Marvel is doubling down on fresh marketing strategies in light of DC Studios’ Superman (2025) box office triumph. Now, Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) is being promoted with a bold “big 3” approach, and there are early signs that this new direction is boosting momentum for Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) as well.
Here is our version of Fantastic Four First Steps review, which will help you decide whether to rush to the cinema and see Johnny Storm firing around, or skip it for now.
Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
Plot details of Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
The story is embedded in the name itself, Fantastic Four: First Steps. First Steps also shows the Fantastic Four franchise reboot, along with the entry of a new family member, most likely making them the Fantastic Five.
The story is set in the 1960s, where Reed Richards, aka Mister Fantastic (played by Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm, aka Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm, aka Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm, aka The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) are forced to balance their roles as heroes and their own family bond. Reed and Sue are expecting a baby who has special powers that Galactus wants, and after that, he can spare Earth from destruction.
Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) is Galactus’s herald, who comes with his message that they should keep their close ones closer as their planet is about to face its end.
Watch the trailer here for a quick recap:
Actors’ performances in Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
Performance-wise, the film was great. Although there were six main characters, the four members of the heroic team and Galactus with the Silver Surfer—picking out one as the most prominent one is quite difficult.
Vanessa Kirby was awesome, as she is a strong mother as well as a superhero at heart. She firmly stood in front of her people, carrying her baby in her arms, clearly disseminating the message that she is not ready to give up her baby, but also, she is not going to trade her people for Franklin (the baby).
Pedro Pascal is the ‘intelligent’ Reed Richards, whom everyone thinks has things sorted with his workings and formulas. He has an answer to everything, but when it comes to his family and baby Franklin, he gets emotional. One thing is for sure, he is smart enough to get the clues and fit in his Archimedes, the law of levers.
Quinn, as Johnny Storm and Sue’s brother, equally does everything to protect his family. He is even seen having an interaction with the Silver Surfer, whose language he can understand well. Silver Surfer said something unique to him that surprised everyone. This is when Johnny Storm started deciphering every part of her language and went back to her roots, her human origins, and her family, which was once spared by Galactus himself.
Silver Surfer, Shalla-Bal, was clearly under Galactus’s spell, as she was desperate to save her family, too, as Johnny Storm clarified later in the story. Initially, she gave a warning to Johnny Storm: Boha compero amhae means ‘die with yours,’ but later, she helped save the Earth by pushing Galactus into the black hole that the Fantastic Four had created to throw Galactus out of their planet to another dimension. Garner’s Silver Surfer seemed empathetic as she did the same, which the Fantastic Four were trying to do now.
Moss-Bachrach was funny as well as powerful, and Ralph Ineson as Galactus was magnificent. I am really impressed by his deep and dominant voice, which he created himself, as per The Hollywood Reporter.
What do the critics add to Fantastic Four First Steps review?
The critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes showed a positive review, which said,
“Benefitting from rock-solid cast chemistry and clad in appealingly retro 1960s design, this crack at The Fantastic Four does Marvel’s First Family justice.” [Source]
The critics think that this is, to date, the best Fantastic Four movie of the franchise. The acting and story were excellent, and the relationship dynamics were deeply explored. Human emotions counted till the end since they were not only superheroes, they were purely human who wanted to protect their dear ones at all costs, the critics approved.
Fans reaction
The viewers gave a slightly higher rating than the critics, as they think it was a “refreshing change.” The character-building with a family-oriented narrative was something different from the usual MCU movies.
Staying true to its classic family values, Fantastic Four: First Steps had a great story, with the best part being Sue, fans think.
Is it worth watching?
Yes, Fantastic Four: First Steps is worth watching since it is the name that called me. Why do I say so? Because the title intrigued me and the trailer had already set the hype with the new baby incoming, as everyone wanted to know what the future would hold for baby Franklin in Fantastic Four. Or will he be the one changing Fantastic Four’s future?
