"$800 Million Is The New Billion": Here's The Latest On SUPERMAN And THE FANTASTIC FOUR's Box Office

"$800 Million Is The New Billion": Here's The Latest On SUPERMAN And THE FANTASTIC FOUR's Box Office

Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps both earned more than what was reported on Sunday this past weekend, but as one insider explains, the theatrical landscape is changing. Check it out...

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By JoshWilding - Aug 12, 2025 07:08 AM EST
Filed Under: Superman

Weekend actuals are in for The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Superman, with both movies earning more than what was reported on Sunday.

The Marvel Studios title suffered a 59.3% drop, grossing $15.8 million in North America to bring its domestic cume to $230.7 million. The reboot's legs are weaker than expected, meaning it will likely conclude its U.S. run with $260 million - $265 million. 

Overseas, The Fantastic Four: First Steps made an additional $18.3 million during its third weekend in theaters, taking its total to $204.6 million, for a combined worldwide haul of $435.3 million. $450 million is coming this week, but can the movie reach $500 million? 

$490 million - $510 million is the current estimate, and you have to believe that's less than Disney and Marvel Studios wanted or expected from Marvel's First Family this summer. 

As for Superman, that's had a better week-to-week hold, and beat Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ($330.4 million) this weekend to become the highest-grossing movie of all-time featuring the Man of Steel at the domestic box office. 

Superman made $8 million from Friday to Sunday, dropping by only 42%. Add its $331.4 million to a $247.8 million overseas haul, and the DC Studios reboot sits at $579.2 million worldwide. As you can see from these numbers, international audiences haven't flocked to Superman the same way as those in the U.S., and the movie will be hurt by Warner Bros.' decision to release it on Digital as soon as August 26. 

$600 million is locked, but Superman now looks set to tap out at $620 million - $640 million when all is said and done. It's a solid result, albeit one that Warner Bros. Discovery is unlikely to be blown away by. 

The theatrical landscape has changed massively since the pandemic, and the days of blockbusters making a guaranteed $1 billion are over. For proof of that, look no further than China, a territory that used to add hundreds of millions of dollars to the tally of Hollywood blockbusters; most now struggle to make double digits.

As The Hollywood Reporter's Borys Kit explains, "Jurassic World Rebirth crossed the $800M mark globally today. Few in town thought it would outgross Superman [and] The Fantastic Four. But also, this number represents a new box office reality: '$800M is the new billion,' says one agency head."

If that's correct, and $400 million - $600 million is the new norm for superheroes, both Marvel Studios and DC Studios need to figure out how to make that work to their advantage. 

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HelloBoysImBack
HelloBoysImBack - 8/12/2025, 7:07 AM
No it's not
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 8/12/2025, 9:13 AM
@HelloBoysImBack - This.
And when you take into consideration the rate of inflation over the last 5 years or so, these numhers are axtually worse than these corporate types are trying to spin them as.
UltimaRex
UltimaRex - 8/12/2025, 9:38 AM
@Feralwookiee - all of you love inflation, none of you even begin to consider ticket sales dropping from 1.2m to 740k during the same five years.

Can't make the same numbers without the same audience.
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 8/12/2025, 10:13 AM
@UltimaRex - You can if you increase the cost of tickets and increase the amount of ad showings before a movie starts from 30 mins to 45 mins. Just charge your loyal moviegoers a higher premium to make up for those audience members who only see 1 or 2 movies a year.

Studios don't care that people in New York already pay an average of $15-$20 a ticket because if they can afford $15-$20/ticket they can afford to pay $25-$30 then force each state to increase by the same amount. Each time less tickets are sold, you increase it by the same proportion so that the movie ceos can cash their bonus and we can still pay RDJ 100 mil per avengers sequel.
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 8/12/2025, 12:01 PM
@UltimaRex - Not true at all. Ticket prices are an average of $1.50 + more than they were 5 years ago.

https://www.the-numbers.com/market/
SauronthePower
SauronthePower - 8/12/2025, 2:46 PM
@HelloBoysImBack - exactly

This is the last stand of ‘Day-and-Date.’

