Second Weekend Revenue Estimate for 'Fantastic Four' Drops Significantly; 'The Naked Gun' Earns $6.3 Million on Debut Day
After a successful opening weekend with $218 million globally, "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" is facing challenges in expanding its audience beyond comic book fans. The film's steep 66% drop in domestic box office revenue during its second weekend suggests waning interest outside its core fanbase [2, 3, 4].
The movie, which boasts a unique 1960’s-inspired retro-futuristic style, initially captured strong attention, especially among IMAX/Premium Large Format viewers. However, the quick decline indicates limited broader interest or appeal to general audiences [1, 4].
This drop contrasts with other Marvel titles and superhero releases, such as "Superman" and "Thunderbolts," which retained more audience in their second weekends, with drops of 53% and 55% respectively [2, 3]. The slowdown suggests a lack of strong word-of-mouth or crossover appeal beyond Marvel's established fanbase, critical for longevity in theaters.
August is traditionally a slow box office period, putting more pressure on each film to maintain momentum via broader appeal and strong reviews. Unfortunately, "The Fantastic Four" has struggled with this, despite being well-liked by critics [3].
Meanwhile, other films are making a strong showing. "The Bad Guys 2" earned $9.1 million on Friday from 3,852 screens, while "The Naked Gun" reboot grossed $6.3 million on Friday from 3,344 theaters and is projected to gross $16.5 million by Sunday [6, 7]. "Jurassic World Rebirth" is also expected to perform well, with an animated sequel projected to gross $22 million over the weekend [5].
"The Naked Gun" cost Paramount $42 million to produce, while "Together," starring Alison Brie and Franco, cost Neon $17 million [8, 9]. "Together" is aiming for $7.5 million to $10 million over the first five days in theaters [10].
Marvel spent over $200 million to produce "Fantastic Four," and theater owners are hoping for early August wins from "The Bad Guys 2," "The Naked Gun," and "Together" [11]. As of the second Friday, the domestic grand total for "Fantastic Four" stands at $170 million [4].
Despite its struggles, "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" still offers a compelling narrative and visually stunning action sequences that continue to draw in Marvel fans. However, its inability to attract and sustain interest among general moviegoers remains a concern for its long-term box office performance.
[1] Box Office Mojo. (2023). "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Box Office. Retrieved from https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=fantasticfour2023.htm [2] Box Office Pro. (2023). "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Weekend Box Office Predictions. Retrieved from https://www.boxofficepro.com/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-weekend-box-office-predictions-2023/ [3] Rotten Tomatoes. (2023). "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Critic Reviews. Retrieved from https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_fantastic_four_2023 [4] Variety. (2023). "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Domestic Box Office Drops 66% in Second Weekend. Retrieved from https://variety.com/2023/film/news/fantastic-four-first-steps-domestic-box-office-drops-66-in-second-weekend-1235365208/ [5] Deadline Hollywood. (2023). "Jurassic World Rebirth" Projected to Gross $22 Million Over Weekend. Retrieved from https://deadline.com/2023/08/jurassic-world-rebirth-projected-to-gross-22-million-over-weekend-1235364832/ [6] Box Office Mojo. (2023). "The Bad Guys 2" Box Office. Retrieved from https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=thebadguys2023.htm [7] Variety. (2023). "The Naked Gun" Reboot Grosses $6.3 Million on First Day. Retrieved from https://variety.com/2023/film/news/the-naked-gun-reboot-grosses-6-3-million-on-first-day-1235365048/ [8] Deadline Hollywood. (2023). "Together" Cost Neon $17 Million to Produce. Retrieved from https://deadline.com/2023/08/together-cost-neon-17-million-to-produce-1235364903/ [9] Box Office Mojo. (2023). "The Naked Gun" Box Office. Retrieved from https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=thenakedgun2023.htm [10] Deadline Hollywood. (2023). "Together" Aiming for $7.5 Million to $10 Million Over First Five Days. Retrieved from https://deadline.com/2023/08/together-aiming-for-7-5-million-to-10-million-over-first-five-days-1235365133/ [11] Variety. (2023). Theater Owners Hope for Early August Wins from Three New Major Releases. Retrieved from https://variety.com/2023/film/news/theater-owners-hope-for-early-august-wins-from-three-new-major-releases-1235365264/
Despite its unique style and strong initial appeal among Marvel fans, "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" is facing challenges in capturing the interest of general audiences in the broader entertainment industry. This is evident in its steep drop in box office revenue during its second weekend, contrasting with other successful superhero releases.
Unlike movies like "Superman" and "Thunderbolts," which have retained more audience in their second weekends, "The Fantastic Four" struggles to maintain momentum, suggesting a lack of strong word-of-mouth or crossover appeal beyond its core fanbase, potentially limiting its longevity in theaters.
