The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)

-Written by Kyle Bain. 

When Galactus (Ralph Ineson) threatens Earth-828 and the newest member of Marvel’s first family, the beloved Fantastic Four, Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), must band together in order to save humanity. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the newest installation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the newest iteration of this team of endearing superheroes. 

Four times! Four times has Hollywood attempted to bring The Fantastic Four to life on the big screen, with this being the most recent attempt. For all intents and purposes, the previous attempts have been unsuccessful. While there were engaging moments in those previous films, it’s safe to say that fans were ultimately unhappy with what played out before them. The Fantastic Four: First Steps may just be the first time that Marvel has truly nailed this team of heroes, their infamous villains, and their story. To be clear, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is just as its title says: fantastic. 

Why does this film work? In short, it changes everything. The things that haven’t been working in the MCU as of late, i.e. the aggressive comedy, takes a backseat in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Sure, comedy exists throughout the course of the film, but it’s often subtle, relevant, and keeps with the overarching dramatic tone of the film. For the first time in a long time I left the theater after watching an MCU property and truly believed that there wasn’t a single instance of comedy that ineffectively overshadowed genuine, powerful emotion. Director Matt Shakman brings with him the emotional content that found WandaVision so much success, and he uses that to propel this film forward in a way that keeps it grounded and accessible. Thunderbolts*, Marvel’s most recent flop (though it shouldn’t have been), helped to usher in this recycled trend of emotion driving the story–and The Fantastic Four: First Steps followed suit, greatly appealing to viewers in that regard and creating something that extends far beyond the world of superheroes. 

The emotion remains ever-present as a result of the dialogue. Each character has a moment in which they are given their chance to show off their dramatic chops; and Quinn and Kirby take full advantage of the opportunity. Family, love, and loss are personified in their speeches, so much so that I occasionally found a tear in my eye (something I’m rarely willing to admit). There is no shortage of emotional moments present in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and as much as the film is something of a space odyssey, that aforementioned emotion and drama keeps the film grounded. 

Then there’s the visuals. From the attractive cast to the gorgeous set designs–The Fantastic Four: First Steps does just about everything right in this arena. It’s important to note that there are a few minor shortcomings in regard to the film’s CGI, but the majority of the film is so aesthetically appealing. From Quinn, to Kirby, to Julia Garner (Shalla-Bal), the cast of The Fantastic Four: First Steps is, simply put, attractive. Beyond that, however, this film is full of gorgeous sets, impressive costumes, and more–and as the film barrels forward, every bit of this film’s aesthetic works to transport viewers back in time to 1960s New York City. While films of this nature rarely receive the credit they deserve come award season, when The Fantastic Four: First Steps is inevitably overlooked for costume design, visual effects, and production design, it will truly be a travesty. 

So, if that’s what works, what doesn’t work? Beats the hell out of me, but people like to complain about things, so, I’m sure people have complaints. I’ve aired my minor grievances regarding the CGI, but it’s difficult for me to pinpoint anything else that I found concerning in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. 

With all of that said, I remember walking away from the theater feeling something of a high; like I was misremembering what I had just watched and was overrating the film as a result. Though, as I sit here, I feel that The Fantastic Four: First Steps is just as good as I felt it was when I stepped away from my horridly uncomfortable reclining seat at my local theater. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is more than just a good film, however, it’s a promise of more great things on the horizon for Marvel and Disney, it’s a slight look into the next big Marvel event in Avengers: Doomsday, and it’s a reminder that movies matter. The Fantastic Four: First Steps ranks among the best films that I’ve seen this year, the best MCU properties since Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3, and is, most certainly, the best approach toward bringing The Fantastic Four to the big screen. 

Directed by Matt Shakman. 

Written by Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, Ian Springer, Kat Wood, Stan Lee, & Jack Kirby. 

Starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Ralph Ineson, Julia Garner, etc. 

9/10 = DROP EVERYTHING AND WATCH IT NOW