‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Sets Unflattering Disney+ Record with Lowest-Ever Viewership
Disney+ has seen a surprisingly weak start for its latest MCU release. According to the latest data from Nielsen, Fantastic Four: First Steps recorded the lowest streaming debut for any Marvel Cinematic Universe theatrical release on the platform.
The film, which brings the iconic superhero team into the MCU, managed just 4.9 million Equivalent Completed Views (ECVs) in the U.S. during its first five days.
Nielsen’s numbers place Fantastic Four: First Steps at the very bottom of MCU streaming debuts, highlighting a clear drop in audience engagement.
This new low comes despite the franchise’s strong recognition and the high expectations for the film. Previous MCU releases had already hinted at audience fatigue, but First Steps’ figures are notably lower than even recent underperforming titles.
For context, Thunderbolts drew 5.5 million ECVs in its first five days, while Captain America: Brave New World launched with 6.4 million. Even The Marvels, often considered one of Marvel’s weaker films, achieved 5.3 million in its first week. Eternals, which struggled at the box office, still managed 9.2 million.
The underperformance of Fantastic Four: First Steps becomes more striking when compared to Deadpool & Wolverine. That film, released just a year earlier, recorded 19.4 million global views on Disney+ in its first six days, becoming one of the platform’s most-watched live-action releases.
This contrast shows that superhero content can still draw massive audiences, but Marvel may be struggling to capture the same attention with its newer entries.
“The 4.9 million ECV figure confirms the film’s position as the weakest streaming debut for a major MCU theatrical release to date,” Nielsen reported.
Overall, the new data suggests that even popular Marvel properties are not immune to declining streaming interest, and Disney+ may need to rethink its approach for upcoming releases.
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