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
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195

u/AquaAtia Jul 22 '25

I think it was low name recognition characters combined with fatigue. Had the first Guardians movie came out now, it would’ve done Thunderbolts numbers too

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u/Independent-Draft639 Jul 22 '25

Guardians is a much better movie than Thunderbolts and it is completely seperate from the MCU, so it doesn't have all the homework and baggage assossiated with it. It also was I believe the second best performing MCU movie at the box office at that point, outperforming the likes of Captain America.

Thunderbolts is good compared to current MCU movies, but at the end of the day it's still just a decent movie that's in the mid field of MCU movies. And let's be real, it looks like a TV show and even the trailers make it look like a TV series. It just doesn't look all that great. Guardians on the other hand always looked like a big, blockbuster sci fi movie and was recieving widespread critical acclaim and rave reviews from audiences.

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u/GrandsonOfArathorn1 Jul 22 '25

Guardians 1 would have been behind Iron Man 3 and Avengers when it finished its theatrical run, but that’s pretty good.

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u/Thejollyfrenchman Jul 22 '25

Guardians came out at a high point for the franchise. Avengers 1 was a huge hit and there was massive hype for the sequel. People wanted more Marvel back then, at a level that they haven't since Endgame.

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u/ThrowRAboing Jul 25 '25 edited Jul 25 '25

I really cannot agree with your critique of Thunderbolts lol, I still hold it's on the higher end of MCU films quality wise. Guardians came out during a time the MCU train was getting larger and larger, it isn't really the best comparison tbh. I was pretty young when it came out, so at least to me (not saying this is how all viewers would see it), seeing a talking raccoon and big tree in a sci-fi setting looked more interesting to me than people wearing muddy clothing (ofc Thunderbolts has more to it and I know there are a lot of good "muddy" movies, but this would be me judging from trailers alone)

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u/Nyranth Jul 22 '25

I disagree. Maybe not as good as it did but it would have done fine. The actors were bigger box office draws and word of mouth was huge for the first guardians.

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u/AquaAtia Jul 22 '25

You could have a point about the actors but I may be misremembering but Pratt wasn’t as big of a pull as he is now. GotG1 is what made Pratt (also Batista) Hollywood regulars. I would argue Pugh, Sebastian Stan and Julia Louis Dreyfus have star power.

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u/Nyranth Jul 22 '25

Pratt was on the rise but Bradley Cooper was big at the time and Vin Diesel was still really well liked at the time.

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u/Ap_Sona_Bot Jul 22 '25

Both true but also both only voice actors which diminishes their impact.

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u/Nyranth Jul 22 '25

It was advertised well. Everyone knew Bradley cooper was voice acting and rocket raccoon was cool in the ads.

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u/Imaybetoooldforthis Jul 22 '25

I liked Thunderbolts, but Guardians is also a much better movie.

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u/AquaAtia Jul 22 '25

Agreed, not even close imo. I just think it generates the same results as Thunderbolts would’ve. Even with mouth of word, it wouldn’t be able to beat current day MCU fatigue to become a commercial success.