Marvel’s rebooted The Fantastic Four: First Steps landed in Indian theatres on July 25, 2025, amid high anticipation and global buzz. However, the Fantastic Four India response has been more modest than expected, despite steady momentum over its opening weekend.
Let’s break down the film’s performance, audience reactions, and the key reasons behind its mixed reception in the Indian market.
Day 1 to Day 4: Fantastic Four India Box Office Performance
Despite limited pre-release hype compared to Marvel’s bigger IPs like Avengers or Spider-Man, Fantastic Four opened decently in India with a Day 1 net collection of ₹5.25 crore.
Day-Wise Collection Summary:
| Day | Collection (₹ crore net) |
|---|---|
| Day 1 (Friday) | ₹5.25 |
| Day 2 (Saturday) | ₹7.35 |
| Day 3 (Sunday) | ₹7.25 |
| Day 4 (Monday) | ₹1.66 |
| Week 1 Total | ₹26.35 crore |
The film enjoyed an uptick over the weekend, primarily driven by urban centers like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi NCR, where English-language Hollywood content has a solid foothold.
However, collections dropped by over 75% on Monday, reflecting typical Marvel fatigue and competition from Indian releases.
📎 Source: TOI – Box Office Report
Global vs India: Why the Gap?
Globally, The Fantastic Four: First Steps scored big with over $227 million in its first week, but the Fantastic Four India response reveals a very different picture.
Global Success Highlights:
- Worldwide Earnings (Day 9): ₹2,252+ crore
- High US + UK occupancy
- Positive reviews from long-time Marvel fans
In contrast, Indian audiences showed limited connection to the Fantastic Four IP, which has historically been less recognized than Marvel’s flagship heroes like Iron Man or Thor.
Why Was the Response Modest in India?
The Fantastic Four India response was impacted by a combination of market dynamics and viewer perception. Here’s what played a role:
1. Limited Brand Familiarity
Unlike Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four don’t enjoy strong recall among Indian Gen Z audiences. The last F4 adaptation released in 2015 was a critical and commercial flop globally.
2. Tough Bollywood Competition
Marvel’s film released alongside Saiyaara, a romantic drama dominating the box office in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Mahavatar Narsimha, a mythological animated feature, also ate into family audiences.
3. Piracy Impact
Leaked versions appeared within 24 hours on major piracy sites like Movierulz and Filmyzilla, likely diverting some theatregoers.
4. Superhero Fatigue
Recent underwhelming Marvel titles like Thunderbolts and Brave New World have reduced audience enthusiasm for new MCU entries.
What Indian Audiences Are Saying
On forums like Reddit India and X (formerly Twitter), the Fantastic Four India response ranges from lukewarm to mildly optimistic:
- “Better than expected. Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards brings charm.”
- “Good visuals, but the pacing felt off. Not much action.”
- “I miss the Avengers-level tension. This felt like a setup film.”
There’s appreciation for the film’s retro-inspired visuals and character-focused storytelling, but many noted it lacked the high-octane set pieces that Indian audiences love in superhero films.
Looking Ahead: What This Means for Marvel in India
Marvel Studios will likely monitor the Fantastic Four India response to shape future release strategies. The franchise is now setting the stage for Avengers: Doomsday (Dec 2026) and Secret Wars (Dec 2027).
Marvel may push more character content via Disney+ or in-depth marketing campaigns to build familiarity with newer faces like F4, Blade, and X-Men before their next big-screen appearances.
A Lukewarm Launch with Room to Grow
Despite a decent opening and growing weekend numbers, the Fantastic Four India response indicates that Marvel has work to do in winning over audiences with lesser-known properties.
With a first-week gross of ₹26.35 crore and mixed word-of-mouth, its future will rely heavily on global streaming rollout, Disney+ India availability, and franchise buildup toward major crossovers.
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