THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS (2025) review
written by: Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, and Ian Springer
produced by: Kevin Feige
directed by: Matt Shakman
rated: PG-13 (for action/violence and some language)
runtime: 114 min.
U.S. release date: July 25, 2025
It’s not a stretch to say that “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is the best Fantastic Four film to date. Considering the previous three attempts to bring Marvel’s First Family to a live-action format, Disney and Marvel Studios knew the bar had been set low. However, they are also aware that bringing the cosmically enhanced quartet to the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) could potentially deliver something we haven’t seen in the last 36 movies they’ve produced. At the helm is Matt Shakman, who kicked off Marvel Studios’ episodic endeavors in 2021 by directing and co-producing “WandaVision”, when quality was prioritized over quantity. He brings the show’s new and different vibe to characters that creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby debuted almost 65 years ago, demonstrating a confident command of the material’s science fiction, adventure, family drama, and quirky humor. It might be the first MCU movie that wholly embraces its comic book-iness.
Since the Fantastic Four comic began in the early ’60s, I’ve always maintained that the best live-action approach would be to set it in that era. To have a story about four explorers getting bombarded by cosmic radiation during a mission to outer space, at a time when the Space Race between the United States and Russia was still in its early years, tapped into a real-world wonder and “What-If?” factor for readers. Sure, the following decades saw the foursome receive various updates, but there was something special and indelible about Marvel’s first superhero team being introduced in this era.
Apparently, Shakman and the four screenwriters of “First Steps”, along with producer Kevin Feige, realized this as well and figured out a way to recapture that feeling. Set in a place where these superheroes are in a retro-futurist world that feels nostalgic and altogether different at the same time. This is accomplished by setting the story in an alternate world, that of Earth-828 (you’ll see why those numbers are used during the end credits), which allows them to do whatever they want and frees them up (for now) from the restraints of the MCU movies that came before it.
On this Earth, it has been four years since scientist Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) and his wife, Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), along with her younger brother, Johnny (Joseph Quinn), and Reed’s best friend and former astronaut Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), gained superpowers after their trip to space. Calling themselves the Fantastic Four, the elastic Reed became Mr. Fantastic, Sue is called Invisible Woman, due to her ability to generate force fields and turn invisible. At the same time, her brother goes by the Human Torch since he can control fire and fly, and poor Ben Grimm goes by The Thing after becoming the most visibly transformed of the quartet with his orange rocky hide. New York City natives (and quite possibly the world) have embraced them, likely because they are the ones who see them the most since that’s where they’re headquartered, where they reside with robot companion, H.E.R.B.I.E. There are comic books and cartoons created to follow and/or continue their adventures, and they show up on talk shows, news segments, and on advertisements. All of which perpetuate the team’s popularity and keep them on the consciousness of the inhabitants of this Earth.
As the movie opens, we learn that Sue is pregnant and Reed finds himself more nervous than you’re average soon-to-be father. Being a man of science (likely with a touch of OCD), Reed has always thought of every possible outcome of a situation, especially the worst-case scenario. Now he wonders how the baby will be affected by his and Sue’s cosmic radiation physiologies. He can run all the tests he wants, but he won’t know in advance. This is one reason why the movie is subtitled, “First Steps”, since Reed will be entering a stage in life he hasn’t yet experienced. Sue is less anxious about this new stage, knowing they will face whatever challenge comes as they have any other: together, as a family. On that note, Johnny and Ben are elated, no doubt competing for the role of doting uncle.
While it may seem like this iteration of the Fantastic Four is foregoing an origin story, like James Gunn’s “Superman” from a couple of weeks ago, what occurs here is more clever. Ensuring that any viewer watching – whether they are well-versed in the history of Marvel Comics’ first family or those who’ve given up on MCU offerings and, for whatever reason, have decided that Phase Five would be their re-entry – “First Steps” cleverly includes a “catch-up” summary that quickly encapsulates the foursome’s launch and return from space, as well as their heroic feats since then. This takes place while the four heroes are special guests of The Ted Gilbert show (evoking The Ed Sullivan show), invited by the titular guest (Mark Gatiss) in celebration of the fourth anniversary of their “fantastic” debut. It’s a great way to bring viewers up to speed with what has transpired, showing pre-launch video of the four explorers in their astronaught suits (fittingly, the only time we see Moss-Bachrach as Grimm), and we hear the names of classic villains from the FF rogues gallery mentioned, like Mad Thinker and the Red Ghost. A fun clip of Reed using his stretch abilities to take out one of the latter-mentioned villain’s Super Apes. None of this is simple fan service. It all serves to establish what and where the audience is being dropped into without extraneous exposition slowing down the momentum.
Months later, while the city is still celebrating the arrival of a new addition to the FF family, and wondering if the baby will have superpowers, an unexpected metallic alien visitor lights up the skies over Manhattan. This Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) has arrived as a herald of planet devourer, Galactus (Ralph Ineson), warning the people of Earth of their planet’s inevitable destruction. Of all the places to arrive and make this announcement, she chose the New York City of this Earth, primarily because everything happens there in Marvel Comics, and, well, the plot has to move along. Knowing they are the ones to defend the planet and confront the Surfer, they decide to shuttle off in their space rocket (named Excelsior, if you know you know) to meet this cosmic being in person.
