Fantastic Four’ Still No.1, But Faces Big Drop Against ‘Bad Guys 2’ and ‘Naked Gun
Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps held the top spot at the domestic box office in its second weekend with $40 million, but its 66% drop raised eyebrows. The superhero blockbuster debuted with $117.6 million and rave reviews, but its steep fall shows even Marvel isn’t immune to the genre’s box office volatility.
Despite the decline, the film has amassed $198.4 million domestically in 10 days and $368.7 million globally, with international earnings reaching $170.3 million. Overseas audiences helped soften the dip as the film faces a clear runway before summer’s next big release.
Meanwhile, The Bad Guys 2 and Naked Gun couldn’t dethrone the heroes, landing in second and third place respectively, as the Fantastic Four continue to lead the box office—though with a bit less super strength this week.
The Bad Guys 2 roared into theaters with a $22.2 million domestic debut, surpassing expectations and marking the second-biggest animated opening of the year. The sequel nearly matched the first film’s $23 million start, which went on to become a surprise box office hit, earning over $250 million worldwide.
Directed by Pierre Perifel and produced by Damon Ross, the animated adventure has scored an A CinemaScore and strong reviews. Original voice stars Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Craig Robinson, Anthony Ramos, and Awkwafina return, joined by new cast members Zazie Beetz, Richard Ayoade, Alex Borstein, and Lilly Singh.
This time, the lovable crew of animal outlaws tries to go straight—until one last mission pulls them back into action. Their plans take a wild turn when they face off against a new trio of cunning villains known as “The Bad Girls,” voiced by Danielle Brooks, Maria Bakalova, and Natasha Lyonne.
Paramount’s The Naked Gun revival opened strong, debuting with $17 million domestically and $28.5 million globally. The $40 million comedy marks a historic release as the final film from the current Paramount Pictures before David Ellison’s Skydance finalizes its $8 billion merger with Paramount Global on August 7.
Produced by Seth MacFarlane, the film stars Liam Neeson in his first major comedic lead as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr., stepping into the shoes of the iconic character made famous by Leslie Nielsen. Pamela Anderson co-stars, along with Paul Walter Hauser, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, Eddie Yu, and Danny Huston. Boasting an A CinemaScore and enthusiastic audience reactions, the film revives the long-dormant franchise 31 years after Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult.
With Anderson also appearing in The Bad Guys 2, and box office heavyweights like Superman and Jurassic World Rebirth still performing, this weekend marks a diverse and competitive summer movie lineup.