These clowns are holding the bag on an extremely bad investment guess and are now trying to bully the narrative that this is inevitable settled science

‘Top Gun,’ ‘No Way Home, ‘Deadpool Wolverine,’ ‘Avatar 2,’ and even ‘Rebirth’ (overperforming expectations though still <1bil) all have shown that the money is still in compelled and/or repeated theater viewership

The math will never be there on streaming equating to profitability and investors invest with the expectation of a helluva lot more than mere break-even gate numbers
UltimaRex
UltimaRex - 8/13/2025, 3:36 AM
@Feralwookiee - don't really want to go into the maths without getting paid to do so, but that's not enough to move the needle.

You want studios to care about the billion mark? Domestic ticket sales need to exceed 1m at least.
AnEye
AnEye - 8/12/2025, 7:07 AM
"$800M is the new billion,' says one agency head."

There was for sure no brain cells used when this statement was made..........
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 8/12/2025, 10:05 AM
@AnEye - I think that statement is meant to highlight that $800 mil is the new milestone for the biggest films each year going forward not 1 billion.

that the audience and movie studio should be happy their films even get close to 800 mil....despite the biggest films they produced each year can cost 200 - 300 mil. we all should be happy that Brad Pitt's film F1 cost 300 mil before marketing and is going to end its run with 600 mil.
SauronthePower
SauronthePower - 8/12/2025, 2:51 PM
@mastakilla39 - Agree

THIS is the narrative that the Day-and-Date clowns are trying to bully in order to accelerate the whole Wall-E recliner/leg atrophy trope

Cameron just accepted a position on one of the chief AI integration think tanks because, in his words, they need to increase workflow and accelerate shot rendering in order to constrain budget outlays. This was a seriously macro look at bringing movie costs down in order to avoid the death of theater and cinema
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 8/12/2025, 7:10 AM
The fact WB is willing to release this on digital on thr 26th, it MIGHT mean they are satisfied with its performance. It is still doibg good ib theaters imo.
F4ntasticClunge
F4ntasticClunge - 8/12/2025, 7:20 AM
@vectorsigma - or it means they're not satisfied with the performance as keeping the movie in the cinema for longer cost more than charging x3 the price of a ticket on streaming (where majority of the profits go to the studio) 😉

F4ntasticClunge
F4ntasticClunge - 8/12/2025, 7:25 AM
@F4ntasticClunge - i mean owning it on Digital!!!

😮‍💨
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 8/12/2025, 7:26 AM
@F4ntasticClunge - the proof is in the numbers. Weekly drops are decent so whatever cost it needs to be in theaters is acceptable IM GUESSING

WB will still profit similarly in digitial whether it is released on the 26th or later.
F4ntasticClunge
F4ntasticClunge - 8/12/2025, 7:35 AM
@vectorsigma - you clearly dont understand the movie business (not saying i do 😅).
Some people skip the theatre so they can watch at home, the digital Market isnt small. There are people who are willing to purchase the film digitally before waiting ages for it to go to streaming on places like HBO max. Releasing it early means they can capitalise on people who skipped the cinema and the fanboys like you who will want to support the movie at any cost.

Why do you think Sony Cbms hit streaming so quickly? Even thought SuperShit has had strong domestic legs its still not bringing in as much as it would on streaming.
F4ntasticClunge
F4ntasticClunge - 8/12/2025, 7:35 AM
@F4ntasticClunge - though **
Irregular
Irregular - 8/12/2025, 7:39 AM
@F4ntasticClunge - "you clearly dont understand the movie business"

Neither do you.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 8/12/2025, 7:50 AM
@F4ntasticClunge - that is why i said might and guessing. I am not familiar on these things so i wont go overboard on it

I also said the numbers are decent enough to still stick to theaters.
F4ntasticClunge
F4ntasticClunge - 8/12/2025, 7:52 AM
@Irregular - when did I claim i did? I even said not saying i do. So thanks for taking my words out of context dumbass
F4ntasticClunge
F4ntasticClunge - 8/12/2025, 7:55 AM
@vectorsigma - its the best way to make more money sir + no split with the cinemas! It's the smartest thing to do when coming to the end of a cinematic run as they can charge 2-3x the price of a normal ticket
Irregular
Irregular - 8/12/2025, 7:57 AM
@F4ntasticClunge - Oh you mean the part where you said nOt sAyINg I dO and then contradict yourself by giving a full paragraph to how you think you know what it is?
F4ntasticClunge
F4ntasticClunge - 8/12/2025, 8:05 AM
@Irregular - that's not how I think dumbass, that's literally what the digital market is for.

