It’s been nearly two decades since audiences last saw Marvel’s first family on the big screen, and now finally with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the franchise finally lives up to its potential. After a string of lackluster efforts (including a famously never-released 1994 Roger Corman-produced version and a grim 2015 misfire whose name we do not speak), Marvel Studios has taken full creative control and delivered a smart, stylish, and emotionally grounded reboot that feels both familiar and strikingly fresh.
Despite the implication in the subtitle, The First Steps doesn’t waste time on yet another origin story. In fact, director Matt Shakman (WandaVision) cleverly skips over the team’s cosmic accident altogether, using retro-style newsreels to catch us up. We meet Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm four years into their superhero journey. They’re already a well-known, well-oiled public team, comfortable with their fame, successful at curbing crime, and functioning as a real family unit. That decision to skip the setup pays off in dividends. The film drops us into a lived-in world, and the cast chemistry makes it feel like we’ve been watching them for years.
Leading the pack is Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic. Playing against the stereotype of the cold, hyper-rational scientist, Pascal brings a quiet humanity to Reed. He’s a softly spoken genius, often lost in equations and cosmic theories, using his elastic powers to reach the edges of giant chalkboards rather than punch villains through walls. His scenes are filled with gentle charm and awkward brilliance.
Vanessa Kirby is a revelation as Sue Storm. No longer just “the invisible one,” this version of Sue is the team’s emotional anchor and moral compass. She exudes warmth, intelligence, and strength, finally positioning the Invisible Woman as the most powerful member of the group, not just in abilities but in spirit. Her relationship with Reed is treated with sincerity and complexity, grounding the film in something heartfelt.
Joseph Quinn, fresh off his Stranger Things fame, reinvents Johnny Storm as more than a reckless hothead. Sure, he’s got swagger and fire (literally), but there’s also a curiosity and sincerity beneath the surface. His subplot involving Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer, a visually stunning, stoic presence with a cold, otherworldly allure, adds depth and intrigue. Meanwhile, The Bear’s Ebon Moss-Bachrach brings unexpected heart and levity to Ben Grimm. His version is less tortured and more soulful than we’ve seen before, delivering the classic catchphrases with warmth rather than angst.
Together, they’re a true ensemble, and it’s clear Marvel has nailed the casting. But just as vital to the film’s success is its unique visual and tonal identity. Shakman and his team have built a gorgeous 1960s-inspired retro-futuristic Manhattan that feels lifted straight from the pages of early Fantastic Four comics. Flying cars zip through the skyline, hand-drawn cartoons play on old TVs, and technology hums with analog warmth. The aesthetic is vibrant and fun, evoking The Incredibles and with a bit of Tim Burton’s Batman ’89 thrown in for good measure.
It’s this world-building that gives First Steps such a distinct identity within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Or, rather, outside of it. One of the film’s most inspired choices is to place the Fantastic Four in an alternate universe free of Avengers, multiversal chaos, or cross-referencing to other MCU titles. It’s the first Marvel Studios film in years that you can walk into cold, with no homework required. And that simplicity is surprisingly liberating, eliminating any concern about superhero fatigue or needing to have watched previous films or tv shows to follow what’s happening.
Of course, this wouldn’t be a superhero blockbuster without a world-ending threat, and in this case, it’s the long-awaited big-screen debut of Galactus done right. Forget the cloud of gas from Rise of the Silver Surfer, this Galactus is a towering, godlike figure, rendered in full humanoid glory and voiced with gravelly menace by Ralph Ineson. He’s a true force of nature, imposing and awe-inspiring. Watching him loom over planets and stride through space makes for some jaw-dropping IMAX moments, that require it to be seen on the biggest screen possible.
The cosmic scale is balanced by some interdimensional detours that borrow from the visual language of Interstellar and the Terminator films, though thankfully, the film never gets lost in its own grandeur. A few VFX-heavy sequences wobble slightly, particularly those involving Reed and Sue’s toddler, Franklin, but the overall presentation is polished and refreshingly free of the CGI overload that’s plagued recent superhero films.
More importantly, the emotional core never wavers. At its heart, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a story about family, not just one forged by blood, but by trust, love, and mutual respect. The film embraces optimism and sincerity in a way that feels almost radical in today’s superhero landscape. There are fewer quips, more quiet moments, and a real sense that this team cares about each other, and the world they’re trying to save. This film feels like the perfect follow up to the radical optimism of this month’s earlier release Superman.
The film doesn’t reinvent the superhero genre, and it won’t convert those completely burnt out on MCU quips and cosmic threats. But for those still hoping for meaningful, character-driven stories with heart, this is a welcome return to form. It’s bright, hopeful, and confident in its own identity, that doesn’t outstay its welcome.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps isn’t just a reboot, it’s a reset, a reminder of what these heroes were always meant to be. And this time, the MCU delivers the perfect film for Marvel’s first family.
Marvel’s The Fantastic Four : First Steps is in cinemas now
