Fantastic Four: First Steps (Movie) | Review

After years of stumbling through Phase Five's inconsistent releases, Marvel needed a win. What they've delivered with Fantastic Four: First Steps isn't just a course correction— it's a genuine rediscovery of what made superhero films exciting in the first place.

Director Matt Shakman understands something crucial that many recent Marvel entries forgot: heart matters more than spectacle and genuine emotional connections between characters will always triumph over empty visual excess.

Here's the thing about this reboot— it doesn't apologize for its predecessors or waste time explaining why this version exists. Instead, it confidently plants its flag in a retro-futuristic 1960s setting and builds a world that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly new.

Set in an alternate 1960s timeline where space exploration advanced decades ahead of our reality, the film follows Reed Richards and Sue Storm as they prepare for both parenthood and a cosmic threat that could devour their whole world.

When the planet-eating entity Galactus sets his sights on Earth, the Fantastic Four must unite to face one of their greatest challenges. What starts as a story about scientific discovery quickly transforms into a family drama with universe-ending stakes.

The pregnancy subplot isn't just emotional window dressing— it becomes the film's emotional anchor, giving weight to every decision the team makes. Shakman uses this personal stakes approach to ground the cosmic mayhem in genuine human emotion.

This adaptation pulls heavily from the Lee-Kirby era while incorporating modern storylines. The retro-futuristic aesthetic borrows directly from Jack Kirby's iconic designs, translating his bold geometric patterns and cosmic scope into stunning visual language.

FF: First Steps respects the source material's optimistic view of science and exploration without ever feeling dated, successfully translating Jack Kirby's bold vision into a modern cinematic experience that celebrates discovery.

The decision to re-imagine Silver Surfer as Shalla-Bal, voiced by Julia Garner, shows their smart choice of comic-book adaptation and creative storytelling. Rather than retreading familiar ground with Norrin Radd, the film explores different corners of cosmic Marvel mythology while maintaining the character's essential tragic nobility.

Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards anchors the film with the kind of charismatic intelligence that makes you believe he could stretch his way out of any problem, while the supporting cast delivers performances that feel lived-in rather than manufactured.

Pascal brings unexpected vulnerability to Reed Richards, avoiding the cold scientist stereotype that plagued previous versions. His Reed feels like someone who genuinely cares about discovery and family in equal measure.

Vanessa Kirby's Sue Storm emerges as the team's emotional center without sacrificing her fierce independence, delivering a performance where she's protective, powerful, and refreshingly three-dimensional throughout every scene.

Joseph Quinn captures Johnny Storm's youthful recklessness while hinting at deeper maturity beneath the surface. Ebon Moss-Bachrach delivers the film's most surprising performance as Ben Grimm, finding humor and pathos in the Thing's rocky exterior. Their chemistry as a found family feels authentic rather than forced.

The film's visual language draws heavily from mid-century modern design and retro-futuristic aesthetics. Cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt creates a world that feels both familiar and alien, using warm color palettes that contrast sharply with the cold cosmic threats.

1960s setting allows for practical effects that enhance rather than replacing digital wizardry, creating a visual aesthetic that feels tactile and authentic while supporting the story's retro-futuristic atmosphere perfectly.

Galactus's arrival sequences rank among Marvel's most visually impressive moments. The planet-devourer's scale feels genuinely threatening without relying on generic destruction. Cosmic sequences balance spectacle with intimate character moments, ensuring visual effects serve the story rather than overwhelming it.

The opening pregnancy reveal immediately establishes the personal stakes of Fantastic Four team before any cosmic threats appear. This choice grounds everything that follows in human emotion rather than abstract danger.

Reed's reaction to Sue's news becomes a master-class in character development— his scientific mind races through countless possibilities while his heart struggles with the reality of bringing a child into an uncertain world like theirs.

The laboratory sequences that follow showcase each team member's unique approach to problem-solving, with Johnny's impulsive testing of experimental equipment contrasting beautifully with Reed's methodical research, while Ben's practical engineering keeps their feet grounded and Sue emerges as the thoughtful mediator.

Their first encounter with Silver Surfer builds tension through character interaction rather than action. Shakman stages this cosmic meeting as a diplomatic encounter gone wrong, allowing each character's personality to shine through their response to an otherworldly threat.

Reed attempts communication through scientific dialogue, Sue prepares for protection with her force fields, Johnny wants to fight with typical hot-headed enthusiasm and Ben simply wants to protect his chosen family above all else.

FF team's space exploration sequences capture genuine wonder and terror of cosmic discovery, breathing with authentic scientific curiosity unlike typical superhero films that rush through important plot points without proper development.

Each power manifestation feels integral to problem-solving rather than mere showing off— Reed stretches to reach impossible places, Sue creates protective barriers against cosmic radiation, Johnny scouts ahead through dangerous terrain and Ben provides the physical strength to hold everything together.

The emotional core deepens during quiet moments between action beats, as Sue's heartfelt conversations with Reed about their future child happen alongside careful preparations for potential world-ending scenarios that threaten everything.

These intimate scenes prevent the cosmic stakes from feeling abstract while building toward the inevitable final confrontation that will test everything they value most in their intertwined lives, relationships and shared future together.

The final confrontation with Galactus avoids typical superhero movie pitfalls by focusing on teamwork and sacrifice rather than individual heroics. Each team member contributes their unique abilities to a solution that requires all four working in harmony.

At 125 minutes, the film maintains tight pacing without feeling rushed or overstuffed with unnecessary subplots. The script balances multiple character arcs without losing focus on the central family dynamic. Each act builds naturally toward the cosmic confrontation while developing the team's interpersonal relationships.

The pregnancy subplot provides crucial emotional weight that prevents the cosmic stakes from feeling abstract, grounding the universe-threatening danger in deeply personal consequences that resonate with audiences on a fundamentally human level.

The film's structure mirrors classic adventure stories— discovery, conflict and resolution but adds layers of character development that elevate familiar beats. Unlike recent Marvel entries that feel overstuffed, this story knows exactly what it wants to accomplish.

Michael Giacchino's score captures both the period setting and cosmic scope. His themes for each character feel distinct while blending seamlessly during team moments. The retro-futuristic instrumentation adds unique flavor without becoming distracting.

Sound design particularly excels during power manifestation scenes, with Reed's stretching, Sue's force fields, Johnny's flames and Ben's rocky movements each having distinctive audio signatures that enhance the visual storytelling experience.

The cosmic sequences benefit from restrained sound design that emphasizes the vacuum of space while building tension through selective audio moments. Galactus's presence registers through deep, almost subsonic frequencies that create genuine unease.

Fantastic Four: First Steps succeeds where previous adaptations failed by remembering that superpowers mean nothing without compelling characters to wield them. This isn't just Marvel's best film in years or a simple return to form— it's a powerful reminder of why we fell in love with superhero stories in the first place.

The film balances intimate family drama with cosmic spectacle, creating something that feels both epic and personal. While it doesn't revolutionize the superhero genre, it executes familiar elements with such skill and heart that they feel fresh again.

Pedro Pascal and his co-stars create a found family worth caring about, while Shakman directs with confidence and clear vision. For the first time in years, a Marvel film leaves you excited about what comes next rather than exhausted by what just happened.

Currently playing exclusively in theaters worldwide, Fantastic Four: First Steps debuts on July 25, 2025 at 4DX, IMAX and ScreenX. A digital release is expected in mid-September, with a likely Disney+ premiere around late October or early November, following Marvel Studios’ typical release window of 90 days post-theatrical.