Ivan Radford | On 25, Sep 2025

Director: Matt Shakman
Cast: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa KIrby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner, Ralph Ineson
Certificate: 12

“Ben has always been a rock. Johnny is… Johnny. And I am right here.” Those are the words of Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Marvel’s new take on its familiar super-powered quartet. No strangers to the screen – with three films and a Hanna-Barbera cartoon under their belt, not to mention Roger Corman’s 1994 outing – they hardly need another reboot or introduction. So it’s thrilling that Marvel’s latest isn’t either: it’s a rollicking adventure that begins with Marvel’s First Family already fully-fledged.

A cute framing device involving the always-impeccable Mark Gatiss sees the Fantastic Four celebrating their fourth anniversary, with the world already enamoured with stretchy genius Reed (Pedro Pascal), invisible diplomat Sue, rock-monster softie Ben (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and fiery wisecracker Johnny (Joseph Quinn). But when an enigmatic Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) appears from space to herald Earth’s demise at the hands of Galactus (Ralph Ineson), a planet-devouring colossus, for the first time the Earth starts to doubt the Fantastic Four’s ability to keep them safe – and the looming arrival of Reed and Sue’s baby only adds more pressure.

That deft balance of bigger scale and more personal stakes is central to the film’s success – and the script (by Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer) doesn’t let either one outweigh the other. By sidestepping their journey from normal people to cosmically gifted celebrities, the film has time to breathe in character details while breathing out spectacle, humour and a whole lot of heart. Johnny grapples with falling in love – unfortunately, with the very Silver Surfer who has come to declare they’re all doomed. Sue faces an agonising personal dilemma – and navigates it not just through her super-strength but also her diplomatic and emotional resilience. Reed is confronted by a growing fear that he doesn’t know the answer to everything – not least his own son, who brings a universe of new questions with him. Amid it all, Ben holds together the group – while resisting everyone’s expectations to shout his cartoon catchphrase “it’s clobberin’ time!” at any given opportunity.

The cast have a slick, lived-in chemistry that’s witty as well as sincerely warm. Ebon Moss-Bachrach is so endearing and funny you don’t even notice he’s a guy made out of rocks. Joseph Quinn can do fast-talking wise guy in his sleep, but finds a vulnerability and sweetness that stops Johnny becoming arrogant and unlikeable. Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby, meanwhile, are the heart of the whole endeavour, their marriage one of both understanding and patience with the shortcomings of one another, plus loyalty and trust.

Together, they create a easygoing ensemble piece with an unexpected depth to match the glossy set pieces. It’s all assembled with flair and confidence by WandaVision helmer Matt Shakman, who has a knack for physical and tangible world-building that is a perfect match for the movie’s retro-1960s design. So by the time national-treasure-in-waiting Ralph Ineson rocks up as a planet-munching god – grounded by Julia Garner’s poignant performance as his eerie messenger – the fantastical shenanigans carry enough weight to keep you genuinely entertained.

The result is playful, light and breezy, the very opposite of what the Marvel Cinematic Universe has come to offer in its thirty-something age – and, even more remarkable for a franchise-starter, feels like a perfectly standalone affair that doesn’t need a sequel. If it weren’t for the period production vibes, this could be Marvel’s very first film, for all the energy and spark it contains. What a blast of fresh air.

Add to Watchlist