Spoiler Alert: This review contains plot details from Fantastic Four: First Steps. Read at your own risk.
It’s rare that a superhero film leaves me feeling full like I’ve just experienced something complete, emotionally resonant, and built with care. So color me impressed that I’ve been left in that state for the second time this month (the first being Superman) after watching Fantastic Four: First Steps.
This third big-screen attempt at Marvel’s First Family doesn’t just course-correct past mistakes; it finally gives them the grounded, heartfelt, and intentional story they deserve.
Starting from the Marvel title card, what was made abundantly clear to me was Marvel’s commitment to visual storytelling. Unlike the exposition-heavy or overly quippy entries of the past, First Steps trusts its audience. We’re not told why these characters matter; we’re shown. The film drops us into a world and a family that already feels lived-in. Their relationships are real. Their conflicts have weight. Their motivations feel honest.
Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby, as Reed (Mr. Fantastic) and Sue Richards (The Invisible Woman), bring a nuance to their dynamic that’s rare in the genre. Reed may be the smartest man alive, but Pascal makes him feel burdened by that genius—not defined by it.
There’s a quiet compassion in his performance that makes Reed vulnerable and deeply human. And then there’s Miss Vanessa Kirby! Her portrayal of Sue Storm is precise yet multifaceted. Sue isn’t one-dimensional; she’s arguably the most powerful member of the team, but also patient, emotionally intelligent, and fiercely protective.
Reed and Sue’s relationship feels beautifully balanced—full without falling flat, flawed without being frail. It’s refreshing to see a superhero marriage that’s neither idealized nor on the verge of collapse. They just are, and the care Pascal and Kirby bring to that dynamic is magnetic.
But this is still a Fantastic FOUR movie, and the team’s other two members get their time to shine as well. Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm (The Thing) and Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm (The Human Torch) share a warm, brotherly chemistry that goes beyond the usual bickering it tends to get stripped down to in other projects. Outside of their dynamic, I appreciated that Ben’s trauma from his transformation isn’t overplayed but still acknowledged with Ebon giving us a Grimm who’s quietly wrestling with what he’s lost, without it consuming what he’s gained.
Johnny finally gets to be more than just a hothead. He still has his signature spark, but Quinn’s portrayal doesn’t rely on arrogance or bravado. Instead, it stems from Johnny’s quiet need to prove himself and be affirmed by Reed (his big brother). That’s what made his scenes with H.E.R.B.I.E. so effective. We see Johnny act as a big brother to the little robot, offering fist bumps, head scratches, and genuine warmth. These moments serve as subtle, visual storytelling tools that deepen Johnny’s character while physically grounding H.E.R.B.I.E. in the scene.
Director Matt Shakman (of WandaVision) continues to prove he knows how to balance style and substance without compromising narrative. The film’s art direction, with its retrofuturistic aesthetic, does a ton of heavy lifting in giving this iteration of the Fantastic Four its own visual identity. This movie has some of the most breathtaking visuals in the MCU and a sense of scale that would make Gareth Edwards jealous. Where the Celestials in Eternals felt big, Galactus here feels massive and terrifying.
That intentionality in the visual direction is on full display with Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer. The way her body reflects light makes her feel eerily real in nearly every scene she’s in. Technically, Galactus is the film’s big bad, but while he looms large as the external threat, it’s Silver Surfer who challenges our heroes on a deeper, emotional level.
Metaphorically and literally, she holds up a mirror to the team, forcing them to confront what they’re willing to sacrifice to save what they love. Garner’s performance walks a fine line between menace and melancholy, making her Silver Surfer feel both unsettling and empathetic.
Marvel often catches flak for rushed CGI, but here, I was reminded of what they’re capable of when given the proper time and resources. Most of the visual effects are top-tier, minus a few odd shots of baby Franklin Richards, but what really sells the fantasy is the commitment to blending digital and practical elements. This shines through in H.E.R.B.I.E.’s physicality and the practical suit used for The Thing, both of which add a tangible weight that helps make this fantastical world feel grounded and lived-in.
What really made this movie shine for me is that the stakes feel real. The biggest strength this film has, and what allows it to fire on all cylinders, is that it takes place on another Earth. Thirty-seven MCU movies in, you kind of know how things are going to end. No matter who’s threatening Earth in The Marvels or Quantumania, you know the planet’s sticking around for the next installment.
First Steps breaks that pattern. It doesn’t take place on Earth-616 (or 199999). Set on Earth-828, we lose that safety net, making this world and its heroes expendable. Knowing that Doom’s Day and Secret Wars are coming actually adds the emotional stakes as opposed to minimizing them. There were many fan theories before this movie’s release suggesting that this Fantastic Four might lose their world to Galactus, forcing them to flee into the main MCU timeline.
That uncertainty kept me on edge through the entire final act. At one point, I thought Reed was about to pop like a rubber band (the sound design here is diabolical). I thought Johnny might actually sacrifice himself to save his family. And don’t even get me started on how long they let Sue’s death scene linger.
For the first time in years, I felt real tension in a Marvel movie. I didn’t realize how much I missed that feeling, the sense that anything could happen. It reminded me of why Infinity War and Endgame still resonate: Marvel made me believe no one was safe.
That fear pulled me deeper into the story; it gave me the opportunity not only to feel invested but immersed. I appreciated that this film wasn’t just a commercial for the next installment. While it does create a great setup for Avengers: Doom’s Day, it prioritizes telling its full story. You don’t need a PhD in Marvel to follow it. It stands on its own, and that makes the payoff even more satisfying.
My only real critique would be the lack of progressive character development. By the end of the film, the team feels largely unchanged from where they started. An extra 15 minutes of meaningful character work could’ve gone a long way. Ben’s side plot with Rachel Rozman (Natasha Lyonne) is sweet, but it doesn’t connect meaningfully to the larger story.
And while I loved the family dynamics inside the Baxter Building, I wish we’d seen more of the team engaging with the outside world, individually, in the city they’re charged with protecting. Letting us see them interacting with everyday people, forming bonds, or experiencing the impact of their presence firsthand would’ve added emotional weight to their mission. It could’ve made the stakes more personal and grounded, and helped each member feel connected not just to each other, but to the world they’re trying to save.
Still, those are nitpicks, not dealbreakers.
So with that, I’m giving Fantastic Four: First Steps a Fantastic 4 out of 5 stars. It’s visually stunning, emotionally grounded, and finally gives Marvel’s First Family—and the MCU post-Endgame—the respect they deserve. There’s room for deeper development, sure. But as a reintroduction, it absolutely earns my curiosity for what’s next. If this is the direction Marvel is heading, with care, character, and clarity, I’m here 4 it.
Photo Credit: Disney
