The box office numbers are in for Fantastic Four — and they’re not good. The much-anticipated reboot from 20th Century Fox opened to just $26 million domestically over its first weekend, significantly below early projections that had the film earning at least $40 million. The disappointing debut has not only dampened hopes for a new superhero franchise but also appears to be affecting Fox’s bottom line — at least in the short term.
Since the film’s release, shares of Twenty-First Century Fox have seen a noticeable decline. Market analysts have pointed to the film’s underperformance as a key factor in the drop, with investors reacting swiftly to the film’s weak commercial start and overwhelmingly negative critical reception. The movie, plagued by behind-the-scenes issues and a troubled production, was already facing skepticism ahead of its release. Now that the numbers are in, those concerns have translated into real financial consequences.
Fantastic Four was meant to be a cornerstone of Fox’s Marvel-related plans, with studio executives originally touting it as a springboard for sequels and potential crossover opportunities with other X-Men properties. That confidence now seems misplaced. Not only have the film’s box office receipts fallen short, but early audience reactions have also been overwhelmingly negative. The film holds a dismal rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has generated widespread backlash from both fans and critics.
The implications of this failure could be far-reaching. With the superhero genre as competitive as ever — especially in the wake of Marvel Studios’ dominance with the Marvel Cinematic Universe — studios can’t afford major missteps like this. Fox had hoped to breathe new life into Fantastic Four, having previously released two less-than-acclaimed films in 2005 and 2007. Instead, this reboot has arguably done more damage to the brand than any of its predecessors.
A closer look at the stock market confirms the fallout. A graph tracking Fox’s share price in the days surrounding Fantastic Four’s release shows a sharp decline, coinciding directly with the weekend box office numbers. While this may not result in lasting damage to the company’s overall financial health, it’s a significant enough drop to raise eyebrows among investors and studio leadership alike.
At this point, the future of the Fantastic Four franchise remains unclear. With planned sequels likely to be reassessed — if not quietly shelved altogether — Fox may be forced to rethink its superhero strategy moving forward. For now, the studio finds itself dealing with not just a box office bomb, but the financial and reputational fallout that comes with it.