'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' reboot opens in China

"The Fantastic Four: First Steps," the latest superhero movie from Marvel Studios, opened in China on July 25, aiming to reconnect with fans after several poorly received adaptations of the iconic comic book team.

A Chinese poster for "The Fantastic Four: First Steps." [Image courtesy of Marvel Studios]

The film marks the 37th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and launches Phase Six of the franchise. Directed by Matt Shakman, the retro-styled movie features an ensemble cast led by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn as the Fantastic Four. Set in a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, the story centers on the team defending Earth from Galactus, a cosmic entity known for consuming planets.

Created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, the Fantastic Four first appeared in Marvel Comics in November 1961. Earlier film versions include two commercially successful but critically panned installments directed by Tim Story in 2005 and 2007, as well as a 2015 reboot directed by Josh Trank that received negative reviews and failed at the box office. A 1994 adaptation was never released. The current film comes after Disney's 2019 acquisition of 21st Century Fox returned the rights to Marvel Studios, paving the way for a new reboot.

The latest adaptation looks set to be a fantastic success. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 87% of 326 critics gave the film a positive review, with a 93% audience approval rating. The site's critics consensus reads: "Benefiting from rock-solid cast chemistry and clad in appealingly retro 1960s design, this crack at The Fantastic Four does Marvel's First Family justice."

The acclaimed film swept the global box office with an estimated $217 million debut over the past weekend, adding another summer triumph for the superhero genre following the success of James Gunn's new "Superman" reboot.

"Look at 'Superman,'" Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige said of the hit film, which had earned more than $434 million worldwide as of July 23. Speaking to reporters in a recent small press briefing about Marvel Studios' future, he added, "It's clearly not superhero fatigue, right?"