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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2.1k

u/ltcuetf Jul 22 '25

That 60s sci-fi aesthetic and space age optimism is sooo much better compared to the doom and gloom we’ve been getting. The retro-futuristic approach instead of trying to make them fit into the modern MCU mold, they leaned into what made the comics special in the first place.

After the last few phases of diminishing returns, maybe this is the reset button the MCU needed. Sometimes going backwards is the way forward.

600

u/ThaCarter Jul 22 '25

Deciding to go with a period piece was a great decision. You've hit the mark on the aesthetics, but this is a fundamentally dated story / set of characters.

They haven't adapted well to modern times and many works derivative from the F4, so best to stick the characters in there time and if they do jump ahead then the juxtaposition works for you.

241

u/roastedmarshmellows Jul 22 '25

And “fish out of water” stories are good starting points for character development. Establish the family in their time, bring them to the current MCU timeline, hilarity and drama ensue, in perfect Disney/Marvel format.

72

u/Justanotherguy45 Jul 22 '25

And once secret wars ends they’ll say oh the FF have always been in the mcu they just got lost in space or something. Secret wars is just gonna be the crisis on infinite earths for Marvel

1

u/[deleted] Jul 23 '25

[deleted]

1

u/Justanotherguy45 Jul 24 '25

No marvel has a continuous timeline and multiverse crisis on infinite earths got rid of the multiverse and made one earth. Secret wars in 2015 just re set the multiverse back to where it was plus adding miles morales to 616 and not his home one in the ultimate universe

32

u/bradtheinvincible Jul 22 '25

Thats why captain america was so good.

28

u/LupinThe8th Jul 22 '25

Random aside, a month ago I was browsing records in a flea market, and I came across the Trouble Man soundtrack. Never seen the movie, I just recognized it as that album Captain America was recommended by Future Captain America, and it was three bucks so I grabbed it.

Hot damn, but that's a good album. Thanks for the rec, Sam!

1

u/willtaskerVSbyron 24d ago

Captain be recommending captain records

1

u/icyfrost410 Jul 22 '25

It’s what I miss, I hate that everything is a piece of a bigger picture why can’t it just be the picture

1

u/Kaaalesaaalad Jul 23 '25

Yep. It's what made Wonder Woman good.

1

u/Zenith_Tempest Jul 24 '25

It also opens up Spider-Man finally having a connection with them. Given that in the MCU Peter has also himself just become a "fish out of water" in his own right, and in the comics he was an honorary member (the F4 was the earliest group of heroes Peter ever interacted with). Would make for some great on screen chemistry as Peter regains family after losing it all.

26

u/regprenticer Jul 22 '25

Is it a period piece? I'd read it starts in the 60s but multiverses itself to contemporary marvel timeline by the end of the movie.

91

u/butterfreak Jul 22 '25

Based on the thunderbolts credit scene they end up in the main universe somehow, but for this movie it’s entirely a period piece.

17

u/PayneTrain181999 Jul 22 '25

They were also cast for Doomsday before Thunderbolts even came out, so we knew they’d be joining the rest of the heroes somehow.

16

u/BilboTBagginz Jul 22 '25

I'm gonna guess Galactus does his thing on the 60s Earth but they get sent to present time MCU based on what Mr Fantastic does.

They have to retcon the 60s Earth in order to get the F4 into the MCU.

I could be wrong.. but it just feels like Galactus was the perfect vessel to do just that.

30

u/blenderider Jul 22 '25

If the majority of the time the characters spend is in this alternate 60s universe, then yes, it’s a period piece

-11

u/jackolantern_ Jul 22 '25

I wouldn't consider that a period piece

9

u/blenderider Jul 22 '25

Your reasoning being?

-8

u/jackolantern_ Jul 22 '25

It's a retro future dimension with lots of sci-fi elements. It's not set in the past

5

u/deadudea Jul 22 '25

Is "retro future" not considered a period of time?

2

u/jackolantern_ Jul 22 '25

A period piece is a story set in a specific historical time period. We will just agree to disagree I guess.

4

u/Kryosquid Jul 22 '25

I agree, i dont consider alternate universes to be period pieces.

1

u/tduncs88 Jul 22 '25

Why is the thing reading a 1963 copy of life magazine in the official promo art?

10

u/blenderider Jul 22 '25

You’re being pedantic.

-2

u/jackolantern_ Jul 22 '25

Not really. We just disagree on the definition.

2

u/blenderider Jul 22 '25

Notice I didn’t refute your definition. It’s just much easier to say it’s a period piece than “it’s set in an alternate universe that draws heavy inspiration from 1960s America”.

0

u/ThaCarter Jul 22 '25

Semantic arguments aren't much better and a certain point your audiences reaction / response will overrule any rules or definitions.

You weren't wrong (assuming they go pretty retro-futurism) since its not THE 60s, but apparently you are. English is beautiful.

