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Early reactions to Fantastic Four: First Steps are here, and they are shocking

Does the MCU have another success on its hands with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, or will the movie be less than fantastic? We finally have an answer.
ByJuan Diego Arriola Wundram|
(L-R): Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios' THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025 MARVEL.
(L-R): Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios' THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025 MARVEL.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps has a lot riding on its shoulders. Not only is the upcomingMarvel Cinematic Universe movie responsible for continuing the momentum that Thunderbolts* started, but it needs to succeed where every other live-action Fantastic Four adaptation has failed: Introducing a compelling and interesting version of a very recognizable and popular group of heroes. It's a hard task, but it isn't impossible. As such, fans are eager to learn whether or not the end result is... well, fantastic. Fortunately, we finally have an answer.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is just days away from its theatrical release. As a result, early screenings have started taking place, and the first social media reactions are live. It appears some had the opportunity to watch the entire movie, while others only witnessed the first 30 to 40 minutes. But regardless of the case, everyone had something to say, and it's time to go over their overall impressions.

Early reactions to The Fantastic Four: First Steps are nothing short of fantastic

It appears the MCU has struck gold once again. While modern superhero movies often fall into the trap of having rushed VFX and unimpressive visuals, it seems The Fantastic Four: First Steps is anything but. Furthermore, people really enjoy the chemistry between every team member, which is sure to put our minds at ease. Finally, it seems some big surprises will be saved for the movie's post-credits scenes:

Geekcentric host, Justin Lawrence, praises The Fantastic Four: First Steps' stylized visuals, the team's dynamic, and the fact that it feels disconnected from the main MCU continuity. It's worth remembering that the movie will take place in a retro-futuristic alternate reality where no other heroes exist aside from the big four. As such, you don't need to watch an extensive list of projects to understand what will happen in this upcoming space adventure.

Entertainment journalist Aisha Shabeese also highlights the film's fantastic visuals, which are accompanied by an amazing score. A common theme to be found in most reactions is that Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby's chemistry is off the charts, which was to be expected from two characters as big and important as Reed Richards and Sue Storm. With a bit of luck, it also means the brotherly dynamic between Ben and Johnny is equally amazing.

Phase Hero's producer, Brandon Davis, states that The Fantastic Four: First Steps' story didn't quite meet his expectations. Unfortunately, he didn't leave the theater loving what he saw, even if it wasn't bad either. On the bright side, he argues this is the best MCU movie to date in terms of visuals, which is impressive considering that the studio's early VFX work was immaculate. He doubles down on this idea by even comparing the latest superhero adventure to Christopher Nolan's Interstellar:

Fans were eager to learn whether The Fantastic Four: First Steps has a post-credits scene or not, and we finally have an answer from X user Yoshi. While it seemed like a no-brainer to assume a surprise awaited after the end of the movie given that Avengers: Doomsday is on the horizon, it's still nice to get a confirmation that a final sequence is indeed on the cards.

All things considered, it seems there's a lot to be excited about The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Given that the movie takes place in the 60's and there will be many space sequences, it's thrilling to learn that it will be a visual feast. Director Matt Shakman's previous work in WandaVision was also very stylized, so it's no surprise that he managed to keep the streak going.

Furthermore, it appears the team's chemistry is... well, fantastic, and that the VFX is really polished. But while the film's story might benefit from taking place in an alternate reality, it seems it can be a bit of a hit or miss for some. On the bright side, it won't be long before we finally get to see this highly anticipated project for ourselves and discover how it will shake up the future of the MCU.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps will be released on Jul. 25, 2025.

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