The Fantastic Four: First Steps Movie Review

Released: 25th July 2025 (UK and US)

Length: 114 Minutes

Certificate: 12A

Director: Matt Shakman

Starring: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner and Ralph Ineson

Of all the iconic superheroes in comics, the Fantastic 4 have proven the most difficult to adapt. From the nineties all the way to 2015, three separate versions have tried and failed in varying ways to bring them to the big screen. With the rights returning to Marvel as of 2019, a reboot was on the cards; the team joins the wider cinematic universe with The Fantastic 4: First Steps.

On Earth 287, Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Susan Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) have been well-established heroes for four years. They are celebrated widely by the press and public with Reed and Sue expecting a baby. When the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) comes to Earth to herald the arrival of Galactus (Ralph Ineson), the team jets off into space to confront the threat. The result is a straightforward narrative that achieves the fundamentals. Going from terra firma to an infernal space machine and back again, the new Fantastic Four is always moving forward. The comedy isn’t too overbearing either and the main characters all get their moment in the spotlight. Reed and Sue lead the way as they balance the safety of their child with the wider world. Johnny has somewhat of an ego, but he also has some good interactions with the Silver Surfer on the way through. The film always emphasises the close bonds between the four leads; it’s just the right balance of everyday discussions and cosmic threat. With that said, the major action and big set pieces are quite predictable; aside from a faster-than-light expedition and Sue’s pregnancy, First Steps treads familiar ground for the wider franchise.

With four strong performances, this adaptation is certainly the best of the bunch. Pedro, Vanessa, Ebon and Joseph are all a great fit. You do feel the sense of closeness and even though their origin stories have been abridged, the narrative still highlights how much they have been through. Side roles within the civilian populous are well done and the villains are perfectly serviceable, though I was left wanting more from both of them. Julia Garner and Ralph Ineson are both great actors, but they could have had more material to work with. The new version of the silver surfer could have had more inner conflict and while Galactus is true to the comics, there’s only so much that can be done with a towering behemoth who devours planets. It’s possible that both characters will be expanded in future efforts and there’s definitely room to grow for all the cast members.

Taking place in an alternative version of Earth, First Steps leans right into a classical look with most of the environments, vehicles and technology inspired by the 1960s. It’s visually distinctive and packs a lot of charm; the resident robot has a cassette tape for eyes, the textures on The Thing's chiselled frame are very detailed and the city pops with colour. It’s notable that we see it on ground level, showing how connected the protagonists are with the community. By contrast, the space scenes have some great visual effects; at one point the team slingshots around a black hole to escape and the spaceship blends really well with the celestial backdrop. The lighting and unworldly machinery creates a great backdrop to the villain’s debut. Galactus certainly looks far better than he did in films past. By the end, we get a great sense of scale as every power is put to use. The soundtrack uses a full choir and orchestra to brilliant effect; it matches the aesthetic while amplifying the team’s exploits.

Building success after prior failures, Fantastic 4: First Steps is a fine effort for the MCU that gets the characters right. The theme of family is front and centre, the sixties aesthetic is spot-on and the effects are presented well. It could have gone deeper with some elements, especially the villains, but everything else is still entertaining.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars (Good)