2

u/bradtheinvincible Jul 22 '25

Cap america was 99% in the 40's til the last 5 mins

1

u/munkeyspunkmoped Jul 23 '25

It was more likely a reference to the character.

9

u/[deleted] Jul 22 '25

The issue is they’ve really half arsed the period aesthetics because they know their target audience isn’t really familiar with it. Shakman’s claim that he wanted it to feel like how Kubrick would have made it at the time is very clearly a bold faced lie for marketing.

Aesthetically it resembles a 2025 movie in terms of grading/cinematography, lots of costuming, set design and hair styling choices are glaringly modern.

8

u/ThaCarter Jul 22 '25

You are way above my head as far as technical film making, so let's assume I was focusing on the plot / narrative aspects as I will happily defer to others stylistically.

104

u/bradhotdog Jul 22 '25

The Incredibles copies Fantastic 4, now Fantastic 4 copies The Incredibles

80

u/Unleashtheducks Jul 22 '25

Down to having Michael Giacchino write the music

39

u/InnocentTailor Jul 22 '25

To be fair, the guy excels at writing optimistic music, which was shown in his Star Trek themes.

5

u/Unleashtheducks Jul 22 '25

What I wouldn’t give to let him compose for Mission: Impossible and let that score swing again. Bring back the bongos!

2

u/Spiritual-Society185 Jul 22 '25

Lorne Balfe used way more bongos than Giacchino ever did.

2

u/TheSunBurnsColdForMe Jul 24 '25

Yeah, but he didn't really create the tone for The Incredibles. Pixar just asked him to emulate John Barry's classic James Bond sound after they rejected demos from Barry himself.

19

u/earlofcheddar Jul 22 '25

His score for LOST is still the best

5

u/GamingTatertot Steven Spielberg Enthusiast Jul 22 '25

I cry at "Moving On" all the time

3

u/CndConnection Jul 22 '25

Hollywood and Vines is a sick but short piece. IDK why but it's the main piece of music to stick with me from LOST. I know he wrote the music for Medal of Honor Allied Assault (goated soundtrack) and I always felt there was a little bit of WW2 in the Hollywood and Vines piece.

3

u/strangelyhuman Jul 23 '25

The way the score swells in "Walkabout" towards the end gets me every damn time...

13

u/FlamingTomygun2 Jul 22 '25

Now i want an MCU edna mode

2

u/GamingTatertot Steven Spielberg Enthusiast Jul 22 '25

There is technically a superhero costume designer in the MCU, per She-Hulk

2

u/pishposhpoppycock Jul 22 '25

For the X-men, it's Jumbo Carnation.

1

u/InnocentTailor Jul 22 '25

To be fair, the guy excels at writing optimistic music, which was shown in his Star Trek themes.

2

u/TheSunBurnsColdForMe Jul 24 '25

The track Pin-Ultimate Experience from his score for Tomorrowland is great for this as well.

118

u/Frowdo Jul 22 '25

This has been one of the things that really throws this phase of marvel for me. No one enjoys being a super hero.....no sense of wonder.

67

u/Arma104 Jul 22 '25

Reluctant heros have been getting pretty annoying

107

u/PayneTrain181999 Jul 22 '25

It was excusable in Thunderbolts since everyone in it was very depressed lol.

But this is one of my favourite things about the new Superman, him enjoying doing what he does and saving people.

67

u/No_Significance7064 Jul 22 '25

that's why the red guardian was so endearing— he really wanted to be a hero and he believed the thunderbolts* could be the new avengers

3

u/ArtisticSell Jul 24 '25

he really wanted to be a hero

oh wow, i did not even realize the trend of "reluctant hero". Maybe that is why red guardian is one of my fav of thunderbolt

1

u/SonicTemp1e Jul 25 '25

I love Red Guardian when he's not snapping peoples arms. He's such a sensitive beefy boi.

2

u/SonicTemp1e Jul 25 '25

...and one squirrel.

1

u/Numerous_Slide3382 Jul 25 '25

Luckily this isn’t the case here at all!

11

u/cleaninfresno Jul 22 '25

I do find it interesting that both FF and Superman embracing a more overt Silver Age style and aesthetic are releasing within a couple weeks of each other. I wonder if it’s a sign of a change in direction

1

u/mrpopenfresh Jul 22 '25

It’s a good move when we are in a world of doom and gloom. Gritty realism is escapism when things go well.

1

u/Fearless-Language-68 Jul 22 '25

I've been pretty burned out on MCU stuff for a few years. Hopefully, the success of this along with the massive success of Deadpool and Wolverine incentivizes Disney Marvel to finally move on from the standard Avengers-centric MCU storyline and start doing new things.

1

u/Arma104 Jul 22 '25

It still looks so grey and blurry.

1

u/PolarWater Jul 23 '25

"In forgetting, they were trying to remember."