They learn that Galactus isn’t just an evil megalomaniac that gets his kicks out of eating planets, but he’s actually interested in a way to remove his insatiable hunger. When he meets the Fantastic Four, he presents them with a way out of his situation, which would, in turn, provide a solution that would save the Earth. Sensing immense power in Reed and Sue’s unborn child, Galactus offers to spare their planet in exchange for their baby, believing the newborn will be a suitable replacement. Obviously, that’s a hard “no” for the foursome, and as they narrowly escape and return to Earth, they’re faced with an impossible decision, one involving understandable emotions and scientific reason.
The people of Earth, especially the citizens of New York City, are under the assumption that their heroes have returned triumphant. However, there’s a refreshing honesty at this point in the narrative. During a press conference at the Future Foundation – an international non-government organization founded by Sue and overseen by Lynne Nichols (Sarah Niles, last seen in “F1”), which has maintained global demilitarization and peace through proactive diplomacy – Reed admits that Galactus was not defeated, tells them what offer they turned down, and reveals that he’s not sure the world will be okay.
This is a moment that comes as a shock to the public and is something we rarely see in superhero movies. Knowing Reed has always told them the truth, the audience is left feeling helpless, shocked, and enraged. This is also the first time the world meets Franklin Richards, whom Sue delivered in zero gravity during their harrowing return trip, which turns out to be one of the movie’s most exhilarating sequences. These are new and different moments for an MCU movie, and also for the genre overall. But, straightforward candor has always been present in the Fantastic Four comics, and it’s nice to see it on display here. As viewers, we can relate to the dilemma the family finds itself in, just as much as we can understand the frustration of the rest of the world.
Of course, the FF will eventually find a way to prevent global annihilation, but how they go about doing it in a world where they are the sole superheroes makes for compelling storytelling. In the comics, when a gargantuan threat arrives and starts to demolish New York City, other heroes like Spider-Man, the Avengers, and Doctor Strange take notice and team up with the FF to fight the threat. On Earth-828, the Fantastic Four can encourage world leaders to pool their resources and join them in their plan to defeat Galactus. This is also how we meet Harvey Elder (a welcome Paul Walter Hauser), also known as the Mole Man, who oversees an underground society, known as Subterranea. Once an enemy and now an ally, thanks to Sue’s persuasive diplomacy, Harvey agrees to lend a hand. It probably helps that he has a crush on Sue as well.
That’s not the only attraction we see in the “First Steps”. The most convincing chemistry is that between Reed and Sue, whose bond has always been integral to the strength of the team. If their relationship is in trouble, then it affects the team as well. Pascal and Kirby have a palpable connection that is convincing (something they’ve visibly displayed on their press tour for the movie), and both show formidable intellects individually. They are, however, stronger together, with Sue being the heart and backbone of the family. Kirby is excellent in the role and winds up being a welcome standout in the movie.
Johnny Storm has traditionally been portrayed as a humorous ladies’ man, someone who often engages in a steady diet of ball-busting with Ben Grimm. “First Steps” could’ve benefited from more ribbing between Johnny and Ben, establishing a brotherly bond that’s essential to the team. Joseph Quinn’s Johnny is immediately attracted to Silver Surfer (maybe that’s why they used a female Surfer, but her character, Shalla-Bal, has a connection to Norrin Radd, the original Silver Surfer in the comics, so seeing her here with these powers won’t be foreign to specific viewers) and finds a way to connect with her after decyphering her alien language. It’s a subplot that contributes to the team’s overall plan and winds up giving Johnny something to do besides flaming on. While this is the best big-screen visualization of The Thing we’ve had yet, it is also a character that is heavily reliant on those visuals. Moss-Bachrach’s performance is predominantly motion-capture, but he portrays Ben with the right amount of loyalty and courage. However, there’s a degree of self-deprecating pathos missing, and more time could’ve been spent developing Ben’s love interest, Rachel Rozman (Natasha Lyonne), a teacher at the local Hebrew school.
At a time when we’re used to these superhero movies going well over two hours, I’m surprised to find myself wanting more time with these characters. Considering John Malkovich’s scenes as Red Ghost were cut, there was obviously a decision to keep the story under 120 minutes. It’s worth noting I’m not asking for more action sequences, just more character-centric moments with this Fantastic Four.
That being said, Shakman isn’t always able to balance the tonal shifts here, from the dire theme of infant sacrifice to the lightness found in a tape-based robot helper, but that’s where humanity does the heavy lifting. That makes the inevitable finale involving personal stakes and a grandiose display of the team’s unique abilities a more engaging affair.
Regardless, “Fantastic Four: First Steps” is still the best Fantastic Four movie yet. As mentioned, that’s a low bar, but credit should be given where it’s due. There is much that Shakman and company are getting right here, and composer Michael Giacchino’s jubilant and rousing tones provide a memorable score, which is something rare in the MCU. The visual effects are stellar, especially in broad daylight, where it really matters. The cinematography is quite captivating, but the colorful costumes and impressive production design fit the movie nicely, offering the kind of attention to detail that has evaded previous iterations and past MCU entries. The most memorable takeaway from “First Steps” will be the time viewers have spent with the titular characters, rather than the events themselves.
RATING: ***
