The Fantastic Four: First Steps Marvel breaks box-office curse with strong opening

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

- Brooks Barnes

LOS ANGELES — Marvel Studios over the weekend took a step towards regaining its reputation as Hollywood's most reliable hitmaker.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps was expected to collect about US$118 million (S$151 million) at theaters in North America from Thursday through Sunday, according to Comscore, which compiles ticketing information. Based on advance ticket sales and surveys that track moviegoer interest, Hollywood had expected First Steps to arrive at about US$115 million in domestic ticket sales.

The movie, which cost at least US$300 million to make and market worldwide, was on pace to generate an additional US$100 million overseas, for a global opening total of roughly US$218 million. Reviews were generally strong.

It was Marvel's first original breakout hit in six years. The film is not a sequel — the characters were adapted from Fantastic Four comics, first published in 1961.