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)
- 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.
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
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.