‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Logs Weakest Disney+ Debut for an MCU Theatrical Release

Analysts say the soft start reflects rising audience fatigue with frequent recasts.

Overview

According to Nielsen, the film drew about 4.9 million equivalent completed views in the U.S. over its first five days on Disney+, the lowest launch for a major MCU theatrical title on the service.
The reboot introduced a new lineup with Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach leading the iconic team.
Recent comparators such as Thunderbolts, Captain America: Brave New World, The Marvels, and Eternals all opened stronger in their initial Disney+ windows.
Deadpool & Wolverine demonstrated the platform’s ceiling with roughly 19.4 million global views in under a week, underscoring that audiences still turn out for perceived must-watch entries.
Coverage indicates Disney and Marvel plan to emphasize established tentpoles in 2026, including Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday, to rebuild momentum.