The Fantastic Four are the original heroes of their time, protecting humanity through countless adventures. Now, a new adaptation is on its way.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps marks the third attempt to bring Marvel’s “First Family” to the big screen, and the first to be set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Previous versions were produced by Fox, but this new take is set to explore the vast MCU multiverse.
Will the MCU deliver a compelling and lasting version of the Fantastic Four?
Plot Points: (Spoilers)
The Fantastic Four are more than just heroes; they’re a family. When Sue and Reed Richards announce they are expecting a baby, the family is expanding. But their happiness is short-lived.
An unexpected visitor from another world, the Silver Surfer, arrives on Earth with a dire warning. She is the herald for Galactus, the devourer of worlds, and he is coming to consume the planet.
The Fantastic Four track the Silver Surfer back to Galactus and are stunned by his immense size and seemingly unlimited power. They confront the cosmic being, who offers them a grim choice: sacrifice their unborn child, Franklin, to him, and he will spare the Earth. Galactus believes he can harness Franklin’s power and use him as his new herald.
The team barely escapes with their lives, determined to protect Franklin. They return to Earth and share Galactus’s proposition, but many people condemn their decision, believing the Fantastic Four have doomed the entire planet. Undeterred, Mr. Fantastic devises a plan to hide the Earth from Galactus, and the world rallies behind him. The plan is nearly successful, but the Silver Surfer destroys all but one of the towers needed to make the Earth disappear.
With time running out, the Fantastic Four must act fast. They devise a new plan to cast Galactus into the far reaches of space and use the newly born Franklin as bait. However, Galactus discovers the ruse just in time, forcing Sue Richards, the Invisible Woman, to push her powers to their limit to save her son and the world.
What I Liked
Having read many of the original Fantastic Four comics, I was immediately struck by how this movie captured the authentic look and feel of the ’60s. It perfectly channels the spirit of that era’s hopeful, futuristic science fiction. The retro-futuristic setting is a brilliant choice for the team. The stunningly beautiful visuals, complete with advanced tech and classic dials, felt like a love letter to ’60s sci-fi.
This film also excelled at portraying the core of the Fantastic Four: their bond as a family. Their interactions felt genuine and heartfelt, highlighting the unique personalities of Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben. The small details made them feel like real people, both in and out of their superhero roles.
The inclusion of H.E.R.B.I.E. was a fantastic touch. As a fan of the animated show from the late ’70s, I was thrilled to see him brought to life and his usefulness expanded.
Galactus was truly incredible. Unlike previous movies that depicted him as a cloud, this film embraced his iconic, albeit sometimes silly, comic book design and made it look genuinely cool. His immense scale and complexity were on full display, making him feel impossibly far beyond humanity’s level. At one point, even the Fantastic Four seemed to have no way of defeating him, which added to the high stakes.
What I Disliked
Frankly, there was nothing glaringly wrong with this movie. It delivered on every front.
My Review
Fantastic Four: First Steps is the movie I’ve been hoping for since the original film was announced. It beautifully explores the characters’ complexity and their deep need for family. Visually, it was amazing and an absolute blast to watch. I loved this movie.
My Grade: A
IMDB: 7.3
Rotten Tomatoes- Audience: 91%
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics: 87%
Metacritic: 65%
Google Audience: 3.9 out of 5
