The Fantastic Four: First Steps
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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.
What critics thought
Most critics responded warmly to this retro-styled Marvel reboot, singling out its 1960s production design, Giacchino's orchestral score, and the ensemble chemistry as genuine strengths — and appreciating that it skips the origin story entirely. A dissenting minority found the film competent but inert, arguing it never fully escapes a musty, familiar feeling despite its period dressing.
“hangs together as an entertaining spectacle in its own innocent self-enclosed universe of fantasy wackiness”
Peter Bradshaw·The Guardian
“makes you wish that Marvel had reached this point years ago – imagine if 2019's Avengers: Endgame had been followed by this. Yet at least they're here now, and the result is a very unusual sort of franchise instalment: one that feels every inch a one-off.”
Robbie Collin·The Daily Telegraph
“The action is as spectacular as you would expect, which doesn't mean that it's particularly suspenseful, but the film's success lies in the fact it puts the fun back into the franchise.”
Sandra Hall·The Sydney Morning Herald
“While Superman felt bracingly modern with the political sentiments to boot, The Fantastic Four has a halo of cobwebs it can't quite shake off.”
Esther Zuckerman·Bloomberg News
“competent at best—a reboot with cosmic ambition that barely attains lift-off.”
Udita Jhunjhunwala·Livemint
Genres
Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Cast & Crew
Matt ShakmanDirector
Pedro PascalReed Richards / Mister Fantastic
Vanessa KirbySue Storm / Invisible Woman
Ebon Moss-BachrachBen Grimm / The Thing
Joseph QuinnJohnny Storm / Human Torch
Ralph InesonGalactus
Julia GarnerShalla-Bal / Silver Surfer
Paul Walter HauserHarvey Elder / Mole Man
Natasha LyonneRachel Rozman
Sarah NilesLynne Nichols / F4 Chief of Staff
Mark GatissTed Gilbert
Matthew WoodH.E.R.B.I.E. (voice)
Michael GiacchinoComposer
Eric PearsonWriter
Jeff KaplanWriter
Ian SpringerWriter
Kat WoodWriter
Josh FriedmanWriter
Jess HallCinematographyFrom the studio
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
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.
What critics thought
Most critics responded warmly to this retro-styled Marvel reboot, singling out its 1960s production design, Giacchino's orchestral score, and the ensemble chemistry as genuine strengths — and appreciating that it skips the origin story entirely. A dissenting minority found the film competent but inert, arguing it never fully escapes a musty, familiar feeling despite its period dressing.
“hangs together as an entertaining spectacle in its own innocent self-enclosed universe of fantasy wackiness”
Peter Bradshaw·The Guardian
“makes you wish that Marvel had reached this point years ago – imagine if 2019's Avengers: Endgame had been followed by this. Yet at least they're here now, and the result is a very unusual sort of franchise instalment: one that feels every inch a one-off.”
Robbie Collin·The Daily Telegraph
“The action is as spectacular as you would expect, which doesn't mean that it's particularly suspenseful, but the film's success lies in the fact it puts the fun back into the franchise.”
Sandra Hall·The Sydney Morning Herald
“While Superman felt bracingly modern with the political sentiments to boot, The Fantastic Four has a halo of cobwebs it can't quite shake off.”
Esther Zuckerman·Bloomberg News
“competent at best—a reboot with cosmic ambition that barely attains lift-off.”
Udita Jhunjhunwala·Livemint
Genres
Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Cast & Crew
Matt ShakmanDirectorPedro PascalReed Richards / Mister FantasticVanessa KirbySue Storm / Invisible WomanEbon Moss-BachrachBen Grimm / The ThingJoseph QuinnJohnny Storm / Human TorchRalph InesonGalactusJulia GarnerShalla-Bal / Silver SurferPaul Walter HauserHarvey Elder / Mole ManNatasha LyonneRachel RozmanSarah NilesLynne Nichols / F4 Chief of StaffMark GatissTed GilbertMatthew WoodH.E.R.B.I.E. (voice)Michael GiacchinoComposerEric PearsonWriterJeff KaplanWriterIan SpringerWriterKat WoodWriterJosh FriedmanWriterJess HallCinematographyFrom the studio
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