"Is it worth watching 'Fantastic Four' 2025, according to the 60s and the emptiness within?"
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film "Fantastic Four: First Steps" has been met with generally positive critical reception, but has faced challenges at the box office, particularly domestically.
The film, directed by Matt Shakman, is a reboot of the Fantastic Four franchise and the 37th instalment in the MCU. It officially opens Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film's main cast includes Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm, Julia Garner as the Silver Surfer, Ralph Aineson as Galactus, Paul Walter Hauser as Human Mole, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Niles.
Critically, the film garnered positive reviews with an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised its emphasis on family and character development within a retro-futuristic 1960s-inspired setting. The cast was noted for bringing Marvel's First Family effectively to the screen.
Regarding box office performance, "Fantastic Four: First Steps" opened strongly in the U.S. and Canada with approximately $117.6 million during its opening weekend and has grossed around $170 million domestically so far, with a worldwide total of about $269 million. However, the film experienced a steep decline of nearly 80% in its domestic box office revenue from its opening Friday to the following Friday, dropping from about $57 million opening day (including previews) to $11.7 million.
This sharp decline has raised concerns about the film’s sustainability at the box office and word-of-mouth promotion, suggesting it may not be connecting with general audiences as strongly as expected despite positive reviews. Overseas performance has also been underwhelming compared to expectations, though the film remains ahead of some other recent MCU entries.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 86% based on 360 reviews. Critics have particularly praised the film's retro-futuristic aesthetic and the main cast's acting. However, the film's plot has been critiqued for its predictability and lack of depth in some characters.
In a surprising twist, Robert Downey Jr. appears as Doctor Doom in a post-credits scene, hinting at potential future developments for the franchise. A sequel to "Fantastic Four" is in development, although an official release date has not been announced.
As of August 3, 2025, worldwide box office totals reached $257.5 million with a production budget of over $200 million. On Metacritic, the film received 65 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews". On the Russian portal "Kinopoisk", the rating of the film is 6.8 out of 10.
The story revolves around the Fantastic Four protecting Earth and their future child from the cosmic being Galactus, warned by the Silver Surfer. The main characters are Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm, who are already a formed team of superheroes.
In conclusion, while "Fantastic Four: First Steps" has been well received critically and had a strong opening, the significant drop in its domestic box office earnings shortly after release indicates it could face difficulties in reaching blockbuster status typical of major MCU films.
[1] Rotten Tomatoes - Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) - https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fantastic_four_first_steps_2025 [2] Box Office Mojo - Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) - https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=fantasticfourfirststeps.htm [3] IMDb - Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12345678/ [4] CinemaBlend - Fantastic Four: First Steps Box Office Performance - https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2675181/fantastic-four-first-steps-box-office-performance-domestic-drop-overseas-earnings-and-more
The film "Fantastic Four: First Steps," the 37th instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has earned an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, lauded for its focus on family and character development within a retro-futuristic setting, as well as the main cast's effective portrayal of Marvel's First Family. (entertainment, movies-and-tv)
However, the film's domestic box office revenue has seen a steep decline of nearly 80%, raising concerns about its sustainability and potential connection with general audiences, despite positive reviews. (entertainment, movies-and-tv)
