Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
I have a weakness for the Fantastic Four β enough that I managed to convince myself at one point or another to like almost all of their films β but this latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the movie Iβve been waiting for. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is an inspirational, emotional story that proves once again that we've passed the MCU slump.
On Earth 828 (a new Earth we havenβt seen before), in 1964, Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) are the Fantastic Four: Earthβs greatest heroes. The family β and the world β prepares as Reed and Sue expect their first child when the alien Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) arrives with a warning: the world-eating Galactus (Ralph Ineson) is coming to devour the planet.
Unlike the previous adaptations of the Marvel comic, First Steps begins with the Fantastic Four already established as heroes. Theyβve mastered their powers, countless adventures have cemented them as Earthβs champions and they have a familial bond no force could tear apart. There is no drama about whether Reed can find a way to revert Benn to the way he was before he was exposed to cosmic rays. Heβs accepted who he is and loves it β how could he not with the crowds of children cheering for him every time he passes by? What this movie shows us is their greatest adventure so far: welcoming a new member into the family. The concerns every parent has when they suddenly find themselves responsible for a tiny human are touched upon and then magnified when Galactus comes into the picture. This film works because of the characters' emotional bond. Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby have excellent chemistry but their relationship is no longer in the honeymoon phase; itβs more complicated and more mature. You can feel Reed struggling between the logical and the emotional choices he has to make. That struggle has the tendency to hurt Sue but this doesnβt mean their relationship is doomed. They are together because they find a way to make it work. Johnny and Benn still tease each other but you can see that itβs a playful banter. Both feel like essential parts of not just the team, but the entire family. All of them know each other inside and out; when someone is on someoneβs mind, it doesnβt take too long for someone to pick it up and there are few secrets between them.
Itβs hard to discuss the film and why itβs so emotionally effective without revealing that Galactus wants Reed and Sueβs baby. If they sacrifice Franklin to the cosmic being, he swears heβll leave Earth alone. They refuse. Understandably, the world is outraged. You can see it as that age-old question of βWhat would you sacrifice for your loved ones?β with an added layer of complexity because in a way, all of humanity is the teamβs family/responsibility. One of the reasons I like this film so much is that it displays the heroes as heroes. Logically, it makes sense for a single person to be sacrificed to Galactusβ¦ but why should they? βAnyoneβ can sacrifice something to come out ahead but a superhero wouldnβt give up or take the easy route; theyβd find a way to win. Thatβs what youβre waiting to see. You want to know what theyβre going to do. You know the answer will be satisfying because the Fantastic Four β powerful as they may be β canβt just beat up Galactus, lock him in a jail cell and call it a day. Galactusβ demand means Invisible Woman and Mister Fantastic get more screen time than either the Human Torch or the Thing but Johnny gets a solid sub-plot to himself that proves pivotal in the story. Ben, meanwhile, gets more, smaller moments to establish and develop his character. Scenes where heβs having fun with kids, cooking in the kitchen or bantering with others, for example. Itβs not a uniform blend, but you still get a feel for what everyone is about and, most importantly, how they fit together.
The Josh Trank 2015 film was too dark (among other problems). The Tim Story films were too goofy. This is in the middle, with an enthusiastic zeal for adventure, impactful stakes and the kind of sci-fi elements that are mostly fantasy⦠but contains nuggets of realism. The only real criticism I have for it is that there are points where it gets very special effects heavy and the visuals threaten to overshadow the story & characters.
The movie First Steps reminded me most of wasnβt any previous incarnation of the team; it was the original Sam Raimi Spider-Man. Itβs like director Matt Shakman took a look at the books and said βSo what if Galactus is a giant dude in purple armour? It worked on the page. Itβll work on the screen.β Certain details are tweaked (swapping out Norrin Radd for Shalla-Bal for example), but these do not feel like choices made by some executive to make the end product more palatable to cynical audiences. Everything about it exudes earnestness. Thereβs a mid-credit scene that teases details about the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Youβre not missing much if you skip it (I enjoyed the tribute to Marvel Comics Legend Jack Kirby at the end much more). I say this because it doesnβt mesh with the hopeful aura the rest of the picture radiates. Although the stakes are high, hope shines bright. Iβve only seen Fantastic Four: First Steps once, but it's enough for me to say that I love this movie. (Theatrical version on the big screen, September 1, 2025)
