The First Steps suggest one of the strongest openings for an MCU film in recent years. Since the release of Avengers: Endgame in 2019, the MCU has struggled to regain its momentum.

An animated film meant for kids has smashed box office records, easily beating Hollywood heavyweights like Mission Impossible 8, Thunderbolts, and Sinners.

Disney’s live-action “Lilo & Stitch” and Tom Cruise’s “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” dominated the U.K. and ...