The Fantastic Four: First Steps is Marvel Studios’ introduction of Marvel’s First Family to the MCU, directed by Matt Shakman and released on July 25, 2025. The film is set on Earth-828, an alternate universe with a retro-futuristic 1960s-inspired aesthetic, rather than the MCU’s primary reality. Marvel says the movie officially brings the Fantastic Four into the MCU, with Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm later returning in Avengers: Doomsday.
That setup matters when assessing the Fantastic Four First Steps Reviews because the movie deliberately separates its family story from the continuity-heavy approach associated with some recent MCU releases. It offers enough context for newcomers while still leaving room for larger Marvel connections later.
Fantastic Four: First Steps Review Scores at a Glance
The overall reception is clearly positive, although the strength of that response varies depending on the review platform.
| Review source | Score | Verdict |
| Rotten Tomatoes Critics | 86% | Fresh |
| Rotten Tomatoes Audience | 90% | Positive |
| Metacritic Critics | 65/100 | Generally Favorable |
| Metacritic Users | 6.5/10 | Generally Favorable |
Rotten Tomatoes currently lists an 86% Tomatometer from 408 reviews and a 90% Popcornmeter from more than 10,000 verified ratings. Its critics’ consensus specifically praises the cast chemistry and retro-1960s design.
Metacritic gives the film a 65/100 based on 54 critic reviews, classified as “Generally Favorable.” Its breakdown is 59% positive, 35% mixed, and 6% negative. The current user score is 6.5/10.
The takeaway is straightforward: critics generally like the film, audiences are even more enthusiastic on Rotten Tomatoes, but some reviewers remain unconvinced by the screenplay and familiar superhero structure.
Why the Reception Improved
Franchise history helps explain why First Steps has been received more warmly than earlier big-screen versions of the team. Rather than retelling the origin story yet again, the film drops viewers into an established Fantastic Four family and gives the characters a distinctive world of their own.
That difference has been noticed by critics. Metacritic’s review compilation includes praise for the movie’s heartfelt, earnest approach and its willingness to embrace the spirit of the comics rather than reinvent them completely.
The standalone accessibility is also important. The movie establishes Earth-828 as its own setting, so viewers do not need to work through years of MCU continuity simply to understand who these characters are. Marvel itself describes Earth-828 as the film’s separate retro-futuristic universe.
Commercially, the movie also became the highest-grossing Fantastic Four film worldwide. The Numbers records approximately $521.86 million worldwide, compared with $333.13 million for the 2005 film, $289.48 million for Rise of the Silver Surfer, and $167.85 million for the 2015 reboot.
What the Reviews Actually Say
The strongest part of the Fantastic Four First Steps Reviews is the cast. Rotten Tomatoes’ consensus specifically highlights the ensemble’s chemistry, while several individual reviews also praise the warmth and likability of the characters.
Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm receives particular attention, while Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach benefit from the sense that the four heroes genuinely function as a family rather than simply as four superheroes sharing screen time.
The film’s retro-futuristic design is another consistent strength. Its 1960s-inspired technology, production design, costumes, and visual identity give it a look that separates it from the usual contemporary MCU formula. Rotten Tomatoes explicitly identifies the retro design as one of the film’s major virtues.
Michael Giacchino’s score is another notable positive. The music reinforces the movie’s optimistic, larger-than-life comic-book identity and complements its period-inspired presentation.
What Critics Loved
- Strong chemistry across the Fantastic Four.
- Vanessa Kirby’s performance as Sue Storm.
- Retro-futuristic 1960s production design.
- Family-centered storytelling.
- Michael Giacchino’s score.
- A comparatively accessible entry point for MCU newcomers.
What Critics Didn’t Love
The main weakness is the screenplay. While many reviewers found the movie entertaining and sincere, some felt that its story follows familiar superhero formulas instead of taking bigger creative risks. Metacritic’s reviews include both high praise for its entertainment value and criticism of its conventional plot.
