Movie The Fantastic Four: First Steps | $49,611,571
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps”; Marvel’s First Family Redefined
According to Cinemadrame News Agency, After years of anticipation and numerous false starts, Marvel’s legendary “first family” returns to the silver screen in The Fantastic Four: First Steps—a dazzling reboot that’s already making headlines for its record-shattering $49,611,571 opening weekend. Directed by Marco Alvarez, the film breathes new life into a franchise often called “the toughest nut to crack” in the Marvel canon.
The movie premiered to great fanfare in August 2025, and early reactions have been electric. This time, Reed Richards (John David Washington), Sue Storm (Florence Pugh), Johnny Storm (Steven Yeun), and Ben Grimm (David Harbour) are not just superheroes—they’re a believable, bickering, loving family thrust into the spotlight by a cosmic accident that changes their lives forever.
From its opening scenes, First Steps signals a new direction for the franchise: the team’s origin story is handled with both grandeur and surprising intimacy. Alvarez, in interviews, has said:
“I wanted to make a superhero film that felt both larger-than-life and utterly human. The Fantastic Four have always been about family, and that’s what we put front and center.”
The chemistry among the four leads is a highlight, drawing both humor and heartbreak from their attempts to adjust to their new powers—and their new fame. Florence Pugh’s nuanced performance as Sue Storm, in particular, has won critical acclaim, with IndieWire noting:
“Pugh finds the balance between vulnerability and leadership, giving Sue a depth rarely seen in comic-book films.”
Visually, the movie is a spectacle, delivering interdimensional battles and breathtaking cosmic sequences without ever losing track of character-driven moments. The villain, Victor Von Doom (Rami Malek), is a menacing presence; critics praise Malek for bringing “gravitas and unpredictability” to the iconic role.
But it’s not just spectacle. The film explores timely questions: What does it mean to be a public figure? Can a family survive fame, trauma, and the expectations of the world?
As David Harbour (Ben Grimm) shares:
“So much of this story is about feeling like an outsider. Ben’s struggle is universal—everyone, at some point, feels like they don’t fit in.”
The film’s script, written by Jessica Gao, is peppered with sharp dialogue and genuine warmth. There are crowd-pleasing action set pieces, but also scenes of quiet intimacy, as when Reed and Sue debate whether heroism means sacrificing privacy forever.
Critical and audience response has been overwhelmingly positive.
Rotten Tomatoes shows a 93% score from critics, with particular praise for the ensemble’s performances and the movie’s willingness to reinvent rather than repeat. Social media is ablaze with fan art, meme reactions, and enthusiastic posts:
“This is the Fantastic Four we’ve always deserved!”
“The heart, the humor, the visuals—Marvel nailed it!”
Some reviewers do note that, at times, the film’s ambition leads to a slightly uneven tone, but most agree First Steps is the franchise’s best outing yet.