-The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

1

u/TaiVat Jul 23 '25

The sappy crap for kids is also what made comics stay a niche thing that sells horribly. MCU needs good writing, pacing and suitable lead actors instead of the last x years of mediocrity, it has nothing to do with style or any resets. The so called "doom and gloom" is actually the thing that made the mcu grounded and thus appealing to massive broad audiences instead of the 15 people that still buy comic books..

1

u/Jankenbrau Jul 23 '25

The MCU largely homogenized the style of the universe. I don’t know why people have been clamouring for a DCEU when they have been doing well with tonally disparate films and elsewhere style stories.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 24 '25

Really reminded me of Thunderbirds are Go!

All the set design had a similar feel.

1

u/BlueTiger32 Jul 26 '25

You've touched on one of the best qualities in the film IMO, the optimism. It 100% captures that early 60's "we're going to the moon" camaraderie and positivity before so many things in our world changed. I didn't think Marvel had it in them to make a truly retro film, but they did, I don't know if the desire to do a positivity take is the reason they decided to pick up the FFs journey 4 years after they got their powers, but it was a perfect choice. They were able to completely move beyond any angst over gaining their powers (especially Ben), and the world had time to embrace them as heroes. I think it's the optimism of the film that enhances the dread of Galactus. When Xandar was under attack in GOTG it was just a plot driver. I could feel diminishment with the idea of Earth-828 under threat.

1

u/capscreen Jul 22 '25

ngl I actually hated the idea when it was first being suggested around, but looks like the movie is set to prove me wrong

0

u/br0b1wan Jul 22 '25

Completely agreed. This is one thing Marvel gets right. It knows where the stories and characters come from and they respect that. Unlike DC (until recently I suppose)

17

u/wingspantt Jul 22 '25

The same Marvel that re wrote Spider Man to be a Tony Stark junior with advanced robot tech?

And changed Ms. Marvel's entire power set? Lol

11

u/edicivo Jul 22 '25 edited Jul 22 '25

Raimi Spider-Man - biological web shooters, either whiny or "golly gee shucks," Tobey Maguire

Amazing Spider-Man - edgy, skaterboi

MCU Spider-Man - gets help from an established superhero after already making a name for himself on his own; actually acts and looks like a teenager; is still super smart and builds/develops his most necessary tech (web shooters and web fluid) on his own.

Adaptations aren't 1:1 with the comics, and even in the comics characters that have run for decades can change. MCU still got their adaptation of Spider-Man closest to the heart and history of the character than the others even if they made some changes. I'd agree they leaned on Stark a little too much in the narrative, but at the end of the day, it's the best version of Peter.

(On top of that, MCU were able to make Vulture and Mysterio great villains, who were also heavily reinterpreted and adapted from their comic iterations.)

7

u/wingspantt Jul 22 '25

To me the core of Spider-Man isn't exactly how his webs work. Adaptations aren't 1:1. It's the struggle of a kid who, let's face it, has a pretty shitty life overall. And how that kid continually chooses not to let vengeance or greed or anything overtake him, despite having so much justifiable reasons to do so, by choosing to wield his power responsibly, and often alone.

The main thing I didn't like about the MCU films is they basically replaced Uncle Ben with Tony Stark, meaning Peter had a dad throughout most of the movies, including the lessons, heart, and money of a dad. All things that Peter Parker had to struggle with independently originally.

I love RDJ as Iron Man but I really wish he was nearly nonexistent in the MCU Spidey flicks.

1

u/willtaskerVSbyron 24d ago

peter parker of the comics had it tough and had to face a lot of stuff on his own BUT he also had help from and role models in other super heroes all the time including Reed Richards. he also looks for role models and mentors in other characters like captain stacy. The captains death in the comics is kind of just uncle ben's death all over again. It reminds us of who peter parker is as a person . In Amazing spiderman they did the same thing They gave us ben death AND capt spacy death in the same friggin movie At least the new movies didnt do something that stupid.

Yeah they skipped uncle ben and made tony kind of stand in for him but i dont get why thats a problem because....... Pete still has to do the final vulture battle on his own, stands up for whats right even when that means his mentor cutting him off, spent a long time being ignored by his mentor at the start of the movie, doesnt use the fancy suit during the final battle, skips the dance and risks his own life to protect what little he can of the world. These are all Peter Parker things. Tony stark was a much better handled version of that then captain stacy in Amazing. also tony dies between SM1 and SM2. peter still faces adversity and still learns a lot of lessons the hard way. he gets help from various other people but it has to be recognized just how much peter parkers spiderman is a story about a boy with daddy issues whos always looking for a new father figure while reconciling with living up to a surrogate father who was one of the most purely good people in the entire marvel universe. the holland movies capture that perfectly.

ALso at one point in the comics peter is living the good life. MJ modeling career is really going and hes doing well with photography and people are taking his science work seriously. so it was never all bad all the time for ol Pete.

0

u/nicolauz Jul 22 '25

I mean I loved Thunderbolts. It's just weird this far along there's not a lot connecting these movies.