Has Marvel got its mojo back? Critics give verdicts on Fantastic Four

Fantastic Four: First Steps is helping Marvel to "get its mojo back", according to most early reviews of the new superhero reboot.

The 37th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is "Marvels best film in a decade", the Telegraph said, while the Guardian declared the studio had "regained its buoyancy".

But other critics brought the returning comic book superheroes feet back down to earth. The Independent suggested the retro-looking film is "no disaster – but its no Superman, either".

The latest attempt at a Fantastic Four reboot follows a 2015 adaptation that flopped at the box office and was poorly received by critics.

The new iteration stars Pedro Pascal as Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as The Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as the Human Torch and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing.

Set in the 1960s, it sees the heroes forced to defend Earth from a hungry space god named Galactus, played by Ralph Ineson, and the Silver Surfer, played by Julia Garner.

US publication Variety was impressed, running the headline: "Marvel gets its Mojo back with a satisfying retro-styled reboot."

Reviewer Peter Debrudge said it was right to scale back from "the overcrowded feel of recent offerings", adding: "Theres relief to be had from a Marvel movie in which you neednt have carefully studied multiple other movies to make sense of whats happening."

Gender-swapping the Silver Surfer, he noted, is "the biggest - and likely most controversial" change to the story, yielding an "intriguingly flirtatious dynamic with [Human Torch] Johnny".

He concluded: "True to its subtitle, the film feels like a fresh start. And like this summers blockbuster Superman reboot over at DC, that could be just what it takes to win back audiences suffering from superhero exhaustion."

The Telegraphs Robbie Collin offered four stars, saying the reboot "feels like the start of an exciting new chapter for Marvel".

"First Steps is earnest, colourful, upbeat," he said, "and asks its audience to bring nothing to the table beyond a willingness to be wowed."

It makes the viewer "wish that Marvel had reached this point years ago", he opined.

"Why do Pedro Pascals elastic-limbed Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirbys Invisible Woman, Ebon Moss-Bachrachs rock-skinned Thing and Joseph Quinns fiery Human Torch make such a refreshingly human quartet of heroes?

"Its partly because the casting allows all four to play to their strengths – and as the teams steadfast matriarch, Kirby is especially good value – but also because the film keeps putting them into the sort of human spaces where human behaviour naturally occurs."

In a three-star review, the Guardians Peter Bradshaw explained that "in a retro-futurist version of early 1960s New York, Mr Fantastic and Sue Storm are living together as a dysfunctional family with the Human Torch and the Thing - with a baby on the way."

The result, he wrote, "hangs together as an entertaining spectacle in its own innocent self-enclosed universe of fantasy wackiness, where real people actually read the comic books that have made mythic legends of the real Four".

He continued: "I have expressed my dissatisfaction recently with superhero films which have to finish with AI cities collapsing – and, yes, this is what happens here, but at least this finale emerges from the established story premise, and works well with the tone of uncomplicated fun."

Adding: "Overall a very silly movie - though its keeping the superhero genre aloft."

The Independents Clarisse Loughrey also dished out three stars, underlining how actress Kirby "is a standout as Susan Storm and the set design dazzles", but that "this franchise-starter is still weighed down by the usual unfunny banter and pathological Marvel aversion to risk".

She wrote: "Its Reed and Sues marriage that also births one of the most fascinating ethical quandaries Marvels ever put to screen – and, yet, its somehow happily solved about three scenes later.

"Truly, angst isnt on the cards for Marvel as of now. And its nice, admittedly, to see the genre embrace wonder once again."

Director Matt Shakman has said his latest attempt to bring the comic book heroes to the big screen exists in its "own universe" so fans need not worry if they havent seen all or any of the previous 36 MCU films.

John Malkovich had been due to appear in the film as Red Ghost, however, Shakman told Variety, it was "heart-breaking" to ultimately have to leave his scenes on the cutting room floor.

Over the weekend, Marvel boss Kevin Feige teased that the studio has "a seven-year plan", which includes the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day in summer 2026 followed by two Avengers movies.

He told Hollywood trade publications including Variety that the expanded universe and its many overlapping characters and plotlines "used to be fun" but lately may have left some viewers wondering "do I have to know everything about all of these [characters]?"

He detailed why he liked rivals DC Comics recent hit Superman movie "a lot". "I love that you just jump right into it. You dont know who Mister Terrific is? Tough, youll figure it out. This is a fully fleshed out world."

For BBC Cultures Caryn James, Marvels own 2025 release, its take on the Fantastic Four, is "pleasant enough but lacks tension".

"Despite strong performances by Pedro Pascal and others - and for all its breezy competence and flair - this retro vision of the future from Marvel doesnt have enough suspense," she wrote.

"The subtitle First Steps says a lot - this film feels like a warm-up, introducing characters who will become major parts of the MCU."

Empires Dan Jolin enjoyed it much more, offering four stars.

"If the script doesnt hit quite so many comedic high notes as some other Marvels, it at least brims with sincerity, presenting a heroic squad committed to protecting the Earth, while encouraging the whole world to link arms and do its bit, too," he said.

"Those are the kind of heroes, it feels, that we need right now."

Fantastic Four: First Steps is out in UK cinemas on Thursday.