The movie’s central threat can also feel less compelling to some viewers than the visual scale suggests. Galactus is visually imposing, but the emotional and dramatic impact of the conflict is more divisive than the film’s presentation might imply.
That criticism should not be exaggerated, however. The overall audience response remains positive, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a 90% verified audience rating. Metacritic users are more mixed at 6.5/10, showing that viewers are not completely unanimous about the movie’s execution.
What Audiences Think
Audience sentiment is broadly favorable, but the reasons for that enthusiasm differ.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the 90% Popcornmeter indicates strong overall audience approval. The platform’s audience summary emphasizes the team’s family dynamic and the movie’s retro-futuristic energy.
Metacritic is more reserved, with a 6.5/10 user score. Its current user-review distribution is 61% positive, 23% mixed, and 16% negative.
This suggests a useful distinction: viewers who connect with the family relationships, visual style, and optimistic tone are likely to enjoy the film substantially more than viewers primarily looking for a tightly plotted, relentlessly intense superhero spectacle.
How Does First Steps Compare With Previous Fantastic Four Movies?
First Steps benefits from comparison with the franchise’s uneven theatrical history. Metacritic’s overall franchise coverage notes that previous attempts had struggled critically, while the 2025 movie was widely seen as a meaningful improvement.
| Film | General reception | Main strength | Common criticism |
| Fantastic Four (2005) | Mixed | Cast and comic-book accessibility | Formulaic execution |
| Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) | Mixed | Larger-scale spectacle | Uneven story |
| Fantastic Four (2015) | Negative | Ambitious ideas | Tone, script and execution |
| The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) | Positive | Cast, design, and family dynamic | Predictability |
The 2025 film is not revolutionary, but it is considerably more confident about what the Fantastic Four should be. Instead of treating them as generic superheroes, it emphasizes their identity as a family, which is one of the reasons the reboot has connected more strongly with critics and audiences.
Should You Watch It?
Watch it if you value character chemistry, family relationships, colorful world-building, strong performances, and a distinctive visual identity. It is especially appealing if you want a Marvel movie that can be understood without completing a long MCU homework assignment.
Lower your expectations if your priority is an unusually complex screenplay, a radically unpredictable superhero story, or a villain whose dramatic presence dominates every scene. Some critics found the familiar genre structure and screenplay less impressive than the cast and visual presentation.
For most viewers, though, the balance falls on the positive side. The Rotten Tomatoes critic and audience scores, combined with the broadly favorable Metacritic reception, support the conclusion that First Steps is a worthwhile watch rather than a Marvel movie to skip.
Does It Connect to Future Marvel Movies?
Yes. First Steps officially introduces the Fantastic Four into the MCU, and Marvel confirms that Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach will return as the team in Avengers: Doomsday.
The film’s mid-credits scene also introduces Doctor Doom, creating an important bridge toward the wider Marvel story. It is better to describe the scene as a Doctor Doom setup rather than claim that it is a confirmed Robert Downey Jr. cameo.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set on Earth-828, a distinct retro-futuristic universe, and establishes its characters and setting within the movie itself. Marvel specifically describes Earth-828 as the film’s separate universe.
Cast chemistry is one of the clearest strengths. Critics also responded positively to the 1960s-inspired production design, family dynamic, and the film’s sincere comic-book tone.
The most consistent concern is the screenplay’s familiarity. Some reviewers felt the story follows established superhero formulas instead of delivering a major reinvention.
Possibly. The movie places unusual emphasis on the Fantastic Four’s family relationships and distinctive world rather than relying only on nonstop action. Its retro-futuristic setting also gives it a visual identity that separates it from many conventional superhero films.
It has received a substantially warmer overall response. Metacritic’s franchise coverage describes the 2025 film as the first recent Fantastic Four adaptation to be broadly embraced as entertaining and fun.
Yes. The Fantastic Four: First Steps earned approximately $521.86 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Fantastic Four movie to date.
Yes. Marvel confirms that the Fantastic Four will return in Avengers: Doomsday, and the movie’s Doctor Doom-related mid-credits scene provides an additional connection to the MCU’s future storyline.