Pedro Pascal's Marvel Movie Bombs on Disney+ Despite Box Office Success
The most-searched actor of 2025 faces an unexpected streaming setback as his latest superhero venture struggles to find its audience on the platform, marking a surprising turn for the Hollywood favorite.
Pedro Pascal's Hollywood dominance hit an unexpected snag as his latest Marvel venture struggled to capture streaming audiences. The actor, who earned the title of Google's most-searched performer this year, watched his superhero debut face disappointing numbers on Disney's streaming platform.
Streaming Numbers Tell a Different Story
According to industry tracking data from December 9, Fantastic Four: First Steps managed only 4.9 million Equivalent Completed Views during its first five days on Disney+. These figures represent a concerning trend for what many considered one of Marvel's most anticipated releases.
The streaming performance becomes more troubling when compared to other recent Marvel releases. Thunderbolts, which faced harsh criticism and poor theatrical reception, still managed 5.5 million ECVs in its debut period. Captain America: Brave New World performed even better with 6.4 million views during the same timeframe.
How Other Marvel Movies Performed
Looking at the broader picture of Wednesday releases on Disney+, Fantastic Four landed at the bottom of the Marvel rankings. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever topped the list with 14.1 million views, while Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 secured 10.9 million. Even less popular entries like The Marvels (5.3 million) and Black Widow (5.1 million) outperformed Pascal's superhero debut.
Industry observers point to minimal promotional efforts as a potential factor. Unlike typical Marvel releases, the movie received limited social media marketing beyond basic poster announcements. Cast members and crew remained notably absent from promotional interviews ahead of the streaming launch.
Box Office Success Tells Different Tale
Despite streaming struggles, theatrical performance painted a completely different picture. The film earned $521.9 million globally, significantly outpacing both Captain America: Brave New World ($415.1 million) and Thunderbolts ($382.4 million) at the box office.
This disconnect between theatrical success and streaming reception highlights changing viewer habits and platform preferences. The movie's third-place position on Nielsen's Top 10 chart, trailing only Netflix's Frankenstein and KPop Demon Hunters, suggests audiences may have already satisfied their viewing appetite in theaters.
The performance gap raises questions about Marvel's streaming strategy and whether successful theatrical runs translate to platform engagement. With Galactus making his first major screen appearance, many expected stronger digital performance to match the theatrical enthusiasm.