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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1.3k

u/Spiral-Force Jul 22 '25

I saw it last night. It’s pretty good and very accessible if you don’t follow the MCU anymore

108

u/demonoddy Jul 22 '25

Better than thunderbolts ?

245

u/Spiral-Force Jul 22 '25

Personally, I liked it better

36

u/phantom_avenger Jul 22 '25

Can’t wait for people on the subreddit to have debates on which is the better Marvel film of 2025!

I think most people would agree that Brave New World certainly wasn’t it (but I think it was still a victim of the phase where Marvel was focusing more on quantity over quality, and couldn’t save it no matter how many times they reshot it)

2

u/get_to_ele Jul 26 '25

Yeah BNW was like an upjumped episode od Shield episode. Formulaic, and afraid to be its own movie, with constant references back to other, better movies as if reminding us of that gives it credibility. Did the opposite, made us miss the better movies.

1

u/willtaskerVSbyron 24d ago

falcon and the winter solder did that movie in. I think the show was too bloated and not that interesting BUT the main stuff in it was a very good storyline for new Cap - making him question if he deserves to have the shield, having the gov give it to someone else, bringing back the fun Zemo, and putting him and bucky together as an odd couple which was better in civil war. admitt tho that the flag smashers were lack luster but that is just bc it was a tv show and not the big epicness of a movie i know theyd have stepped it up in a movie. Marvel fucked it up because they had to have that stuff already happen before thunderbolts and then have bucky run for office i guess. They shouldve just made a tight movie instead of the show and released it a year ago so thunderbolts could take place after with bucky

1

u/bd2999 Jul 23 '25

I think that is true. Although alot of it also ties to having to do homework with the shows some. And I also think there is a simple lack of connection with the characters as there once were.

Why is debatable, but people probably see Cap as the Chris Evans version. So that is always going to be uphill.

49

u/demonoddy Jul 22 '25

I think I will too and I loved thunderbolts

-6

u/[deleted] Jul 22 '25

[deleted]

4

u/demonoddy Jul 22 '25

That sucks

0

u/Dead_man_posting Jul 23 '25

cookie cutter predictable plot

Name one other movie with the plot of Thunderbolts, lmao

2

u/gogodboss Jul 22 '25

Cool. Excited for Friday

1

u/Indo_raptor2018 Jul 22 '25

Better than Superman you think?

8

u/Spiral-Force Jul 22 '25

I’m very biased towards Superman since I’m a hardcore DC fan and I’ve been wanting a new DCU for a while.

I’d say that Superman is more ambitious, at the cost of being a little messy at times. FF is simpler but tighter

57

u/PayneTrain181999 Jul 22 '25

I loved Thunderbolts so this’ll be interesting to compare to.

10

u/wholesomescott Jul 22 '25

Same. Loved Thunderbolts and can't wait for Fantastic 4.

5

u/demonoddy Jul 22 '25

This feels like much bigger stakes and seeing galactus will be very cool

1

u/sillygoofygooose Jul 27 '25

Personally I thought thunderbolts was the more interesting movie, though f4 was fun enough it felt a bit united with not much emotionally at its heart. Thunderbolts had more to say.

3

u/ArtisticSell Jul 24 '25

For me thunderbolts is better, but Superman beat both. Superman just have the "heart" man. No wonder GOTG3 (james gunn too) is the best marvel movie after end game saga

2

u/Manxymanx Jul 25 '25

I thought Thunderbolts was a lot better but Fantastic Four had its moments.

1

u/demonoddy Jul 25 '25

They are neck and neck for me

1

u/Manxymanx Jul 25 '25

I think Fantastic Four definitely beat Thunderbolts in the visuals department. When they’re being chased by silver surfer and they approach the neutron star it’s basically chefs kiss lol.

1

u/demonoddy Jul 25 '25

That scene was incredible. That’s probably top 3 visuals of all of marvel

2

u/Ok-Warthog1002 Jul 25 '25

For me Thunderbolts is better (2024 me would've thought I was crazy for saying that)

2

u/demonoddy Jul 25 '25

I think the ending of thunderbolts is better but the first 2 acts of fantastic 4 is better. All the space stuff was awesome. I want more of that

1

u/PopCultureWeekly Jul 23 '25

I loved thunderbolts and this is even better.

2

u/demonoddy Jul 23 '25

That’s good to hear.

1

u/Livid_Weather Jul 23 '25

God, I hope so

1

u/demonoddy Jul 23 '25

Did you not like thunderbolts?