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After years of anticipation and multiple attempts, Marvel’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” released on July 25, 2025, appears to have largely succeeded in bringing Marvel’s First Family back to the big screen with a fresh and well-received approach. In this in-depth review of Fantastic Four First Steps, we’ll dive more into why this film, directed by Matt Shakman, featuring Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm, has early praise for the tone of the film, a strong cast chemistry, and stunning visuals.
Story Summary: Heroes Face a Cosmic Threat
This Fantastic Four First Steps review would not be complete without a discussion of the plot. The events in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” are on a vibrant retro future looking Earth in the 1960s. This story begins with our favourite heroes, the Fantastic Four, already established in their roles. Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm are living their lives with their fantastical powers. Suddenly, the famous and ominous Silver Surfer appears. The Silver Surfer comes as a herald to Galactus, a massive cosmic entity that is intent on consuming the energy of the Earth. The Fantastic Four must work together to harness their incredible powers alongside their familial bond to combat this existential threat to humanity. This premise is thrilling and will set the stage for a thrilling Fantastic Four First Steps review!
Fantastic Four First Steps Review : What the Critics and Fans Say
The initial reception for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” has been overwhelmingly positive, making this Fantastic Four First Steps review a celebration for many fans.
Rotten Tomatoes
The Fantastic Four: First Steps” currently holds a strong 88% “Certified Fresh” rating from critics, based on a significant number of reviews. The critical consensus highlights “rock-solid cast chemistry and clad in appealingly retro 1960s design, this crack at The Fantastic Four does Marvel’s First Family justice.” The Verified Audience Score is an even higher 92%, indicating strong positive sentiment from moviegoers. This marks the highest Rotten Tomatoes score for any Fantastic Four film in live-action history, signaling a significant turnaround for the franchise. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_fantastic_four_first_steps
IMDb
Adding to its strong critical praise, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” has also earned a commendable 7.6/10 rating on IMDb. This solid user score reflects a positive sentiment among a broader audience, demonstrating that the film has resonated well beyond just professional critics and further cements its standing as a successful new chapter for Marvel’s First Family. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10676052/ratings/?ref_=tt_ov_rat
What Works: A Blast from the Retro-Future Past
Many elements contribute to the positive sentiment in every Fantastic Four First Steps review:
Retro-Futuristic Aesthetic
In Fantastic Four First Steps review Both critics and audiences have embraced the film’s unique visual identity and 1960s retro-futuristic aesthetic that references classic sci-fi and the golden age of comics. Compared to the traditional MCU, this visual style is very unique and serves as a refreshing shift away from the usual MCU aesthetic.
Strong Cast Chemistry
The cast as a whole, particularly the chemistry between Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, has been emphasized as feeling true and genuine. Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm, in particular, is often regarded as a standout performance with many reviews from Fantastic Four First Steps stating that she is the heart of the film.
Focus on Family
The story effectively focuses on the relationships and emotional connections between the members of the Fantastic Four, ensuring that the cosmic story elements are deeply rooted in relationships that are, at their core, human. It’s satisfying to see a return to the focus on family, which is central to the comic book.
Unique Tone
The film strikes a nice balance between silly, warm and self-contained, providing the sense of fun and wonder that many felt was missing from more recent entries in superhero. It recognizes the “weirdness” (without trying to be excessively gritty) that cartoon superhero stories can encapsulate.
Villainous Presence
Ralph Ineson’s Galactus and Julia Garner’s gender-flipped Silver Surfer have received commendation for their impactful portrayals, with Galactus being described as truly terrifying and formidable.
Michael Giacchino’s Score
The musical score has been widely applauded for its sweeping scope and cinematic flair, contributing significantly to the film’s atmosphere.
Areas for Improvement: Pacing and Familiar Beats
While overwhelmingly positive, a balanced Fantastic Four First Steps review also addresses areas for refinement:
- Pacing: Some critics mentioned the film has trouble with pacing; some scenes were slow and dragged on for a while and the setup and climax felt rushed.
- Familiar Climax: The final act and conclusion seem familiar or at least a formula that has become a bit standard for superhero films even though the film has a new spin to it.
- Character Development (for some people): While they do develop team chemistry, a few critiques mentioned it would have been nice to see Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm developed as characters more as compared to Reed and Sue.
Public Reaction on Social Media: Early Buzz
Initial responses on platforms such as X (the former Twitter) indicate a fairly enthusiastic fan base, showing similar messages to many of the reviews of Fantastic Four First Steps as well. A number of tweets come out praising the visuals, the chemistry, and the unique tone:
- “#TheFantasticFour is a fresh breath for the MCU. It provides all the humour & action you want but is almost a new cinematic language & vibe. I would say it has some of the best world building of the MCU.”
- “The visuals are breathtaking Sue Storm is the heart of the film and steals any scene she’s in. The team dynamic is right on and Galactus is completely terrifying. You’ll be on the edge of your seat.”
However, some tweets also point out the aforementioned criticisms:
- #FantasticFour 2025 is a stylistic shell without any soul at all. The retro-futuristic visuals feel inert; the script lacks emotional gravity – the family ‘drama’ missed the mark, and characters felt alienated.’
- “Easily the best of all attempts, not that that is much. It has some problems, mostly I feel like it rushed, but the actors, storyline, visual aesthetic, and score are all awesome. It could have been great if it had been allowed to breathe.”
Conclusion: Our Final Take on the Fantastic Four First Steps Review
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is a major positive leap for Marvels First Family on the big screen. The film’s strong relationships between characters, retro-futuristic style, and fun, heart-felt adventure has, for the most part, succeeded in kicking off this next installment for them, without abandoning it for good. There are some minor pacing issues and reliance on superhero clichés that are present, but the overall positive takeaways would indicate that this really does feel like a legitimate “first step” into a fantastic new future for the First Family of the MCU. This Fantastic Four First Steps review concludes that it’s a must-see for fans and newcomers alike.
Now, we want to hear from you! If you’ve already seen “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” what were your favorite moments, and which character truly stole the show for you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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