Fantastic Four 2025 review: Marvel's remarkable comeback
Fantastic Four: First Steps is a big step (pun intended) in the right direction for Marvel. Don’t get us wrong, it is not perfect, but it is definitely one of the best movies Marvel has delivered since Avengers: Endgame.
The biggest issue for Marvel post-Endgame has been inconsistency in how they treat their stories. The MCU worked because people cared about the characters. They grew with them. But Marvel flooded screens with content. What was once a fun thing for fans (watching every movie for the lore) started feeling like homework. You might call it superhero fatigue (that’s a different debate), but somewhere along the line the MCU lost its identity. Even Kevin Feige admitted they needed to focus back on quality over quantity.
Some of the best movies since Endgame—Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (I’d still say it was a good movie despite the internet hate, though the post-credit scene and that CGI eye were hilarious), Deadpool & Wolverine, and Thunderbolts—worked because the story was driven by characters. (Thunderbolts flopped at the box office, sure, but it was still one of the MCU’s most critically praised movies with its focus on mental health.)
So why the MCU rant?
Because it has become easy to pile on Marvel and the superhero genre in general. Releases like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and the awful Captain America: Brave New World made it easier. But after following these movies for 15 years, I want them to succeed more than anything. Going into Fantastic Four: First Steps, I was hopeful. Praying, even. Please be a good one.
And I was not disappointed.
This movie feels like a straight leap out of the comic pages. The 60s aesthetic? Passes the vibe check. The story? Very Fantastic Four-esque. Grand and personal at the same time.
What makes the movie work
The cast chemistry. Marvel’s first family feels like a genuine family. They love each other, they annoy each other.
- Pedro Pascal plays the genius Reed Richards perfectly, with just the right amount of detached intellect and hidden warmth.
- Vanessa Kirby is the embodiment of Sue Storm, straight out of the pages. She’s undoubtedly the heart of the movie and delivers a power-packed performance.
- Joseph Quinn brings Johnny Storm’s irreverence and charm to life.
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach, despite the heavy CGI for his character, nails the dialogue and presence as Ben Grimm.
Speaking of CGI, this is one of Marvel’s most consistent efforts in years. Sure, if you slow it down to 0.25x you’ll find flaws, but on the big screen it looks amazing.
Galactus and Silver Surfer
Seeing Galactus on his throne was chilling. It took me back to watching the animated shows and reading the comics as a kid. He has that aura. My reaction mirrored Reed’s in the movie: awe and fear. This isn’t a badly written villain with weak motivations—Galactus exists to feed his millennia-old hunger, and the movie nails that.
Shalla-Bal as the Silver Surfer is crazy powerful yet deeply sympathetic. Her motivation for survival makes sense, and she brings emotional weight to the cosmic scale.
Watching the movie, a specific sequence reminded me of Interstellar, and when I later found out that director Matt Shakman said he too felt like that, it made complete sense.
What felt off
Silver Surfer’s speed feats are inconsistent in places. Someone who can move faster than light struggling to catch the team’s ship, even briefly, stands out. It’s clearly for narrative tension, but still noticeable.
The movie also avoids the massive final battle trope. Yes, there are fights, but no all-out “defeat Galactus and grab shawarma” moment. Personally, I think that’s perfect. You can’t have the Fantastic Four steamroll Galactus in his introduction, especially considering how devastating he is in the comics. But I can see people complaining about the lack of a big, satisfying payoff.
The heart of it all
This movie is about family. And yes, I feel like Vin Diesel’s Dom Toretto saying that. The stakes may be world-ending, but at its core this is about protecting a child. A cosmically powerful child, sure, but still a child. Comic readers know what a beast Franklin Richards is. That mid-credits teaser all but confirms he’ll play a huge role in Avengers: Doomsday.
Watch it or skip it?
Watch it. Definitely in IMAX. If nothing else, experience Galactus and the Fantastic Four’s world. This is Earth-828, separate from the main MCU, so there’s no homework.
If you want a superhero movie you can enjoy without prior knowledge, this is it. For MCU nerds, this is a glimpse of what the MCU could and should have been: focused on quality with a cohesive narrative.
I would rate it a solid 4 out of 5 stars (promise this time it isn’t a pun).
Rating:
Fantastic Four: First Steps doesn’t reinvent the superhero wheel, and it doesn’t try to. It focuses on doing the basics right, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted Marvel to do post-Endgame. The result? Impeccable.
What did you think of the movie? Drop your thoughts below and let’s geek out in the comments. For more honest movie takes, check out our other reviews. And to learn more about Fantastic Four: First Steps, click here.
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