Marvel’s Mixed Results
The summer blockbuster season began with a bang when The Fantastic Four: First Steps debuted to a remarkable $117.6 million at the domestic box office in late July. This success led many in the media to declare that Marvel Studios had rebounded after several post-pandemic flops, with the exception of last summer’s hit, Deadpool and Wolverine.
This optimistic sentiment mirrored the praise recently given to DC Studios, which saw Superman open to $125 million just weeks earlier. Both films not only had impressive opening numbers but also garnered similar audience and critic ratings. Analysts seemed convinced Fantastic Four would sustain momentum akin to Superman, which experienced a modest 53 percent drop in its second weekend, earning $58.5 million and bringing its 10-day North American total to $236.2 million. However, that forecast was off the mark. Fantastic Four faced a staggering 67 percent decline in its second weekend, earning just $38.7 million and bringing its total to $197.1 million.
The Second Weekend’s Significance
Historically, the opening weekend of a film has often dictated its perceived success or failure. However, the performance in a film’s second weekend may provide a more critical assessment. This summer, Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, showcased an extraordinary second-weekend drop of less than 5 percent, which is virtually unheard of in today’s market. This impressive hold confirmed to Warner Bros. that they had a hit on their hands, as the film amassed a total of $365 million worldwide.
Warner Bros. has enjoyed a productive streak, with Weapons also demonstrating strong second-weekend performance, declining only 44 percent, confirming its status as a sleeper hit.
Recent Disappointments and Surprises
Several 2025 releases illustrated the importance of second-weekend performance. In the spring, Disney’s Snow White had a disappointing debut of $42.2 million. While studio executives initially remained optimistic, the film’s 66 percent drop in its second weekend to $14.3 million altered their outlook significantly, leading to a total of just $87.2 million domestically.
Marvel Studios faced its own challenges this summer with the release of Captain America: Brave New World, which opened to $88.8 million but saw a drastic 68 percent decline the following weekend. Another title, Thunderbolts, had an underwhelming opening of $74.3 million and also experienced a significant drop of 56 percent, highlighting the difficulties the studio faced.
In contrast, Disney’s summer hit, Lilo & Stitch, showcased how positive early performance can lead to lasting success. This adaptation opened to $182 million over the Memorial Day weekend and has since grossed over $1.02 billion globally, making it the highest-grossing Hollywood film of the year, exceeding Warner’s A Minecraft Movie at $955 million and Universal’s Jurassic World Rebirth at $829 million.
Similarly, the much-anticipated sequel 28 Years Later from Sony and director Danny Boyle opened to $30 million in late June. Initial expectations were tempered by a drastic fall of nearly 68 percent in its second weekend, resulting in a disappointing total of only $70.4 million domestically.
