Not being a big fan of The Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer 2007, I was pleasantly surprised with their newest adventure First Steps. Changing things up with some exciting actors, the newest foursome had a lot to do with why the film is amazing. I like that they rewrote the character Silver Surfer to be female and it brought the much needed girl power to the storyline. It’s kind of cool that the Marvel Universe was adaptable to add the sleek antagonist to offset the character Sue Storm.
It’s been awhile since the Fantastic 4 have had to quell the evils of the universe. However, happy to be working on new projects Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) are well liked by the metropolis where they are headquartered. But with a baby on the way, Sue has been more mindful of her place in the mutant world. Recently however, a Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) has appeared to Johnny and he’s become distracted by her. When she presents danger to the city, the four take a trip into space following the Surfer and coming face to face with the dangerous Galactus (Ralph Ineson).
The cast does a terrific job in their roles of this sequel, much better than the actors who portrayed the main stars in Rise of the Silver Surfer. Credit first time big screen director Matt Sharkman who had cut his directing teeth on some well received TV shows for several years. Commanding the Fantastic 4 First Steps, he combines the much needed special effects with this action filled script that really delivers a lot of “Avengers” style character excitement. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures should be very happy with the film as it is still holding number 6 at the 2025 worldwide box-office with numbers like $521 million thus far.
The Fantastic 4 First Steps Bonus Features include:
Deleted Scenes – Check out the scenes that didn’t make the final cut. Including Thanksgiving Soup Kitchen, Fantastic Four Day, Subterranea, Birthday Sweater, and Taking Turns
Gag Reel – Enjoy fun outtakes on set with the cast and crew of The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Additional Featurettes:
Meet The First Family – The creation of the Fantastic Four saved Marvel Comics in 1961 and has only flourished as years have passed. Matt Shakman and the cast explain how they found themselves gravitating toward each role and creating the ultimate family unit.
Fantastic Futurism – The filmmakers discuss the process of immersing the cast and crew in the film’s retro-futuristic aesthetic. Join Matt Shakman and crew as they discuss the experience of shooting in gigantic mid-century New York sets and stepping into an otherworldly era.
From Beyond and Below – The team explores bringing complex characters from the page to the screen, including a larger-than-life Galactus, grounded Harvey Elder/Mole Man, and an emotionally rich Silver Surfer.
Audio Commentary – Watch the film with audio commentary by director Matt Shakman and production designer Kasra Farahani.
The Fantastic 4 First Steps has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for action violence and some language. The film is now on digital, but comes out on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD on March 14. Marvel fans and those that like a lot of explosive action should enjoy this sequel on a home big screen. Look for it in a Steelbook available at major retailers.
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Julia Garner, Sarah Niles
Directed by: Matt Sharkman,
Genre: Sci-fi, Superhero, Action, Adventure
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for action/violence and some language
Running Time: 1 hr. 55 min.
Video Release Date: October 14, 2025
Original Theatrical Release Date: April 2025
Language: English
Reviewed Format: Digital
Released on: 4K, Blu-ray and DVD
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
