Marvel ‘s Fantastic Four are taking big first steps at the box office, earning a mighty $24.4 million in previews. The haul is the best preview result of the year so far, beating the previous high of $22.5 million set by “Superman” earlier this month.

Disney/Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” will keep the summer box office running hot this weekend after earning $24.4 million from Thursday preview screenings.

When Entertainment Weekly asked Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman if Downey Jr. filmed that post-credits scene, the filmmaker pleaded the fifth. "For others to talk about," he teased. However, Shakman did reveal that it was the Russo brothers who helmed the post-credits scene since it was shot for Avengers: Doomsday.

No, silly, superhero movies aren’t dead. The second comic-book movie in the last two weeks, Disney/ Marvel Studios ‘ The Fantastic Four: First Steps is conquering around $23M in previews tonight that began at 2PM. Domestic outlook was $100M-$110M, but the Matt Shakman directed movie is bound to shoot higher.

First Steps is off to a strong start at the North American box office, with an estimated $23 million Thursday that means the latest Marvel Studios movie is pacing ahead of Superman.

So does RDJ’s Doctor Doom pop up in the new Fantastic Four movie? Well, sort of.

I t might be off-putting to mention Stan Lee when The Fantastic Four: First Steps wears its affections for Jack Kirby on its knit sleeves. But Lee used to say that Marvel's stories reflected the world outside our window.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps officially lands in theaters tomorrow, July 25, and will introduce the first new live-action take on Marvel’s First Family in a decade. Meanwhile, a crossover featuring movie tie-in skins will arrive in Marvel Rivals starting tomorrow.