What Are Fantastic Four 2025 Early Reactions So Far?

Many Marvel fans want to know about early reactions to The Fantastic Four: First Steps before its US theatrical release on July 25. Luckily, the film has had several fan events, particularly one in Brazil, that offered a 30-minute sneak peek into the roughly 2-hour movie, and many of the reactions so far to this Fantastic Four reboot in the MCU have been largely positive. For clarity, the 30 minutes they saw were a compilation of scenes from both the beginning and middle of the film (to prevent major spoilers), but many were still pleasantly surprised, unlike a more tepid response to a test screening in late May. Here’s a breakdown of three fan reactions to Fantastic Four 2025.

What are early fan reactions to The Fantastic Four: First Steps?

Early fan reactions to The Fantastic Four: First Steps, specifically the special 30-minute screenings made available at various fan events, have generally praised the movie.

One fan, @4FantasticBRA on X (formerly Twitter), was “genuinely moved” by the screening, saying that the retro-futuristic universe is “unique” and that the family dynamic between the superhero team has “an intimacy we’re not used to seeing in this type of movie.” In particular, the relationship between Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm and Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards was “in perfect sync,” and Johnny’s jokes “come at just the right time.” As for Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer or Shalla-Bal, the fan praised her ability to deliver “an intimidating speech, with a calm yet terrifying tone.”

The action sequences highlighting the battle between her and the superhero team had “flawless” CGI and “the buildup feels real.” It was worth noting that Mister Fantastic does use his stretching powers, which is something not really seen in the trailers, and that he’s the clear leader of the group. This is important because director Matt Shakman said that Reed Richards is going to be a “guy who’s leading the Avengers” ostensibly in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. In addition, many villains either appeared or were mentioned throughout the screening, which should be thrilling for comic book fans.

Impressions from another fan, @josephquinnbr on X, agreed with the film’s emphasis on the family dynamic between the heroes, saying that “the four truly convey a strong sense of unity and belonging” and that the movie “overflows with affection, connection, and tons of personality.” He also commended the “electrifying” action sequences, whether it’s the team “protecting civilians in the city or battling in space.” He gives a shout-out to Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm who is able to strike “a solid balance between humor, levity, and the responsibility of being a hero.”

Last but not least is @GoodNerd23 on X who shared his thoughts in a 5-minute video on YouTube. On first impressions, he believes that Fantastic Four 2025 could be “one of Marvel’s best,” equally praising the chemistry between the main cast. He also found it impressive that The Silver Surfer actually surfs while dodging bullets.

Aesthetically, he thought that the movie doesn’t have the same tone as most Marvel movies in a good way, believing that the alternate-universe setting that harkens back to the ’60s brings something new to the table while making the superhero team feel different than other heroes in the MCU. He compares the setting to Marvel’s WandaVision, the 2021 sitcom featuring Elizabeth Olson’s Scarlet Witch, and the colorful and humorous world from The Incredibles (which he notes is a bit ironic since that film was inspired by The Fantastic Four).

Reactions to a prior test screening found that Ralph Ineson’s Galactus was “terrifying” and brought a “Lovecraftian” horror angle to the movie. There were some criticisms, however, of the movie’s lack of character development and how The Thing was used.