REVIEW: ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Is A Cosmic Spectacle With Heart

The Fantastic Four: First Steps has had anything but a smooth ride getting to the big screen. Let’s not forget that this film was first announced six years ago. Back in 2020, Jon Watts was tapped to direct, but two years later, he stepped away from the project, leaving fans uncertain about the team's future… again. That all changed when Matt Shakman, hot off the success of Marvel’s most critically acclaimed series WandaVision, took over. Since then, momentum began to build, and fans couldn’t help but ask: Will they finally get the Fantastic Four right this time?

The answer is an enthusiastic, resounding yes.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps soars. From its opening moments, it makes one thing crystal clear: this is not another origin story. And thank god for that. Instead of dragging us through another retelling of how the team got their powers and learned to work together, the film opens with a stylish, cleverly edited montage that gives us just enough background to get us up to speed. It’s a quick, visually striking recap that honors their history without getting bogged down in exposition.

This film trusts that the audience already knows who the Fantastic Four are, and even if they don’t, it gives them more than enough emotional context to care. We’re watching a flawed, loving, complicated, and deeply connected family. That’s the soul of this movie. It’s about these four people and their bond. And that’s exactly what sets it apart.

© Marvel Studios

The casting, which stirred up plenty of debate when first announced, ends up being one of the film’s greatest strengths. Every performance clicks, every role feels tailor-made.

Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm is nothing short of phenomenal. She’s the emotional center of the film, the glue that holds the family together. Kirby plays Sue with a rare mix of strength and grace. She is intelligent, compassionate, fiercely protective, and quietly powerful. She’s the strategist, the moral compass, and the emotional backbone. There’s a sense of quiet authority in her performance that makes you believe instantly that everyone around her trusts her. She commands every scene she’s in without needing to shout. It’s understated brilliance. Kirby brings her A-game and then some. This is a performance that’s going to be remembered.

Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards is a masterclass in nuance. Yes, he’s the smartest man alive but he’s also deeply human. Pascal gives Reed a fascinating internal rhythm. You can practically see the gears turning in his head as he tries to calculate every outcome and solve every problem before it happens. But beneath that brilliance is a man constantly struggling with the pressure of responsibility over his team, his family, the world. He’s anxious, restless, occasionally distant. But he’s also loving, and deeply invested in the people around him. Pascal plays him with the warmth and weariness of a man carrying the world on his shoulders. He feels real: as a superhero, a partner, a father, and a friend.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm is another standout. His performance feels effortless in the best way. The makeup and VFX are top-notch, but it’s Ebon’s voice work that really sells the character. There’s a deep sadness in Ben, but also resilience, loyalty, and a quiet sense of humor that makes him instantly lovable. He feels like the kind of guy you’d want in your corner in any situation. His relationships with each team member are full of warmth and subtle complexity. He’s the big, rocky heart of the group.

And finally, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm… I’ll admit, I was pretty neutral on his casting when it was first announced. But by the time the credits rolled, he had completely won me over. Quinn brings the perfect mix of charm, energy, and surprising emotional depth to the role. He’s everything Johnny should be: fiery (pun absolutely intended), impulsive, and full of personality. There’s also a sharpness to him that makes it clear he’s more than just a thrill-seeker. He’s quick, clever, and unexpectedly sincere, making Johnny feel like a fully realized character.

Together, the four of them have chemistry. Real chemistry. The kind that makes you believe in the Fantastic Four not just as superheroes, but as people who live together, fight together, argue, laugh, hurt, and love each other. Their dynamics feel lived-in. It’s not forced or overly quippy. There’s a warmth and emotional texture to their interactions that so many team-based superhero films lack.

But this film is also a visual feast. The retro-futuristic aesthetic is one of the film’s most unique assets. It leans into a vintage sci-fi style — Jack Kirby-esque design choices, analog tech, cosmic weirdness — but blends it seamlessly with modern VFX. The result is a movie that feels like it was ripped from the pages of classic comics but brought to life with modern polish. It’s stylized without being gimmicky. The action is fluid, the color palette is gorgeous, and every visual choice feels intentional.

Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal, the Silver Surfer and herald of Galactus, is utterly mesmerizing. Garner embodies a cosmic being wrestling with profound moral conflict. Her performance is subtle, haunting, and razor-sharp. You can see what she’s thinking in every silent moment: the hesitation, the burden, the flicker of empathy buried beneath an almost divine sense of duty. And when she finally unleashes her power, she’s absolutely menacing. It's one of the most compelling portrayals of the Silver Surfer ever put to screen visually and emotionally.

© Marvel Studios

And then… There's Galactus. Let’s be clear: he is not a cloud. This is not a vague force of destruction. This is Galactus, and he is terrifying.

The film doesn’t make Galactus a standard villain with a clear-cut agenda. Instead, it leans into the cosmic horror of who he is. He’s not evil. This is a being cursed with endless hunger. There are scenes where his presence is chilling, his voice and scale evoking a kind of awe that feels earned. You see Galactus and you feel him. His arrival is accompanied by a score that reverberates through your chest. It’s unsettling in the best way.

Speaking of the score… It's incredible. Sweeping, emotional, otherworldly… It elevates every scene, from the smallest family moments to the largest cosmic battles. There’s a musical identity here that feels specific to the Fantastic Four: hopeful, haunting, and heroic all at once.

What makes The Fantastic Four: First Steps so special is that it finally gets the tone, cast, and story right while giving the Fantastic Four the respect they deserve. They're a family of explorers, thinkers, and dreamers. And this film lets them be exactly that. It's a celebration of everything that makes this team special. After years of false starts, missed opportunities, and skeptical fans, Marvel has finally delivered a version of this iconic team that feels authentic, vibrant, and full of life.

Rating: ★★★★★