The Fantastic 4: First Steps (2025)

The film is the best Marvel movie in years and the best Fantastic Four yet, thanks to strong casting and a vivid retro-futuristic alternate universe. The critic singles out the family chemistry of the quartet and the sincere, optimistic tone for praise.

The MCU’s best movie in a while; vivacious, beautifully rendered and largely enjoyable comic book spectacle with strong design and performances.

Marvel delivers its funniest, most exciting, moving and complete film in more than a decade with this earnest, colourful and upbeat reboot that feels like the start of a new chapter. The critic singles out the refreshingly human quartet of heroes and strong performances, especially Vanessa Kirby as the steadfast matriarch.

The film makes a bumpy but earnest attempt at being Marvel’s most daring in years, with its retrofuturistic world as the greatest delight. It skips the origin story and leans on family sitcom dynamics and a premium cast amid an imperfect but refreshing new direction.

The review finds the film uneven but charming due to its retro-futurist style and character moments, though it pulls back from deeper ideas; praises the design and some performances but notes it's just good enough.

Entertaining enough with charismatic cast and sleek retro-futuristic design, but scrappy around the edges and middling overall.

The movie shares a sentimental tone with the new Superman, focusing on family themes and a planet-eating threat, but the director evokes little struggle, terror, or wonder. The fine cast delivers amiable and mild performances, with more energy in the production design than the drama.

After a promising start, falters due to lacklustre plot; likeable performances but a missed opportunity.

It’s a pleasure to watch the super-charged dynamics of the Fantastic Four, but attempts to fit this retrofuturistic family unit into the wider ‘Marvel cinematic universe’ feel clumsy.

The critic lauds the film's sincere channeling of Jack Kirby's optimistic spirit and visual style through heartfelt family dynamics and visually audacious action, positioning it as a welcome MCU reset.

Marvel rediscovers the lighthearted, buoyant fun of superheroism in a retro-futurist early-1960s family sitcom setup with the Four living together as a dysfunctional unit expecting a baby. The critic praises the self-enclosed wacky universe, hallucinatory 60s production design and how the finale emerges naturally from the premise.

The critic praises the film's back-to-basics approach focusing on character and family dynamics in a retro-futuristic setting, highlighting the appealing cast and light touch in balancing humor and suspense.

The retro-futuristic Sixties-style alternative universe gives the reboot a fresh feel reminiscent of The Incredibles, with charismatic turns from the cast including Pedro Pascal and a sensitive portrayal of the Thing. The critic notes the script is packed with platitudes but highlights fun production details like the Sixties polonecks.

The critic praises the film as the first to successfully balance the Fantastic Four's corny, nerdy charm with epic cosmic adventures, making it one of the better superhero films of the year. They single out the retro-futurist world where the heroes' intelligence and compassion have genuinely improved life for everyone.

The movie brings genuine comic-book joy and energy back to the MCU with its loving embrace of the source material, retro aesthetic, and strong cast performances, particularly Kirby as a powerful Sue Storm.

The critic finds the film satisfying and stylish, praising its retro-future setting, smart script, and moving performances from the charismatic cast, particularly Pedro Pascal. It delivers satisfying action spectacle without heavy superhero gravitas.

The review calls it a first-rate movie for Marvel’s First Family that feels like a real Fantastic Four movie, embracing a retro 1960s vibe with grandeur, humanity, and whimsy while evoking early comic-book scale. It notes some drawbacks like underdeveloped characters and occasional unconvincing CG but overall finds it a heck of a lot closer than prior adaptations.

The film delivers a visually stylish retro-futuristic take with strong performances from Pascal and Kirby, but it sticks to overly familiar superhero tropes and a basic plot without much innovation.

The critic praises the faithful portrayal and casting of the Fantastic Four as a family unit, especially Vanessa Kirby's Sue Storm, but notes the film is divided tonally between light '60s fun and somber Galactus threat, resulting in a somewhat morose introduction despite strong character work.

It offers a simple, family-friendly, retro-styled story that serves as an easy MCU entry point with strong ensemble chemistry and wholesome vibes, but it feels cartoonish, relies on exposition, and has an underdeveloped villain.

The review finds it the best Fantastic Four film yet, with charismatic leads and enjoyable family dynamics, but ultimately safe and entertaining summer fare that could use more oddness or supporting characters.