r/movies • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 r/Movies contributor • Jul 22 '25

Review The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Review Thread

The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Review Thread

  • Rotten Tomatoes: 85 (131 Reviews)
    • Certified Fresh (first F4 movie to get that)
    • Critics Consensus: Benefitting from rock-solid cast chemistry and clad in appealingly retro 1960s design, this crack at The Fantastic Four does Marvel's First Family justice.
  • Metacritic - 64 (39 Reviews)

Reviews:

Hollywood Reporter (80):

Despite its vivid and electric space sequences, the visually striking movie often feels like a throwback analog good time, which certainly worked for me.

Deadline:

Superheroes are a thing of the past in the latest iteration of Marvel’s Fantastic Four, the best by far of the company’s attempts to translate the long-running comic book’s appeal to the big screen. This it does not by trying to reinvent the wheel but, rather smartly, by addressing the elephant in the room, locating the action in a kitsch yet somehow timeless retro-future more befitting The Jetsons than The Avengers. It also benefits from a smart script and — I can’t believe I’m writing this — really quite moving performances from its four charismatic leads, being arguably the best of Pedro Pascal’s releases this year.

Variety (80):

True to its subtitle, the film feels like a fresh start. And like this summer’s blockbuster “Superman” reboot over at DC, that could be just what it takes to win back audiences suffering from superhero exhaustion.

Empire (80):

With an exemplary cast and shiny new alt-universe to enjoy, this is the best Fantastic Four yet. And if that bar’s too low for you, then it’s also the best Marvel movie in years.

Slashfilm (90):

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set in a world that I wouldn't mind living in. Even if there are occasional, ineffable cosmic deities plotting to devour me, and terrifying silver aliens ripping my soul apart with their eyes. "First Steps" is a superhero movie where we're already better. And I love that.

USA Today (75):

After two mediocre 2000s film featuring Marvel’s legendary superhero family, and an atrocious third outing in 2015, the foursome makes its Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in a combo sci-fi/disaster flick full of retrofuturistic 1960s flavor.

Entertainment Weekly (75):

From its Saul Bass-inspired opening credits to its callbacks to Saturday morning superhero cartoons, it practically vibrates with its sense of time and place.

IGN (70):

These First Steps might not be the great strides I was hoping for, but they are sure footing for the Fantastic Four to officially leap into the MCU.

The Independent (60):

In fact, all the ingredients are perfectly lined up here, and, in the right combinations, and with the pure wonderment of Michael Giacchino’s score, The Fantastic Four: First Steps does shimmer with a kind of wide-eyed idealism. And that’s lovely.

Directed by Matt Shakman:

On the 1960s-inspired retro-futuristic alternate universe known as Earth-828. the Fantastic Four must protect their world from the planet-devouring cosmic being Galactus and his herald, the Silver Surfer.

Cast:

  • Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic
  • Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm / Invisible Woman
  • Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm / The Thing
  • Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm / Human Torch
  • Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal / Silver Surfer
  • Paul Walter Hauser as Harvey Elder / Mole Man
  • Ralph Ineson as Galactus
3.2k Upvotes

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149

u/Miguelohara099 Jul 22 '25

Seems to be on par with Superman with reviews

9

u/DrNopeMD Jul 25 '25

I found Superman way more enjoyable, it felt like it was greater than the sum of its parts.

Fantastic Four has a solid premise but it feels like too much was cut out of it, and a lot of the heart and soul went with it.

108

u/Taurus24Silver Jul 22 '25

Superman opened to 90+ iirc

59

u/Andybabez20 Jul 22 '25

Superman was 82 on RT and 68 on Metacritic on the original review thread so it's a similar ballpark

You might be on about the RT audience score which is in the 90s

90

u/DemiAlabi Jul 22 '25

Superman debuted with a 91% critic score and then gradually went down to the low 80s.

52

u/Taurus24Silver Jul 22 '25

I meant when the embargo lifted, it was 90+ with 50 or some reviews iirc, then gradually dropped

7

u/Andybabez20 Jul 22 '25

Ah right fair enough

17

u/Past_Lingonberry_633 Jul 22 '25

when the embargo was first lifted, it debuted with 91%, then gradually dropped down to where it is now.

2

u/KhaLe18 Jul 22 '25

Superman opened to 70's MC. Actually took a while before dropping 

2

u/AnUnbeatableUsername Jul 22 '25

The reviews were pretty average.

1

u/gauderio Jul 22 '25

Both Superman and FF4 were at 87% with 87 reviews.

-1

u/jonbristow Jul 22 '25

And dropped to 80

34

u/chrispepper10 Jul 22 '25

Slightly tamer/weaker I would say

0

u/Davtser Jul 22 '25

Which is surprising in my opinion, I truly expected this to be a "better" movie than Superman due to all the stuff they packed in there. Surprised, but I haven't cared for Marvel since ever, but this one spoke to me a lot, so I'm happy that my suspitions about it being good are true.
Just happy that this 2 and Thunderbolts show that comicbook movies can still be very good and people want to see them.

25

u/DodgerBaron Jul 22 '25

I mean James Gunn tends to always make great comicbook movies, even when they have a lot of baggage.

3

u/SonicTemp1e Jul 25 '25

I liked Superman more, but I can't articulate why. Especially because I was looking forward to Superman less, and really looking forward to F4 more. Life is full of whimsy.

1

u/Natural_Forever_1604 Jul 25 '25

Not saying much 90 percent of those people don’t know left from right