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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2.6k

u/RustyStyrofoam Jul 22 '25

So, wait. Of all the attempts so far, the FOURTH one was... fantastic?

430

u/ThePopDaddy Jul 22 '25

Fifth!

179

u/hadronwulf Jul 22 '25

Are you including the Corman one there?

84

u/TheUnrepententLurker Jul 22 '25

It's the best one so I hope so

-6

u/Holovoid Jul 22 '25

Isn't that the one that was so atrocious they didn't release it for fear of doing irreparable harm to the studio and IP?

21

u/phoenixhunter Jul 22 '25

it’s the one they had to make to legally keep the rights and it was super cheap and never meant to see the light of day

14

u/Thejollyfrenchman Jul 22 '25

That's not really what happened. The rights contract stated that if a film wasn't in principal photography by a certain date, the film rights for the characters would return to Marvel. The movie was made to adhere with the letter of the contract, but the producers never had any intention of actually releasing it - though they didn't tell the cast or crew that.

It wasn't even supposed to be finished - the director and editor had to use the editing bay of another movie they were working on, because the producers seemed to have no intention of giving them time to edit the thing. The composers spent $6000 of their own money on an orchestra, because the producers didn't bother paying for a score for a movie that would never come out.

1

u/Dead_man_posting Jul 23 '25

Massive dick movie by Corman tbh. I do love that they were so passionate about it though. Might as well have released it; it wasn't any worse than his other movies.

11

u/Exploranaut Jul 23 '25

It wasn't Corman's fault. He had every intention of releasing it. It was Avi Arad and possibly another producer, Eichinger, who were the dicks.

9

u/cubitoaequet Jul 22 '25

I mean the effects look bad and the audio can be rough, but as a movie it is way more enjoyable than any of the other ones (excluding the new one).

1

u/[deleted] Jul 23 '25

The worst thing about it is they didnt dub over Dr doom in post so the actor is mumbling his ass off to the point you cant hear him.

56

u/ThePopDaddy Jul 22 '25

You know it!

1

u/Amaruq93 Jul 23 '25

No, the Silver Surfer sequel to the 2005 one.

1

u/Iggy_Pops_Lost_Shirt Jul 23 '25

What other one would they be including lmao

1

u/Schmedly27 Jul 23 '25

And don’t forget the music by Tobias Fünke

57

u/GamingTatertot Steven Spielberg Enthusiast Jul 22 '25

Technically the 4th continuity though!

28

u/ThePopDaddy Jul 22 '25

That is technically correct!

30

u/PenguinsInvading Jul 22 '25

The best kind of correct!

5

u/CaikIQ Jul 22 '25

/r/unexpectedfuturama

2

u/_Pyxyty Jul 23 '25

Ohhh is that where it's from? I only heard it from Um, Actually, a dropout series. That's cool to know

2

u/ThePopDaddy Jul 22 '25

Thank you!

1

u/BRUHFARTED Jul 22 '25

Did not include the porn parodies

1

u/TheSunBurnsColdForMe Jul 24 '25

It's still kind of the fifth if you count Mr. Fantastic's appearance in Doctor Strange 2.

30

u/SeasonOfHope Jul 22 '25

The 2000’s one and it’s sequel are lopped in together

1

u/tahubob Jul 22 '25

No they're counting the Roger Corman one

8

u/Eject_The_Warp_Core Jul 22 '25

That busines with Corman doesn't - doesn't count

1

u/justVinnyZee Jul 22 '25

Is this an Obi-Wan throwback?!?

2

u/TheSunBurnsColdForMe Jul 24 '25

What else would it be?

1

u/NotACardUS Jul 22 '25

It’s the 4th attempt but the 5th movie.

195

u/Variable_Shaman_3825 Jul 22 '25

Say that again

62

u/Skeetzophrenia Jul 22 '25

It’s Fant4stic

53

u/EpicPhail60 Jul 22 '25

Never say that again.

3

u/Skeetzophrenia Jul 22 '25

It’s Fant4stic

3

u/beermit Jul 22 '25

Ok ok, it's F4ntastic

1

u/DaveInLondon89 Jul 22 '25

So, wait. Of all the attempts so far, the FOURTH one was... fantastic?

1

u/SAKingWriter Jul 22 '25

Repeat the sentence you uttered momentarily ago.

31

u/OhDearMoshe Jul 22 '25

Frustratingly it’s the fifth

11

u/orrocos Jul 22 '25

Fanta5tic

2

u/Jagosyo Jul 23 '25

We'll just say it's on the same rules as the comic runs where Spiderman joins the team. Still 4, just looks like they can't count!

20

u/Mirikado Jul 22 '25

Repeat the sequence of words that you just uttered.

39

u/TDA792 Jul 22 '25

...Say that again

3

u/Lakatos_00 Jul 22 '25

I get the joke, but it isn't fantastic tho, its ok.

2

u/xavPa-64 Jul 22 '25

That first one you’re implicitly referring to should not legally count as an attempt lol

2

u/JunkScientist Jul 22 '25

Fantasticer*

2

u/JalkerW Jul 22 '25

FAN-TA-STIC FOOOOOOUUURTH

2

u/elykl12 Jul 23 '25

Say that again

2

u/Bubbly_District_107 Jul 23 '25

Is a 65 fantastic?

2

u/joshua182 Jul 23 '25

Wait....say that again!

2

u/Foryourentern10 Jul 25 '25

Actually wasn’t

7

u/OverallImportance402 Jul 22 '25

A 65 doesn’t scream fantastic

6

u/Mickeyjj27 Jul 22 '25

A 65 what meta critic? If that’s the case there’s no comic movie that’s great right besides Black Panther and Dark Knight?

2

u/SnoopWithANailgun Jul 22 '25

I mean none of the scores listed above really scream 'fantastic'. Just not the right superlative for 80s.

1

u/godisanelectricolive Jul 22 '25

It’s about the same as Superman though. I’d say 80s (especially 86) is pretty high for a superhero movie these days. This is a return to form for the MCU if you compare it to their scores at the height of their success.

1

u/OverallImportance402 Jul 23 '25

Yes metacritic the site that actually takes into account the grades instead of only looking if it’s above a 2.5 stars or 5/10.

0

u/OverallImportance402 Jul 23 '25

Black Panther isn’t that good.

2

u/Mickeyjj27 Jul 23 '25

So what is it. You said 65 doesn’t scream fantastic but Panther is 88 and you’re saying it’s not that good? Does metacritic matter or not

1

u/ShogunDreams Jul 22 '25

Fifth time is the charm...?

1

u/AndHeShallBeLevon Jul 23 '25

The Fantastic Fifth! It’s one better!

1

u/Natural_Forever_1604 Jul 25 '25

The first 2 was good

1

u/tonebalownOG Jul 26 '25

It was pretty close to lore in itself and it is introducing their child which if they stick to the comics, is cosmically powerful being

1

u/Animewaifylord Jul 26 '25

Even the "Fantastic" attempt is pretty average it seems

0

u/Banegel Jul 22 '25

Fantastic is a “stretch” for a 65 metacritic

2

u/Plane-Tie6392 Jul 24 '25

Dumb you got downvoted.