The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a Marvel Studios reboot of the iconic superhero team and marks the franchise’s integration into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Directed by WandaVision’s Matt Shakman, this version introduces a new cast playing Marvel’s “First Family” in a vivid, retro-futuristic setting that leans into 1960s sci-fi aesthetics.
Main Cast:
- Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic
- Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm / Invisible Woman
- Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm / Human Torch
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm / The Thing
- Ralph Ineson as Galactus & Julia Garner as Silver Surfer also feature.
What works:
- Critics and audiences alike praise the cast chemistry, especially between Pascal and Kirby, and Kirby’s emotionally grounded performance as Sue Storm.
- The visual design — a stylised, retro-futuristic world and production design — helps set this apart from typical MCU fare.
- The film’s family-driven narrative gives it a more human core than many action-heavy superhero blockbusters.
- It’s also a box office success, grossing over $500 million worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing Fantastic Four film to date.
What divides opinion:
- Some critics appreciated the stylish and heartfelt approach but felt the plot lacked depth or fresh ideas, and that the story underutilised its cosmic villain.
- A portion of fans and reviewers called it underwhelming or uneven, noting pacing and character development issues in user reviews.
Overall, critics’ scores sit around 85–87 % on aggregate sites, with generally favorable but mixed deeper takes.
🎥 Comparing with Previous Fantastic Four Films
| Film | Year | Reception | Box Office / Legacy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fantastic Four | 2005 | Mixed; fun but shallow | Moderately successful but forgettable |
| Fantastic Four | 2015 | Poor; critically derided | Box office disappointment |
| First Steps | 2025 | Generally positive; best yet | Strong global success; revitalises franchise |
The 2025 reboot is widely seen as the strongest cinematic take on the Fantastic Four so far — both in critical regard and commercial performance — especially compared with the earlier, less polished 2005 and the critically panned 2015 versions.
📽 What It Means for Cinema
For comic-book movies:
First Steps suggests audiences still crave fresh creative approaches within the well-trodden superhero genre. Its retro stylings and focus on internal dynamics over spectacle fit a trend where franchises must innovate visually and narratively to stand out.
For the MCU:
As part of Phase Six, the film helps signal a shift back toward character-driven storytelling after several underperforming entries. Its success — especially tying in cosmic threats like Galactus — lays groundwork for future MCU crossovers and the ongoing evolution of big-screen superhero storytelling.
For broader cinema:
While not a radical reinvention of the blockbuster formula, First Steps shows that genre films can still evolve by leaning into unique production design, strong casting, and thematic cohesion about family and identity — elements that enrich mainstream cinema beyond explosions and effects.
⭐ Final Thought
The Fantastic Four: First Steps isn’t perfect, but it breaks new ground for the franchise and stakes a strong claim among Marvel’s post-Saga films. Its balance of retro charm, ensemble warmth, and MCU integration marks it as a notable entry in modern blockbuster cinema — one that fans and filmmakers alike will reference as a new baseline for adapting beloved comic properties.
