The Fantastic Four: First Steps

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is Marvel Studios' bold reintroduction of its first superhero family, directed by Matt Shakman and set not in the familiar Marvel Cinematic Universe but on Earth-828, a gleaming, retro-futurist world where the swagger and optimism of the 1960s never faded. Pedro Pascal leads the cast as Reed Richards, the stretchable genius Mister Fantastic, alongside Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as the hotheaded Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the rocky, warm-hearted Ben Grimm. Rather than retell the team's origin for a fourth time on screen, the film opens with the Four already established as beloved public heroes, freeing it to be a story about family, responsibility, and the weight of protecting an entire world.

That world is soon threatened by Galactus, the god-like devourer of planets, heralded by his enigmatic emissary the Silver Surfer, reimagined here as Shalla-Bal and played by Julia Garner. As Reed and Sue prepare for the arrival of their first child, the team must weigh the fate of their family against the survival of Earth, and the film balances cosmic spectacle against surprisingly intimate domestic stakes. Shakman shoots it all with the confidence of a classic studio picture, drawing on mid-century design, analog technology, and a warm, hopeful tone that sets it apart from the darker corners of the genre.

Released in July 2025, the film became the highest-grossing Fantastic Four movie ever made, taking in more than half a billion dollars worldwide and drawing generally positive reviews for its distinctive aesthetic, its emotional core, and the easy chemistry of its central quartet. Widely seen as a fresh and much-needed reset for characters who had struggled to find their footing on film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now streaming on Disney+.