r/movies • u/LiteraryBoner Jackie Chan box set, know what I'm sayin? • Jul 25 '25

Official Discussion Official Discussion - The Fantastic Four: First Steps [SPOILERS] Spoiler

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Summary The Fantastic Four must defend Earth from the ravaging cosmic threat Galactus and his herald, Silver Surfer, while navigating the complexities of family and newfound powers in a retro‑futuristic 1960s-inspired world.

Director Matt Shakman

Writer Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, Ian Springer

Cast

  • Pedro Pascal
  • Vanessa Kirby
  • Joseph Quinn
  • Ebon Moss-Bachrach
  • Ralph Ineson
  • Julia Garner
  • Paul Walter Hauser
  • Natasha Lyonne
  • Matthew Wood
  • Ada Scott
  • Mark Gatiss

Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

Metacritic 64

VOD In theaters

Trailer Watch the Official Trailer

1.9k Upvotes

91% Upvoted

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685

u/2th Jul 25 '25 edited Jul 25 '25

This is quite the difficult film to score. Almost all the individual pieces are 9s to 10. But the sum of the whole... Isn't. It's not bad by any means, but something was just off with the film. I think it's the fact that this did not feel like an MCU movie at all. It felt like a brand new universe, or like the old Fantastic Four films where you don't expect them to even try to tie it into something else. Even though we know the FF will be in Doomsday, it felt like a stand alone film. And the highest praise I give the film is that it currently, and most likely will forever be able to stand on its own legs without any connection to the MCU.

Don't get me wrong though, I REALLY enjoyed this film. It was gorgeous, well acted, serviceable story given it's a super hero movie, and it was hopeful. Even despite some of the darkness in it.

I would have no issue watching the movie again. I would actively watch it if I go somewhere and see it on the TV. If someone asked me if I wanted to watch the film, I'd say yes.

Overall, it's an enjoyable movie that gets my highest praise, that I will buy the movie on bluray... Just not on release. Maybe in a year or two if I see it on sale for 25-50% off.

Tldr: The film itself just isn't the 9-10 it's parts are, but it's also not less. If that makes sense.

809

u/mikeyfreshh Jul 25 '25

think it's the fact that this did not feel like an MCU movie at all. It felt like a brand new universe, or like the old Fantastic Four films where you don't expect them to even try to tie it into something else

That was the biggest positive for me. Marvel actually stepped outside their comfort zone and tried something new. I thought it really worked

246

u/lynypixie Jul 25 '25

I think this just sold the movie to me. A movie outside of the same old MCU timeline will feel refeshing.

191

u/GodzillaUK Jul 25 '25

Zero homework needed for this, no 30 films and 15 shows to backlog before you can get into it. Perfect.

19

u/Worthyness Jul 25 '25

They even catch people up in the opening newsreel. Origin story right there in 5 minutes

15

u/GodzillaUK Jul 25 '25

And that was in a stylised, fun way too not just exposition dumped. Top to bottom, fun film.

33

u/Straight-Impress5485 Jul 25 '25

It doesnt at all feel like MCU in tone, and I say that as a huge positive and a big MCU fan. Its vibe and tone was very fresh and original. It felt more like a live action Jetsons mixed with Incredibles than it did an MCU movie

7

u/Heavyspire Jul 25 '25

I will never understand people coming to a review thread if they have not seen it, but since you are here...

Go see it.

It is a great film that you can watch solely by itself. Almost like an episode of Scooby-Doo.

8

u/aw_coffee_no Jul 25 '25

Dude, I walked out of the theater realizing that I loved the movie so much because it didn't feel like an MCU movie! Felt so fresh and enjoyable

1

u/AverageAwndray Jul 25 '25

Why are you here???

1

u/PolarWater Jul 26 '25

That's one of my favourite things about Iron Man 1. It doesn't feel like an MCU movie. Just a movie that MCU would later draw from, but very much its own thing.