It was an intense battle at the July Box Office. To begin with, three blockbuster giants went head-to-head—Warner Bros. launched a reimagined Superman, Marvel Studios followed with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and finally, Universal Pictures revived prehistoric thrills with Jurassic World: Rebirth, starring Scarlett Johansson. As a result, the stage was set for a truly epic showdown.
Initially, many expected Superman to claim victory, backed by massive trailer buzz and DC’s iconic hero legacy. Meanwhile, the Fantastic Four reboot gained momentum through Marvel’s strong brand appeal. In contrast, Jurassic World arrived with quieter marketing; however, it carried a powerful international draw, boosted by Scarlett Johansson’s star power.
Superman’s Performance
- Opening Weekend: $125 million
- Domestic Total: $320.3 million
- International: $239 million
- Worldwide Total: $559.3 million
- Theaters: 4,275
- Runtime: 2h 9m
Notably, Superman delivered the strongest domestic opening among the three films, earning praise for its fresh storytelling and modern tone. However, despite the initial buzz, its international earnings fell short of expectations, ultimately limiting its worldwide total.
Fantastic Four: First Steps Performance
- Opening Weekend: $117.6 million
- Domestic Total: $208 million
- International: $170.3 million
- Worldwide Total: $378.3 million
- Runtime: 1h 54m
Initially, Marvel’s Fantastic Four reboot opened strong; however, it struggled to maintain momentum due to mixed reviews and a shorter runtime. As a result, it ultimately ranked lowest in the July Box Office battle among the three.
Jurassic World: Rebirth Dominates
- Opening Weekend (US): $92 million
- Domestic Total: $320.3 million
- International: $449.2 million
- Worldwide Total: $769.5 million
- Runtime: 2h 13m
Despite having the smallest domestic opening, Jurassic World: Rebirth nevertheless had the strongest legs and exceptional international appeal. In fact, its staggering $769.5 million worldwide gross easily surpassed both Superman and Fantastic Four, clearly proving its dominance in the July Box Office race.
Final July Box Office Rankings
- Jurassic World: Rebirth — $769.5M
- Superman — $559.3M
- Fantastic Four: First Steps — $378.3M
Scarlett Johansson and her dinosaurs delivered a winning formula for Universal, turning Jurassic World: Rebirth into the undeniable July Box Office champion.
What the July Box Office Results Mean for Superheroes
The July Box Office results hint at a possible shift in audience tastes. While superhero films remain popular, both DC and Marvel faced challenges in matching their previous successes. Meanwhile, Jurassic World’s spectacular return highlights the continued appetite for large-scale adventure beyond the cape-and-tights genre.
Superhero movies are far from over, but the July Box Office shows the importance of innovation and variety in today’s competitive market.
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Patrick Webb