Price for digital is 2-3x the price of a cinema ticket and the profits mostly go to the studio.

You can't be this stupid 😭😮‍💨
dragon316
dragon316 - 8/12/2025, 8:06 AM
@F4ntasticClunge - you don’t own it on digital unless you buy dvd ?si=4ZPcLPdQ7l3EcrAX
F4ntasticClunge
F4ntasticClunge - 8/12/2025, 8:14 AM
@dragon316 - yeah of course! I am a physical collector, most of my games and movies are physical unless I cant help it.
Irregular
Irregular - 8/12/2025, 8:19 AM
@F4ntasticClunge - "Price for digital is 2-3x the price of a cinema ticket and the profits mostly go to the studio."

So what you're insinuating, is for years, the untapped home video market is the reason why Hollywood shortened the window from 120-90 days, to now 45-90 days? I mean all this time throughout the 80s up until now, Hollywood could of been saved if they just invested into the home video market since it makes "2-3x the price of a cinema ticket" right? I mean CLEARLY, the 7% in profit for digital entertainment is sooooooo lucrative right? I mean spend $100 million in the hopes someone buys into a digital release for at least $20 Standard Definition.....

That's your logic dumbass. You can't be this stupid?
F4ntasticClunge
F4ntasticClunge - 8/12/2025, 8:48 AM
@Irregular - i dint say any of that dumbass. Once again you're taking my words out of context.

You're boyfriend stated they might be bringing the release to digital early because they're happy the box office. I simply said they stand to make more from a digital release than what they would make at the tail end of the theatrical release based on the cost for a ticket vs the cost to purchase the digital release.

It's not hard to comprehend or keep up with but you're still struggling 😭
F4ntasticClunge
F4ntasticClunge - 8/12/2025, 9:13 AM
@vectorsigma - further info from google on why its going to digital on that date.

After the first four weeks of a movie's theatrical release, the studio's share of ticket sales typically decreases, with the cinema's share increasing. While the exact percentage varies based on negotiations and the film's popularity, studios generally make a larger portion of the revenue in the initial weeks and then see their cut diminish over time.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Early Weeks (1-2):
Studios often receive a larger percentage of ticket sales, sometimes up to 60% or even 70% for major blockbusters.
Weeks 3-4:
The studio's share typically decreases, with the cinema's share increasing.
Later Weeks:
The percentage the studio receives continues to decline, potentially reaching a 50/50 split or even lower as the film's theatrical run continues.
Factors Influencing the Split:
Film's Popularity: Major blockbusters may maintain a higher studio share for a longer period.
Negotiated Agreements: The specific split between studios and cinemas is negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
Studio's Leverage: Major studios with popular films often have more leverage in negotiations.
In essence, while the studio's revenue share decreases over time, it's not a simple 50/50 split from day one. The initial weeks of a film's release are crucial for maximizing studio revenue, and the subsequent weeks see a gradual shift in favor of the cinema's earnings.

Superman will make more from the digital release at that point which is good for DC studios. I know you and the other twerp would rather it stay in the cinemas so you shout its box office gross from the rooftops but its probably more important the studio makes more of a return on their investment than bragging rights! 😮‍💨
Irregular
Irregular - 8/12/2025, 9:17 AM
@F4ntasticClunge - "i dint say any of that dumbass. Once again you're taking my words out of context."

You're reading comprehension skills are as bad as your spelling I see as well as your ability to know what the hell "insinuate" means. It means "you're suggesting or hinting in an indirect way". Do you have a guilty conscious that you have to keep saying that "i dint say any of that"

And then you follow up with more "knowledge" that you claim to not have but insinuate that you do?
"I simply said they stand to make more from a digital release than what they would make at the tail end of the theatrical release based on the cost for a ticket vs the cost to purchase the digital release"

Next definition Webster's Dictionary should fix is stupid so they could just add your username as another meaning to the word.
F4ntasticClunge
F4ntasticClunge - 8/12/2025, 9:22 AM
@Irregular - see above idiot, Google proves me right. 😅

So once again you take my words out of context, assume Im saying things i never actually said only to be wrong 😮‍💨

Maybe you should replicate your display picture and keep your mouth closed as you make a fool of yourself everytime you open it 😂
Irregular
Irregular - 8/12/2025, 9:44 AM
@F4ntasticClunge - "see above idiot, Google proves me right."

