‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Breaks Disney+ Record with Lowest Viewership Ever

New data from Nielsen shows that Fantastic Four: First Steps has had the lowest-ever streaming debut for a Marvel Cinematic Universe film on Disney+.

The movie, which introduces the iconic superhero team into the MCU, recorded just 4.9 million Equivalent Completed Views (ECVs) in the U.S. during its first five days on the platform. According to Nielsen’s independent metrics, this marks the weakest start for any major MCU theatrical release to date.

The numbers are particularly surprising given the popularity of the Fantastic Four brand. Previous MCU films, even those that struggled at the box office, performed better on Disney+. Thunderbolts, which faced criticism for underwhelming theater numbers, managed 5.5 million ECVs in its first five days.

Captain America: Brave New World reached 6.4 million. Older releases like The Marvels recorded 5.3 million views, while Eternals had 9.2 million.

The streaming performance of First Steps also stands in stark contrast to the massive success of Deadpool & Wolverine, which debuted globally with 19.4 million views in six days on Disney+ in late 2024. That film demonstrated that audiences are still eager for superhero content, particularly when it offers something fresh or R-rated.

The Nielsen data underscores a broader trend of declining engagement for some newer MCU entries on Disney+. Despite high anticipation and the introduction of new characters, Fantastic Four: First Steps has struggled to capture viewers’ attention in its opening week.

MCU Disney+ first five-day viewership for recent films, according to Nielsen, shows the drop clearly: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever — 14.1M, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 — 10.9M, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness — 9.7M, Eternals — 9.2M, Captain America: Brave New World — 6.4M, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania — 6.1M, Thunderbolts — 5.5M, The Marvels — 5.3M, Black Widow — 5.1M, Fantastic Four: First Steps — 4.9M.

It’s clear that even popular Marvel properties aren’t guaranteed strong streaming numbers. While Fantastic Four: First Steps may have underperformed, it raises questions about audience fatigue and how Disney+ viewers are responding to the latest MCU content.

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