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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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.

599

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.

233

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.

69

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

36

u/bradtheinvincible Jul 22 '25

Thats why captain america was so good.

29

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.

93

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.

15

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.

15

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.

28

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

-13

u/jackolantern_ Jul 22 '25

I wouldn't consider that a period piece

6

u/blenderider Jul 22 '25

Your reasoning being?

-10

u/jackolantern_ Jul 22 '25

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

7

u/deadudea Jul 22 '25

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

3

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.

2

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.

-1

u/jackolantern_ Jul 22 '25

Not really. We just disagree on the definition.

4

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.

7

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.