Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) Review

Title: Fantastic Four
Year: 2025
Director: Matt Shakman
Country: US
Language: English

The Fantastic Four first debuted in Marvel Comics' The Fantastic Four #1 in 1961. The group, who gained their superpowers after exposure to cosmic rays during a space mission, were created in response to DC comics' incredibly popular Justice League of America. To date, more than 150 million Fantastic Four comic books have been sold, with the first comic going for 1.5 million dollars at auction. Hollywood has tried to capitalize on this team, but with little critical success. Roger Corman's adaptation was dated, even for its time. The 2005 & 2007 adaptations made a lot of money ($500 million combined) but received negative press. The 2015 reboot was neither a critical or commercial success. Hopefully Fantastic Four: First Steps will be a step in the right direction. 

Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, the Fantastic Four must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer.

Fantastic Four doesn't waste time on exposition, and dives into the film's story with precision, narrative drive, and a clear vision for what its end-goal is. This entry is far more focused on exploring personalities - and complex areas of morality, rather than glamorizing their superpowers. Reed - smartest man on Earth - feels a tremendous amount of frustration and inadequacy. 

The film's production design, by Kasra Farahani, is a Jetson's esque retro-futuristic style that evokes creativity and wonderment. This by itself would make Fantastic Four standout amongst every other Marvel movie. The 1960s-style split-screen montages and faux archival footage, in addition to its impressive editing, also add to the film's remarkable style. 

I suppose my main negative criticism of Fantastic Four is that its very much style over substance. It does introduce some depth to our characters, but ultimately I don't think it goes as deep as say, Thunderbolts (2025) was able to accomplish. This is a film that is certainly a visual spectacle, but much of the plot elements are questionable. Depending on your view of the ongoing situation, Fantastic Four can come off as selfish jerks. 

It isn't the best superhero to come out this year - or even this month (see Superman)- but Fantastic Four is a decent escapist movie that is certainly worthy of seeing once on the big screen. I appreciated that this film did something a little different with the material.