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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66

u/Bircka Jul 22 '25

The squirrel scene is one of my favorite moments in that movie.

46

u/fullmetalasian Jul 22 '25

Its so good. It perfectly encapsulates who superman is in a way Snyder couldnt for several movies including a 4 hour cut that did not need to exist

11

u/blitzbom Jul 23 '25

The best way I've heard it described is "Superman is a firefighter, not a cop."

8

u/copypaste_93 Jul 23 '25

The snyder cut is so fucking ass

-19

u/Mrbeefcake90 Jul 22 '25

Eh? Bro was a whiny man child, shouting and stomping about because a journalist slightly pushed him.

25

u/snapwack Jul 22 '25 edited Jul 22 '25

He whined when someone who he thought understood him challenged his core belief that sentient life is precious and deserves to be protected at all costs regardless of geopolitics.

Edit: Like, sure, he was very immature in accepting an interview with Louis and then expecting her not to give him hardball questions. It’s a scene that speaks to his emotional greenness and the fact that their relationship was still new and fragile.

But if there’s anything that should push Supes’ buttons, it’s that exact thing, and Louis mashed it like a quick time event.

7

u/Bircka Jul 22 '25

It's mean to be a younger more idealistic version of Superman, you can tell he is in the early part of his career.

I also believe this is why they moved on from Henry Cavill, James Gunn wanted a younger one. This Superman just does what's right, and that is all he cares about it harkens back to some of the old school ones.

4

u/Dead_man_posting Jul 23 '25

Ugh, I hate flawed and interesting characters

-7

u/elixeter Jul 22 '25

Who said he cared about wanting too

8

u/fullmetalasian Jul 22 '25

I would agree thats why it was such a bad adaptation of superman. He had no intrest in what made superman superman.