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Is $800 Million the New $1 Billion?

As summer hits its final stretch, box office watchers are doing the math on all the ways in which 2025, even with its fearsome foursome and a Man of Steel, could be playing catch-up until Christmas. The subdued month of July tells the story.

Marvel’s fourth attempt to turn Fantastic Four into a franchise had a disconcertingly frontloaded opening weekend, barely doubling its $57 million Friday gross. Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios
Scott Mendelson
July 28, 2025

This weekend, a disappointingly quiet July—with just six new wide releases, five of which were reboots—will give way to an unusually busy August at the box office. Summer’s fourth month—theatrical summer runs from the first Friday in May until Labor Day—features old-school kids’ cartoons (The Bad Guys 2), horror movies (Weapons), action sequels (Nobody 2), and two live-action comedies with The Naked Gun and Freakier Friday, but no major tentpoles, which could be a problem. So far, the “in-season” new releases have earned $2.53 billion, less than any “by July 28” summer total since 2001, not adjusted for inflation. Sure, Fantastic Four’s $117 million domestic opening was far below Deadpool & Wolverine’s $211 million in this same frame in 2024, but the real culprit is the paucity of theatrical releases overall.