The Fantastic 4: First Steps
Family FavoritePG-13

The Fantastic 4: First Steps

Welcome to the family.

2025 • 115 min • Science Fiction · Adventure · Action

Synopsis

Against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel's First Family is forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, while defending Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer.

Our family guide

Best from age 10
93
Movie Knight Score
3632 reviews
  • 100 Reviewers · 10 · 75%
  • 70 Audience · 3622 · 25%

In a retro-futuristic 1960s, Marvel's First Family must defend Earth from the cosmic threat of Galactus and his Herald, the Silver Surfer. They must balance their heroic duties with the strength of their family bond.

Violence & peril
5/10
Language
3/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking
1/10
Romance & sensuality
2/10
Scary moments
4/10

Heads up

  • Sci-fi action violence with cosmic powers
  • Perilous situations with world-ending stakes

What it models well

  • Family unity
  • Courage and self-sacrifice
  • Protecting the innocent

Talk about it after

  • What makes a family strong?
  • The responsibility of great power
  • Dealing with overwhelming odds

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The Fantastic 4: First Steps. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

Where to watch

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Top billed cast

Director: Matt Shakman • Crew: Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, Ian Springer, Kat Wood, Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, Ian Springer

Trailers & clips

Reed Richards Talks to His Son Franklin - Official Clip

Ben "The Thing" Grimm Lifts the Car - Official Clip

Lift! That! Car!

Sue Storm Gives Birth to Franklin Richards - Official Clip

Four Favorites with Kevin Feige

Sue Storm's Pregnancy Reveal - Official Clip

Now Streaming on Disney+

The Fantastic Four (1994) Cameos - Featurette

Reviewer notes

Recommended

Easily the best Fantastic Four film, not that it’s a high bar. Fourth time was definitely the charm (not including the unreleased 90s film).

Recommended

80/100 Our 4 heroes must save the world from a being that eats planets. This was a really fun and nostalgic entry in the MCU lexicon. Taking place in the 60s in a different universe, it perfectly blends the 60s feel and aesthetics with advanced technology. The family dynamics were nicely presented with depth, heart and humor. The action is top notch and the special effects were awe inspiring in scale.…

Recommended

Look I am a huge Marval Movie fan and I thought this movie was one of my favorite movies of 2025 and one of my favorite Marvel Movies ever!

Recommended

There’s a distinctive charm to “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” a refreshing, visually inventive take on the MCU formula. Director Matt Shakman brings Marvel’s First Family into a retro-futuristic 1960s setting that makes the movie stand out from the typical summer superhero fare.…

Recommended

**Not bad!!** Because of the crap Marvel has been pumping overt the last decade, I went to watch this movie with very low hopes. It was a surprising experience that the movie turned out to be pretty OK. Storyline is not too complicated. It is a simple predictable story without too much twisted plots or surprises. Nonetheless, the storytelling is captivating and you don’t realize how the 1:30 hr passed.…

Recommended

Much of The Fantastic Four: First Steps is built around Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) and Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) getting pregnant and having their child, Franklin.…

Recommended

Well good news, after ages and having given up trying “Sue” (Vanessa Kirby) and boffin “Reed” (Pedro Pascal) are going to have a bairn! This is great news for her brother “Johnny” (Joseph Quinn) and the stony fourth member of their gang “Ben” (Egon Moss-Bacharach).…

Recommended

"Unlike the last dozen-or-so MCU plods, which turned derring-do comic book heroics into endurance tests, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS spins a ripping yarn that soars not only on spectacle, but also smarts and sentiment..." Read the full review here: https://bit.ly/4o5P6rP

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers

Fun sci-fi fantasy that features a solid cast, good visual effects and okay enough story. Not great but well worth the price of admission. That said, can't say I have a desire to revisit for a long while. **3.75/5**

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://talkingfilms.net/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-review-marvels-first-family-finally-gets-the-film-it-deserves/ "The Fantastic Four: First Steps not only introduces a team with the potential to lead the MCU's new era, but also establishes its own distinct identity: heartfelt, visually striking, and emotionally grounded.…

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