The movie, the fifth effort to adapt the comic characters for the big screen, was expected to collect about $220 million worldwide in its first weekend.

First Steps is still Marvel’s best opening day of the year, with its recent releases not being as lucrative. February’s Captain America: Brave New World grossed around $88m (£65m) during its opening weekend, while May’s Thunderbolts* brought in around $74m (£55m).

First Steps avoids the worst MCU habits, embraces classic family values, and aims high with cosmic stakes—but familiar missteps in the final act diminish what could have been.

SATURDAY UPDATE: Marvel / Disney ’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps is on its way towards a global opening of $220M-$230M, which would place it ahead of the pre-weekend projection. Through Friday, the Matt Shankman-directed F4:FS has grossed an estimated $106.2M worldwide.

But there was a very simple way for the MCU to reboot its thirst traps in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. And Pedro Pascal didn't even need to go shirtless for it. He would have simply needed to unbutton a bit.

First Steps director Matt Shakman has revealed what the cut sequence featuring John Malkovich's Red Ghost entailed, and explains why we're unlikely to ever see it officially released.

This iteration of the Fantastic Four has a standalone adventure without all the burden of the MCU's history and cast of characters.

The movie is the latest from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and marks the third “Fantastic Four” film adaptation since 2005.

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