Baby Franklin in Fantastic Four: First Steps
That is left for us to contemplate, as the post-credits scene of Fantastic Four left us with some clues. The scene shows four years later, when Sue is reading a story to Franklin, and she leaves the room to get another storybook. But when she gets back, Franklin is seen playing with a man in a green cloak, obviously being Doctor Doom (played by Robert Downey Jr.).
This creates an instant connection with Fantastic Four’s presence in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, for which Marvel has announced the first part of the cast reveal. An official announcement for the second part is still awaited. Moreover, it implies that Franklin might have a solid part to play in Avengers: Doomsday, who is interacting peacefully with Doctor Doom.
In Marvel Comics, Franklin Richards is described as a more powerful entity than the villain himself. He possesses more energy than ancient cosmic entities and has the ability to alter matter, energy, and space; therefore, he has the power of resurrection.
No wonder Galactus only wanted baby Franklin instead of the whole planet, which Galactus thought would be enough to satiate his hunger for years. Baby Franklin was the one who brought her dead mother back to life.
This year, Marvel did not start off well with Captain America: Brave New World (2025) and Thunderbolts* (2025) as both films did not perform well at the box office. Fantastic Four: First Steps has already received impressive ratings from both critics and audiences; hence, it might be a game-changer for Marvel.
Overall, the film did not surprise me that much, but it was a good watch. I was expecting to get details of Galactus’s past; however, it was great to get a quick glimpse of the Silver Surfer’s history.
P.S. Herbie was super-cool!
What we liked
- Strong performances across the board, especially Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm
- Emotional family-centric storyline
- Retro 1960s aesthetic and design
- Character development and focus on relationships
- Galactus and Silver Surfer redefined
- A promising setup for the future
- Humor and heart
What could be better
- Six leads, limited focus
- Galactus’s motivation was lightly explored
- Lack of high-action scenes
Here’s a detailed breakdown of our rating for Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
| Story/plot | 7/10 |
| Characters and acting | 7/10 |
| Direction and pacing | 6.5/10 |
| Visuals and cinematography | 7/10 |
| Soundtrack/score | 6/10 |
| Themes and message | 7/10 |
| Emotional impact | 7.5/10 |
| Creativity/originality | 8/10 |
| Rewatchability | 5/10 |
Our rating: 6
Is Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) available for streaming?
Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) (PG-13) is currently not available for streaming as the distributor, Walt Disney Pictures, is showing in theatres for now. Fans might have to wait till December before it comes to Disney+.
Genre: Space sci-fi, superhero, action, adventure
IMDb rating: 7.3
Rotten Tomatoes: 86 percent on Tomatometer (critics’ score) and 91 percent on Popcornmeter
Cast: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ralph Ineson, Julia Garner
Director: Matt Shakman
Writers: Peter Cameron, Josh Friedman, Jeff Kaplan
Producer: Kevin Feige
Release date: July 25, 2025
Movie runtime: 1 hour 54 minutes
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Passionate Entertainment Writer | Trusted Pop Culture Voice
Madiha Ali is an experienced entertainment writer with over five years of expertise in covering movies, TV shows, celebrity news, and pop culture. Her bylines appear on trusted platforms like The Rolling Tape, Screen Anarchy, High on Films, Ary News, The Express Tribune, Tea and Banter, Show Snob, CelebFeedz, Snapfeedz, Daily Planet Media, The Irish Insider, and Movie Insiderz.
She brings a personal, insightful approach to every story—whether she’s analyzing the emotional layers of a film or giving her take on trending celebrity headlines. Madiha’s writing style is known for being authentic, well-researched, and reader-focused.
When she’s not writing, she’s fully immersed in the world of entertainment—watching new releases, revisiting classics, exploring behind-the-scenes content, or reading books that fuel her creativity. Her passion for storytelling drives her work and helps her stay connected to what matters most in the industry.
Madiha believes great stories start conversations, challenge perspectives, and stay with us long after the credits roll. Through her writing, she continues to share those stories with clarity, depth, and heart.
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