First Steps after Thunderbolts* was, thankfully, avoided by Marvel Studios. Thanks to upcoming Marvel movies like Avengers: Doomsday, the storylines of Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps are somewhat linked.

Disney and Marvel's "Fantastic Four: First Steps" opened to an estimated $118 million at the domestic box office. Internationally, the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe film snared an estimated $100 million, bringing its global weekend haul to $218 million.

That might sound like no big deal, but after 2023’s “The Marvels,” this spring’s fourth “Captain America” movie and “Thunderbolts*” all underperformed by Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) standards, the new “Fantastic Four” may offer broader audience appeal by not pulling from other franchises.