Movies / News
'Superman' Vs. 'Fantastic Four': The Winner Is Clear
The battle between these two superhero films has generated immense excitement and speculation among fans and critics alike.
In July, two major comic book adaptations hit theaters: Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. While the films did not premiere simultaneously, there was much speculation about which title would ultimately attract the largest audience.
Superman marked the official launch of the new DC Universe and was released first, followed by First Steps, which was intended to reestablish Marvel after several commercial disappointments. Director James Gunn attempted to temper comparisons between the two films, but it is now apparent that Superman emerges as the clear box office winner.
After five weeks, Superman has grossed $331.2 million in the United States, while The Fantastic Four: First Steps has reached $230.4 million after three weeks. The DC film Superman stands at $289.4 million in the US after just three weeks. The film is almost certain to end as the highest-grossing comic book adaptation of 2025.
Both titles started strong. Superman debuted with $125 million in its opening weekend, while First Steps made $117.6 million. However, while the DC film only saw a 53.2% drop in its second week, Marvel faced a significant decline of 67.1%—similar to previous disappointments like Captain America: Brave New World, which premiered earlier in 2025.
Despite the steep decline, First Steps managed to hold the top position briefly in its second weekend, but it has since fallen out of the box office top 10. New releases like Weapons provided fierce competition.
Marvel hoped that First Steps would dominate for a longer period, especially since the concept was intended as a family blockbuster. Yet, even against less massive releases, the film's momentum quickly faded.
Although First Steps has earned a respectable $400.5 million worldwide and will soon surpass Brave New World as the highest-grossing Marvel film of the year, the results feel disappointing. Even the well-received Thunderbolts has underperformed.
The next "Marvel/DC clash" is set for summer 2026 when Supergirl releases a month earlier than the major Marvel film Spider-Man: Brand New Day. At this point, it already seems like an easy win for Marvel. In 2026, Avengers: Doomsday will also be released, alongside the smaller-scale Clayface from DC.
Superman marked the official launch of the new DC Universe and was released first, followed by First Steps, which was intended to reestablish Marvel after several commercial disappointments. Director James Gunn attempted to temper comparisons between the two films, but it is now apparent that Superman emerges as the clear box office winner.
Clear Winner
After five weeks, Superman has grossed $331.2 million in the United States, while The Fantastic Four: First Steps has reached $230.4 million after three weeks. The DC film Superman stands at $289.4 million in the US after just three weeks. The film is almost certain to end as the highest-grossing comic book adaptation of 2025.
Both titles started strong. Superman debuted with $125 million in its opening weekend, while First Steps made $117.6 million. However, while the DC film only saw a 53.2% drop in its second week, Marvel faced a significant decline of 67.1%—similar to previous disappointments like Captain America: Brave New World, which premiered earlier in 2025.
Rapid Decline
Despite the steep decline, First Steps managed to hold the top position briefly in its second weekend, but it has since fallen out of the box office top 10. New releases like Weapons provided fierce competition.
Marvel hoped that First Steps would dominate for a longer period, especially since the concept was intended as a family blockbuster. Yet, even against less massive releases, the film's momentum quickly faded.
Disappointing Year
Although First Steps has earned a respectable $400.5 million worldwide and will soon surpass Brave New World as the highest-grossing Marvel film of the year, the results feel disappointing. Even the well-received Thunderbolts has underperformed.
The next "Marvel/DC clash" is set for summer 2026 when Supergirl releases a month earlier than the major Marvel film Spider-Man: Brand New Day. At this point, it already seems like an easy win for Marvel. In 2026, Avengers: Doomsday will also be released, alongside the smaller-scale Clayface from DC.
