--- title: "The Fantastic 4: First Steps: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-fantastic-4-first-steps/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-fantastic-4-first-steps" critics_score: 72 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Fantastic 4: First Steps (2025): what the critics said Critics' score 72 from 15 reviews: 11 positive, 3 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics like it, and a good number call it the best Fantastic Four film yet and among the better Marvel films in some years. The praise clusters in two places: the retro-futurist early-1960s production design, which nearly every review names as the chief pleasure, and the cast, with Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm and Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards singled out most often. The family dynamic, played closer to sitcom than saga, is what reviewers respond to. Reservations gather around the script rather than the surface. Several critics find the plot thin and the villain underdeveloped, and a few note the film splits tonally between sunny sixties fun and a sombre cosmic threat. The spread is fairly wide, from raves at Empire and /Film to three-star shrugs, and The New Yorker stands alone in finding the drama mild and the performances more amiable than involving. Sight and Sound adds that the ties to the wider Marvel universe feel clumsy. ## Empire — Dan Jolin Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 22 July 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. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-fantastic-four-first-steps/) ## Radio Times — James Mottram Rating 4/5. 22 July 2025. The MCU’s best movie in a while; vivacious, beautifully rendered and largely enjoyable comic book spectacle with strong design and performances. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/scifi/fantastic-four-first-steps-review/) ## The Telegraph — Robbie Collin Rating 4/5. 24 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-review-pedro-pascal/) ## The New York Times — Brandon Yu Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 24 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/movies/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-review.html) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 22 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/review-fantastic-four-first-steps-is-just-good-enough.html) ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating ★★★. 22 July 2025. Entertaining enough with charismatic cast and sleek retro-futuristic design, but scrappy around the edges and middling overall. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/news/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-marvel-goes-interstellar-in-an-amiable-outing-for-comic-books-first-family-072225) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 28 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/the-fantastic-four-first-steps) ## Screen Daily 22 July 2025. After a promising start, falters due to lacklustre plot; likeable performances but a missed opportunity. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-review-pedro-pascal-and-vanessa-kirby-head-underwhelming-marvel-superhero-reboot/5207204.article) ## Sight and Sound 24 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/fantastic-four-first-steps-charming-superhero-family-story-stifled-marvel-brand-extension) ## Slant Magazine — Justin Clark 22 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-review-pedro-pascal-vanessa-kirby/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw 22 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jul/22/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-review) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney 22 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-review-marvel-pedro-pascal-1236325361/) ## The Times Rating ★★★☆☆. 22 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-review-pedro-pascal-is-charismatic-as-ever-w2w6mlj9b) ## /Film — Witney Seibold Rating 9/10. 22 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1918790/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-review/) ## Consequence Rating B+. 22 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2025/07/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-review-mcu/) ## Deadline — Damon Wise Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 22 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2025/07/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-review-pedro-pascal-marvel-1236464831/) ## The Wrap — William Bibbiani Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 22 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-review-marvel/) ## Collider — Emma Kiely Rating 7/10. 22 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-review/) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 3.5/5. 22 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-review/) ## Polygon — Sam Nelson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 22 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/marvel/615093/fantastic-four-first-steps-mcu-review/) ## NME — Lou Thomas Rating 3/5. 23 July 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-review-vanessa-kirby-pedro-pascal-3880254) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-fantastic-4-first-steps.md