After what seems like 123,456,789 attempts at trying to make the perfect Fantastic Four movie, Marvel may have finally gotten it right.
The cinematic universe has somehow remembered that this story was never about dark realism or angsty heroes. It’s about a weird, lovable make-shift family of superpowered nerds trying to keep it together.
And it is glorious!
Marvel has had a rough couple of years: a few hits, too many misses, and fans starting to drift away from the cinematic universe as a whole. But Fantastic Four (2025) feels like a creative reset. It’s not trying too hard to connect to twenty other films or shove in cameos. It’s just telling a good story with charm, humor, and a genuine sense of fun.
Back to the Sixties (Kind Of)
This version, titled Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), throws the audience into a retro-futurist New York (think 1960s sci-fi with flying cars and round TVs). It’s nostalgic, colorful, and weird (which is honestly very fitting for the storyline, to be honest.)
In the movie, Pedro Pascal graces the screen once again, but this time as Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic).
This time around, however, Reed isn’t your typical brooding genius. Instead, he’s awkward, warm, and often hilariously overconfident. Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm (the Invisible Woman) is, in Gen Z speak, “MOTHER.” She brings calm to the chaos, balancing Reed’s restless energy with wit, strength, and insane amount of aura.
Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) is pure charisma as the Human Torch, while Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm, the rock-skinned Thing, is a total scene-stealer. His dry humor and heart make him one of Marvel’s most endearing characters in years. Together, they’re messy, relatable, and incredibly fun to watch, kind of like The Incredibles met I Love Lucy on caffeine.
Cosmic Chaos: Silver Surfer and Galactus
Then comes the cosmic curveball. Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer enters like a ghostly ballet dancer on a board of light. The Fantastic Four (2025) Silver Surfer scenes are visually stunning and emotionally charged which helps to add real depth to the story. And right behind her looms Galactus. Ralph Ineson’s deep, bone-rattling voice gives the gives the planet-eating giant a terrifying, godlike presence. The Fantastic Four (2025) Galactus sequence turns the movie’s energy up to eleven. It is massive, dramatic, and visually jaw-dropping in that classic Marvel way.
Now let’s talk about that scene—the Fantastic Four Dr Doom scene. No spoilers, but it’s easily one of the coolest post-credit moments Marvel’s pulled off in a long time. It’s just a glimpse, but that’s all it takes. Fans in my theater literally gasped. And if the next movie delivers on that tease? Yeah, it’s going to be huge.
A Love Letter to Comic Book Weirdness
Director Matt Shakman (yep, the guy behind WandaVision) clearly gets what makes this team special. He leans into the old-school comic book energy by seamlessly incorporating the color, the optimism, the playful banter, all without making it feel corny. The production design is pure retro eye candy, with every costume and gadget bursting with personality.
Even before opening weekend ended, Fantastic Four Marvel movie box office numbers were already looking strong which just goes to show that audiences are hungry for something light, warm, and a little silly again.
If you’re tired of gloomy, overcomplicated superhero movies, Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) might just be your palate cleanser. It’s charming, it’s goofy, and it’s absolutely worth the trip to the theater.