marvel Studios has achieved with this film, sharing his thoughts:

Bob Iger: The more we can find and develop original property, the better. Of course, we are developing original property under the 20th Century banner and under the Searchlight banner. And look, you could even argue that Marvel continues to mine its library of characters for original property. Even though, for instance, there have been Fantastic Four movies before, we kind of consider the one we did an original property in many respects, because we’re introducing those characters to people who are not familiar with them at all. [The Fantastic Four: First Steps] successfully launched this important franchise into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

As of the time this article was published, The Fantastic Four: First Steps has achieved a commendable $371.9 million at the global box office. In the United States, The Fantastic Four: First Steps has collected approximately $201.6 million, while its international earnings stand at $170.2 million.

While only time will reveal the final box office performance of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, it’s evident from Iger’s remarks that these Marvel icons have a promising future ahead. Disney is strategically working on reducing the volume of their releases to enhance quality, a strategy that also encompasses the Marvel brand, especially following the mixed outcomes of The Multiverse Saga.

The post-credits scenes of The Fantastic Four: First Steps cleverly set the stage for the heroes’ exciting return in 2026, where they will be featured in Avengers: Doomsday, which is currently under production. Additionally, the Fantastic Four are confirmed to appear in Avengers: Secret Wars, which means MCU fans can look forward to spending more time with these beloved characters over the next two years, potentially helping them cultivate a larger fanbase for future sequels.

With Iger confirming that The Fantastic Four: First Steps has finally bestowed the cinematic treatment that Marvel’s First Family rightfully deserves, the anticipation for Fantastic Four 2 continues to grow as discussions of its greenlighting unfold. As the MCU recalibrates its approach, the sequel has the potential to achieve greater financial success following the events of The Multiverse Saga.

Although it remains uncertain whether The Fantastic Four: First Steps will ultimately break even, this Phase 6 installment is likely to become the highest-grossing film within the MCU for 2025. It is hoped that following their reappearance in upcoming Avengers films, the heroes from The Fantastic Four: First Steps will expand their global following as we transition into Phase 7 and beyond.

Source: Disney