Rotten Tomatoes Critics Have Spoken: ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Is a Huge Hit

The new Fantastic Four movie, Fantastic Four: First Steps, is almost here, and fans are finally getting an idea of what to expect now that the review embargo has been lifted. The film had its big premiere at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles just a few days ago, and it’s set to hit theaters everywhere on July 25, 2025.

This movie is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, marking the 37th film in the franchise and the second attempt at rebooting the Fantastic Four on the big screen.

Early reviews have started pouring in, and things are looking pretty good. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the movie currently holds an 88% approval rating based on 105 critic reviews, which means it’s been marked as fresh. Most critics seem to agree that this time, Marvel has finally figured out how to handle the Fantastic Four, a group that many felt Hollywood never really understood before.

Critics are praising the movie for its unique style and tone. Many reviews are highlighting how the movie leans into its 1960s sci-fi vibe, calling it energetic, hopeful, and, as one reviewer put it, “just a Hell of a lot of fun.” The film seems to focus a lot on the idea of family, both in its action scenes and its quieter moments, which some critics felt made the story more personal and meaningful.

It’s the first time in a long time that the Fantastic Four have felt like more than just an IP Hollywood didn’t quite know what to do with.

Brent Hankins

‘Fantastic Four’ is the film that proves that superhero fatigue can be solved with movies that truly want to innovate…[Full review in Spanish]

Randy Meeks

The film’s remarkably stylish retro-futuristic aesthetic mixed with the palpable familial chemistry of the core cast upgrade what could have been a by-the-numbers Fantastic Four/Galactus origin story.

Kyle Wilson

The Fantastic Four: First Steps has panache, a retro-future energy capturing the hopeful sci-fi tone of the 1960s, and best of all, it’s just a Hell of a lot of fun.

Travis Hopson

Living up to its subtitle to venture into a higher level of solidarity, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” presents the proper elevated level of accountability and character connection that comes with family

Don Shanahan

Of course, not everyone was impressed. A few critics weren’t sold on Marvel’s latest effort. Some felt the movie was too slow and too talky, comparing it to an episode of Star Trek rather than a blockbuster superhero movie. One review called it “far from fantastic” and said that even though the visuals looked great, they couldn’t cover up the lack of action and excitement.

Fantastic bore.

Jim Schembri

First Steps marks a slight improvement from the preceding trilogy of terror. But Marvel still can’t nail what should be one of its premiere attractions.

Johnny Oleksinski

There are no real character traits, no personalities and no obvious chemistry or spark between our key players. Marvel has been bland before, but rarely this lethargic and, indeed, uninterested in its own cartoon mythology.

Chris Wasser

Some of the best visuals Marvel has produced in years can’t make up for this slow paced, talkative, action deficient movie that feels more like a Star Trek episode than a big budget movie. This Fantastic Four adventure is far from fantastic.

Lucas Moore

What they’ve created is a toybox, a diorama that marries design styles and technology but that never feels like a place where actual people live.

Alonso Duralde

Still, most of the reviews are positive, showing that Marvel may have finally given fans a Fantastic Four film worth watching. The film, directed by Matt Shakman and starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn, introduces the team in a new light, facing off against Galactus in their retro-future world. A sequel is already being planned, suggesting that Marvel is confident audiences will respond well.

For now, it seems that critics think Fantastic Four: First Steps is a step in the right direction.

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