You mean the Google AI? The one that creates an explanation that might be 70-80 percent correct? I think the idiot here is you who can't properly do research on a subject and speaking out loud like a monkey at a zoo. Hush monkey, go back in your cage. Tomorrow we can teach you what the word insinuate means again and maybe this time it'll stick in your head like the flying shit does.
F4ntasticClunge
F4ntasticClunge - 8/12/2025, 10:07 AM
@Irregular - i think we'd all rather believe Google than Mr @Irregular who pull bs arguments out of his ass 😅😮‍💨

Maybe tomorrow we can teach you not to assume as keep jumping to the wrong conclusions 😫
AwesomePromoz
AwesomePromoz - 8/12/2025, 10:46 AM
@Irregular - You guys are abusing one another over an argument about money that’s not yours? Get serious please.
SauronthePower
SauronthePower - 8/12/2025, 2:40 PM
@F4ntasticClunge - the x3 is irrelevant when factoring in the loss of return business. New subscriptions can never, and will never, exceed compelled theatrical viewership

The math was never there and it never will be
F4ntasticClunge
F4ntasticClunge - 8/12/2025, 2:48 PM
@SauronthePower - i was just talking about purchasing the film digitally. I wasn't clear in my original message! You are correct about the streaming services though.

Supposedly they're releasing the film digitally this Friday to buy only (no rental) at $30.

https://x.com/GraceRandolph/status/1955291924111274222?t=6ypmxI55riWlTy6ALgy7-Q&s=19

They're trying to recoup!
JonAwesome
JonAwesome - 8/12/2025, 7:14 AM
So in their eyes, Deadpool and Wolverine must be the new Avatar?!
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 8/12/2025, 8:09 AM
@JonAwesome - Statisticaly speaking yes, the maths if clear on this that there will continue to be exceptions but total BO sales is down at least 25% compared to 2019 with only a third as many films having any chance of making a billion compared to that year at best when NINE managed to do that.

In the last 5yrs since 2019 only 10 films have crossed the billion dollar WWBO, an average of two per year, this is the current normal and behind the upto three films that DO make around a billion or more the chasing pack of 20 films are falling between 300M to 700M annually with the next 30 or so films below those in the 100-300 WWBO.

All that dispite the fact we are only getting about half as many films released now compared to just prior to COVID.
Webheaded225
Webheaded225 - 8/12/2025, 7:18 AM
That would make a lot of sense, if and only if, Deadpool and Wolverine, Lilo and Stitch and Minecraft weren't destroying both F4 and Supes. Comic book movies just aren't as hot as they used to be, and no wonder. It was one thing when we had stuff like Raimi's Spider Man and Nolan's Batman. Snyder and Feige teamed up to destroy the superhero genre in the same vein as Batman and Robin did in the 90s. There has been so much awful content, including tv shows and films with superheroes lately, that no one wants to watch it, unless it's something making fun of superheroes like Deadpool or The Boys. Also, Scorsese calling it not cinema didn't help it at all either. In the words of cap, You have do better (Feige and Gunn).
DS616
DS616 - 8/12/2025, 8:04 AM
@Webheaded225 - Except Deadpool Wolverine, Lilo Stitch and Minecraft didn't have any of the same built-in advantages/disadvantages that F4 and Superman did.
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 8/12/2025, 8:31 AM
@Webheaded225 - Nothing is as hot as it used to be, total tickets sold now across all films is about half that of 2019. We have still been getting CBM's in the top five every year 2021 thru 2024 (actualy no CBM's in the top five 2017 so even when they WERE hot they weren't always TOP). Total BO haul with the reduced number of releases post pandemic was down 25% in 2024 compared to 2019.

It isn't like kids movies were not ALSO hot in 2019, The Lion King and Frozen II were second and third at the WWBO and it is still mostly all kids movies and CBM's/action films at or near the top outside of Barbenheimer anomalies, ie bar the odd exceptions that are not a 'typical' action films or kids movie, but we had exceptions to that pre-pandemic too such as Bohemian Rhapsody in 2018.
MaximusTheMad
MaximusTheMad - 8/12/2025, 7:19 AM
Damn, super hero movies aren't box office favorites anymore. Lilo & Stitch, Jurassic, and Minecraft are blowing away everything from Marvel and DC.

I'm not even going to whisper about Ne Zha 2, because that money-level won't be touched by ANYONE this year.
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