"I'm sorry she didn't get a chance to see the finished movie," director Matt Shakman tells EW of the dedication to his late mother, Inez Shakman.

“Fantastic Four” has a “distinct retro-futuristic aesthetic and family-focused themes,” according to Rotten Tomatoes. With a “certified fresh” critics score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, reactions to “Fantastic Four” seem largely positive — even if they sometimes come with qualifications.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps has kicked off Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with an impressive $118 million domestic box office haul from its opening weekend. That’s the fourth biggest domestic opening of 2025, behind A Minecraft Movie ($162 million), Lilo & Stitch ($146 million), and Superman ($125 million).

First Steps" and DC's "Superman" hit theaters within two weeks of each other. So which had the bigger opening weekend?

First Steps line up with the end of Thunderbolts* as the franchise builds to the release of the epic Avengers: Doomsday in December 2026? CinemaBlend's own Jeff McCobb recently broached that subject in an interview with director Matt Shakman during the Los Angeles press day for the new 2025 movie,

First Steps" is in theaters now and On The Red Carpet is celebrating this latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn.

So yes, the Fantastic Four are objectively selfish parents, in the exact same way that countless other parents are selfish, by instinct and necessity. (As a father, guilty as charged here.) What First Steps communicates less successfully is the experience of parenthood as character development, rather than stakes-raising external motivation.

While there have been tributes to Jack Kirby over the years, with everything from the Thor: Ragnarok logo being in honor of him or Ant-Man featuring a cool reference to him, The Fantastic Four: First Steps took things to the next level when celebrating the late Marvel artist.

After three ill-fated Fantastic Four movies at Fox, Kevin Feige has confirmed the heroes are coming to the MCU. By Richard Newby Marvel’s first family is finally coming to the Marvel Cinematic ...

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Everett Collection SATURDAY AM: The Fantastic Four: First Steps at $120M-$125M is one of the sixth best openings for a Marvel Cinematic Universe title post Covid and that’s a great thing.