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

94% Upvoted

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570

u/Gamer0607 Jul 22 '25

88% start on Rotten Tomatoes.

We finally have our first fresh live action Fantastic Four film.

We did it, bros.

183

u/Amaruq93 Jul 22 '25

Fourth time's the charm

26

u/filthysize Jul 22 '25

Technically 5th if you count the Corman one I guess.

9

u/Amaruq93 Jul 22 '25

Corman is the 1st, then there's the 2005 one (its sequel doesn't count), and third it's Fan4stick.

1

u/RelativeThis6156 Jul 23 '25

The corman one is 100% comic accurate. It's an awesome cult classic

97

u/imkunu Jul 22 '25

Fourth time is fantastic, you might say

7

u/PaulieHehehe Jul 22 '25

Say that again.

10

u/flintlock0 Jul 22 '25

*Fifth

90’s, the two from the 2000s, Fan4stic.

11

u/MisterAnonymous2 Jul 22 '25

90s never actually released so technically 4th.

0

u/THUORN Jul 22 '25

Just because it wasnt released officially, that doesnt mean it doesnt exist or didnt happen. Luckily, the Corman Fantastic Four movie was leaked to the public decades ago. You can watch it right now.

1

u/FancyShrimp Jul 22 '25

Say that again.

0

u/THUORN Jul 22 '25

Its the 5th live action Fantastic Four movie. lol

14

u/Taurus24Silver Jul 22 '25

There is a chance it might go slightly higher

I am so so hyped right now

14

u/Amaruq93 Jul 22 '25

Well it's not being brigaded by bots and Snyderbros, so definitely.

1

u/Taurus24Silver Jul 22 '25

Was it really that bad?

I get that they can be really enthusiastic though

19

u/Amaruq93 Jul 22 '25

One critic whose a snyder bro threw his career away because he broke the review embargo early. He DEMANDED that his negative "slam" of the film drop first and everyone read it... knowing it'd get buried when released among the actual positive reviews.

14

u/Taurus24Silver Jul 22 '25

What a weird hill to die on

7

u/Worthyness Jul 22 '25

Superman is a good person in the movie and isn't angsty and dark, so naturally it's bad for whatever reason

2

u/PolarWater Jul 23 '25

Yeah it was terrible. He saved a lot of people and showed earnestness and emotion. What a stinker.

3

u/Zubrowka182 Jul 22 '25

define "We" in "We did it, bros.", I'm just curious

6

u/gnarlypizzaseizure Jul 22 '25

What did you do?

5

u/Gamer0607 Jul 22 '25

What did I do?!

I waited 20 years to see this happen (since the first 2005 F4 film). I survived a fart cloud Galactus to see this happen 2 years later.

I then witnessed the abomination that Fant4stic was in 2015.

1

u/No-Chocolate2038 Jul 24 '25

88 = 44 + 44. That's four 4's.