Category: The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Fantastic Four: First Steps – Is It Really Marvel’s Comeback, or Just Better Than the Worst?

~ paul ferrer ~ 4 Comments

Marvel’s Fantastic Four: First Steps is being hailed as a “return to form” for the MCU, with glowing reviews praising its retro-futuristic charm and charismatic cast. But is it truly a masterpiece—or are critics and audiences grading on a curve after years of superhero fatigue? Let’s break down the hype with historical comparisons, box office realities, and a sober look at the MCU’s current state.

1. Critical Reception: Overhyped or Deserved?

The Praise

  • Visuals & Tone: Critics laud the film’s “stunning retro-futuristic aesthetic” and “light-hearted family dynamics,” calling it a refreshing departure from recent MCU gloom. 
  • Performances: Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards) and Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm) are singled out for bringing “emotional depth” to their roles, with Kirby’s Sue hailed as a “standout.” 
  • Standalone Appeal: Unlike recent MCU entries bogged down by multiverse lore, First Steps is praised for being “easy to jump into.” 

The Caveats

  • Formulaic Storytelling: Some critics note the film “retreats into tired Marvel tropes” by the third act, with a generic CGI showdown against Galactus. 
  • Lowered Standards: As IndieWire points out, First Steps benefits from being “better than Quantumania,” but wouldn’t have stood out in Phase 3. 
  • Inconsistent Stakes: While the family drama works, Galactus’s motivation (“he’s just hungry”) feels undercooked compared to villains like Thanos. 

Verdict: A strong 7/10 MCU entry—better than recent lows, but not top-tier.

It does make me think of Harry Stamper in Armageddon saying, “And this is the best that your c—that the—the government, the *U.S. government,* can come up with? I mean, you-you’re NASA for crying ‘out loud, you put a man on the moon, you’re geniuses! You-you’re the guys that think this up!” Surely Marvel should be making far better films, as they have done so before, so why have critics lowered the bar on what is a great MCU film?

2. Box Office: The IMAX Illusion

The Numbers

  • Projected $250M+ Global Opening: Sounds impressive, but 50%+ comes from premium screens (IMAX/PLF), where tickets cost $18+ vs. the $11.51 average. 
  • Admissions vs. Inflation: Adjusted for inflation, this opening is below Avengers (2012) in actual attendance. For context:
    • Avengers (2012): $207M opening = ~24.8M tickets
    • First Steps (2025): $250M opening = ~13.2M tickets

UK Comparisons

  • Projected £10M–£12M 4-day opening: Solid and much stronger than Captain America: Brave New World £6.4m and Thunderbolts (£5.97m), but lower than last year’s. Deadpool vs. Wolverine opened at £17.27m.
  • Post-COVID Reality: UK cinema admissions are still 20% below 2019 levels, making First Steps’ performance a modest win, not a triumph. 
  • The excuse will be that it’s a new comic-book series within the MCU, but it’s the 37th film of the MCU, and the majority of the audience will have seen many, if not all, of the previous films. While many will say the issue started after Endgame, for me it started with Civil War. While the MCU has had big hits since, they were fan service films by the numbers. The MCU films, if DC were to try to make them, would have been severely criticised, but the backlash for the MCU started properly after Endgame with all the multiverses, meaning no superhero ever really dies. While, of course, billions of humans do die.

Key Takeaway: The box office is inflated by premium pricing, not unprecedented demand.

3. Franchise Context: Grading on a Curve

Compared to Past Fantastic Four Films

  • 2015’s Fant4stic: A “dull, joyless mess” (9% on Rotten Tomatoes) that butchered Doctor Doom.
  • 2005/2007 Films: Cheesy but fun, with Chris Evans’ Human Torch as a bright spot.
  • 1994 Corman Film: A bargain-bin disaster never officially released 

Result: First Steps is the “best Fantastic Four movie” by default—but that’s not a high bar.

Compared to the Pre-2020 MCU

  • Phase 3 (2016–2019): Films like Ragnarok and Infinity War set a gold standard for creativity and stakes. First Steps would’ve been mid-tier alongside Ant-Man and the Wasp. 
  • Phase 4–5 (2020–2024): After Eternals and The Marvels, even a competent film feels revolutionary. 

4. The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters

For Marvel

  • A Step Forward, Not a Leap: First Steps proves Marvel can still make coherent, fun films, but it’s not the genre-redefining hit the studio needs post-Endgame. 
  • The Danger of Overhype: Calling it “one of Marvel’s best” (Forbes) risks lowering expectations for future films. 

For Theaters

  • Short-Term Win: PLF screens drive profits (theatres make 85% margins on concessions), but long-term recovery depends on organic audience growth. 
  • Week 2 Will Tell: If First Steps drops 60%+, like The Marvels, it’s a sign of hype over substance. 

For Fans

  • Tempered Optimism: Enjoy the film for what it is—a well-executed popcorn flick—but don’t confuse “better” with “best.” 

Final Verdict

Fantastic Four: First Steps is a welcome course correction for Marvel, but its praise says more about how far the MCU has fallen than how high it’s climbed. By admissions, visuals, and storytelling, it’s a solid B-tier entry—no more, no less.