The Fantastic Four 2025 - Review: A Retro-Futuristic Homecoming for Marvel's First Family

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

A Retro-Futuristic Homecoming for Marvel's First Family

★★★½☆

A complete triumph of hope and wonder that finally does Galactus justice.

The FIRST superhero family of Marvel Comics finally comes home to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After several mediocre iterations, First Steps succeeds by leaning into a retro-futuristic alternate Earth. This aesthetic choice makes the optimistic, loving, and hope-filled nature of the family feel refreshing rather than old-fashioned.

"But now as a father, I admit to enjoying seeing the joy and wonder in my kids eyes while watching this hope filled optimistic film. Especially in these emotionally difficult times. So it's hard to be cynical about this film's effectiveness. "

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Cast & Crew

• Director: Matt Shakman
• Starring: Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm)
• Antagonists: Ralph Ineson (Galactus), Julia Garner (Shalla-Bal / Silver Surfer)
• Music: Michael Giacchino

The Vision

Director Matt Shakman (WandaVision) creates a jaw-dropping production design reminiscent of a futuristic 1960s "Tomorrowland." The film is supported by an incredible, world-building score from Michael Giacchino that serves as a triumph for the genre. The special effects are top-notch, seamlessly integrating a comic-accurate Galactus and a breathtaking space-chase sequence.

🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts

• Musical Legacy: Michael Giacchino composed a "Fantastic Four Theme" well before filming began, which was used to set the tone for the production.
• The Thing's New Look: Ebon Moss-Bachrach's performance as Ben Grimm utilizes high-end performance capture to ensure he feels like a tangible, solid rock presence alongside his human teammates.
• Retro-Future Brooklyn: The film's 1960s alternate-NYC was heavily inspired by the "Space Age" architecture and "World of Tomorrow" concepts of the era.

✅ Pros

• Arguably the best musical score ever for a superhero film.
• Breathtaking, comic-accurate execution of Galactus.
• Infectious, non-cynical optimism that lands perfectly for families.

❌ Cons

• Suffers slightly from proximity to other "optimistic misfit" projects like Thunderbolts and Superman.

Full Review

The "First Family" of Marvel Comics finally comes home to the MCU. A beloved property, the Fantastic Four has endured several iterations with mediocre results; in defense of previous artists, this franchise is a tough nut to crack. Early challenges struggled with a lack of ideal special effects to portray elastic stretching, fire-wielding flight, and a human tragically turned to rock, all while facing a giant, planet-eating celestial in purple.

Enter The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The first success was placing the narrative in a retro-futuristic alternate Earth reminiscent of the material's roots, making the hope-filled aesthetic feel refreshing. The special effects are, to no one's surprise, top-notch. A space bound chase sequence between the Silver Surfer and the team is particularly breathtaking, and the reveal of Galactus is a "chef's kiss", a formidable, comic-accurate bucket list item for fans. Furthermore, Ben Grimm's Thing looks fantastic, seamlessly integrating with his human counterparts.

The film also features a triumphant score by Michael Giacchino, arguably the best ever for a superhero film, alongside jaw-dropping production design. The retro-futuristic technology creates an aspirational "Tomorrowland" utopia of peace and harmony. However, in this viewer's mind, the story itself feels perhaps overly familiar. Coming on the heels of Thunderbolts* and the optimistic tone of James Gunn's Superman, this film may suffer slightly from proximity to those projects.

I’ll admit, growing up in the '80s as a voracious reader, I wasn't a Fantastic Four fan; I preferred the cynicism of the Justice League International or the street brutality of The Punisher. The FF just seemed too old-fashioned. But now, as a father, I admit to enjoying the joy and wonder in my kids' eyes while watching this optimistic film. In these emotionally difficult times, it’s hard to be cynical about its effectiveness. Welcome to the MCU, Fantastic Four! We look forward to seeing where this journey takes us.

🏆 Final Verdict

As a father, seeing the joy and wonder in my kids' eyes while watching this film makes it impossible to be cynical. First Steps is a hopeful, fantasy-filled journey that finally gives the Fantastic Four the MCU entry they deserve.

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