Welcome to the Family! After years of anticipation, Marvel's First Family finally enter the foray of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in The Fantastic Four: First Steps as Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic, Sue Storm / Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm / Human Torch, and Ben Grimm / The Thing all join the madness of the MCU. It's not their first rodeo on the silver screen, but it is the beginning of their new chapter in the world's most famous franchise. To pull it off, the studio has enlisted Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach.
Things are looking good for the star-studded affair as it has already become the highest-scoring Fantastic Four movie on Rotten Tomatoes (the only one to achieve a "Fresh" rating) with a score of 89% and it's tracking to have a very successful opening weekend.
Yes, the Fantastic Four are on course to make an impression, and Marvel's First Family will likely draw the families to the movie theaters over the weekend (and throughout the weeks ahead). But is it suitable for family viewing? Whether you plan on watching it on the big screen or waiting for its digital / home media / streaming release, here's what you need to know about the MCU movie.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps has an age rating of PG-13
The Fantastic Four: First Steps has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for scenes of "action / violence" and "some language". That means it's pretty much in line with what we've come to expect from Marvel Studios superhero movies (and indeed most general superhero movies) in the age rating department and it also sidesteps some of the more serious issues that fellow MCU movies like, say, Thunderbolts* deals with.
Over in the UK, the most recent Fantastc Four film has an age rating of 12A from the BBFC for scenes of "moderate threat" and "violence". That means that younger audiences under 12 can see the movie if accompanied by an adult.
If you would still like more explanation as to what the movie entails, let's dive into our parents guide to give you an idea of the more mature elements that First Steps juggles. It's not a lot but, just a heads-up, there will be minor SPOILERS ahead.
Violence: As with all superhero movies, the violence is probably the most prominent element of The Fantastic Four: First Steps you should look out for. Honestly, in this genre, "violence" usually just refers to a lot of physical fighting or action-heavy scenes between the heroes and the villain, and you get that here as the beloved quartet of heroes battle their enemies. The movie has a more light-hearted aesthetic so it's less physical than some of the MCU predecessors too.
However, there is one scene in which Mr. Fantastic is stretched beyond his limits by Galactus, who literally attempts to pull him apart. It mostly focuses on his face to create a sense of dread, but it's effective in doing so. The scene only lasts about 10 seconds and the character survives.
Scariness: Although The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a thoroughly light-hearted movie, it ups the scariness whenever Galactus is on-screen. A tall, giant, robotic specimen, he looms large over the landscape in all of his scenes as the film successfully highlights just how intimidating he is.
There is also a scene where the group are trying to escape a planet that is in danger of being destroyed while being pursued by the villains. It's not scary to look at in the traditional sense, but it is a high-intensity moment that puts you on edge.
Sex and Nudity: There are no scenes of a sexual nature in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. There are some romantic scenes between Reed Richards and Sue Storm as they are in a long-term relationship but it's all very family-friendly.
There are also no scenes of explicit nudity either. Johnny Storm does reference to the Silver Surfer as a "naked lady" once because her whole body is seemingly made out of metal. She's not naked, though, it's simply just the metallic surface of her body.
Alcohol and Drugs: There are no references to drugs, alcohol or substances of any kind in this movie.
Overall verdict: The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a family-friendly Marvel adventure with some slightly unnerving scenes
All in all, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a pretty family-friendly adventure. That shouldn't be all that surprising; this is Marvel's First Family we're talking about here! And the film plays into that too, with the specific focus on the fact that the quartet of superheroes are family first - and that's what makes them superheroes.
Although there are elements of the movie that are more suited to older kids (Galactus, in particular, has a few intimidating moments), this one is designed for audiences of all ages. With that in mind, if your children are used to what the Marvel Cinematic Universe has to offer, then The Fantastic Four: First Steps is very likely for them.
As always, you know your kids better than anybody, so if you're uncertain about what to expect from the movie, it's probably best you watch it first (or check out the trailers to get an idea of what to expect from Galactus), but chances are that all young Marvel fans will love this one!
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