The Fantastic Four: First Steps Review
After years of development hell, failed reboots, and endless speculation, Marvel Studios finally delivers its take on the iconic superhero quartet with Fantastic Four: First Steps. Directed by Matt Shakman and set in a stylized, retro-futurist corner of the MCU, the film takes a character-driven approach to Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm—charting their early transformation into Earth’s weirdest heroes.
The result? A visually compelling, grounded reintroduction of the team that nails tone and aesthetic but falters when it comes to delivering a satisfying threat. First Steps doesn’t crash and burn—but it doesn’t quite soar either.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), Marvel Studios
A Bold New Aesthetic for Marvel's Oldest Icons
One of the film’s most striking achievements is its visual world. Set in a speculative ‘60s-inspired timeline that diverges from MCU’s traditional modern-day setting, First Steps thrives on its retro-futuristic aesthetic. The Baxter Building is a masterpiece of mid-century design fused with bleeding-edge tech; Johnny’s first flight through Manhattan glows with warm neon streaks; and even the lab interiors feel tactile, weathered, and thoughtfully constructed. It’s the rare Marvel film where production design and cinematography feel intentionally cohesive rather than digitally sterile.
The cinematography by Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Loki, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) captures both the intimacy of the team’s quieter moments and the grandeur of their first cosmic mission. The color palette leans into soft pastels, deep blues, and solar flares that shimmer across their signature uniforms. Simply put, it’s the best the Fantastic Four have ever looked on screen—and it gives the movie a unique identity in a franchise often accused of visual sameness.
A Tighter, More Grounded Family Dynamic
Unlike previous iterations that struggled to balance tone or chemistry, First Steps gets its team right. Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards is restrained and internal, more haunted scientist than bombastic leader. Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm brings a sharp intelligence to the role, allowing her to be both emotionally anchored and narratively essential. Joseph Quinn’s Johnny is arrogant but endearing, while Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm feels like the moral heart of the film—gruff, funny, and ultimately tragic.
What stands out most is that the group actually feels like a team. Their relationships are given room to breathe, especially in the film’s first half. Whether bickering over mission protocols or quietly checking in on one another’s mental state, there’s a believable closeness here—something sorely missing from prior versions. For once, the “first family” of Marvel feels like a real family.
Galactus Fizzles Where He Should Terrify
Unfortunately, all that character-building runs headlong into a wall when it comes to the film’s central threat. Galactus, teased as the looming danger from beyond the stars, is visually enormous but narratively underwhelming. Instead of building tension or awe, the film reduces him to a one-dimensional plot device—appearing late in the second act, handled with surprising ease, and disappearing with minimal consequence.
There are hints early on that First Steps is setting up something massive—cosmic tremors, broken satellites, strange signals—but when Galactus finally arrives, the resolution borders on cartoonish. The film leans on stylized spectacle rather than character-driven stakes, and it undercuts the weight of what should have been an existential threat.
It’s not just a missed opportunity—it’s also a tonal mismatch. The grounded emotional work of the first hour makes Galactus’s appearance feel like a plot obligation more than a climax. For longtime fans hoping to see Marvel’s ultimate cosmic villain done justice, it’s a frustrating letdown.
First Half Soars, Second Half Stumbles
First Steps starts strong. The opening act is paced with confidence, giving us glimpses of the team’s past, their transformation during a high-risk scientific mission, and the aftermath of their newfound powers. There’s tension, discovery, and emotional fallout that makes the characters feel human before they become heroic.
But as things progress—coinciding with the eventual arrival of Galactus—the movie starts to lose momentum. The pacing quickens, exposition mounts, and the film trades its earlier subtlety for big swings that don’t always connect. It’s not a disaster by any means. The performances remain strong, and the action scenes are visually inventive. But what began as a grounded and emotionally resonant origin story becomes increasingly thin by the time the final confrontation arrives.
Score: 6.5/10
While it has more strengths than weaknesses, The Fantastic Four: First Steps isn’t quite the cinematic milestone it set out to be.
