10 Harsh Realities Of Rewatching The Fantastic Four: First Steps Now It’s On Disney+

You can now watch The Fantastic Four: First Steps on Disney+. If you’re revisiting the Marvel Cinematic Universe, especially after seeing the latest movie, you’ll notice how well the new Fantastic Four cast performs. They’re clearly setting up this iconic team to be important in future Avengers films and the wider MCU.

The Fantastic Four movie is generally successful, delivering an engaging, heartfelt, and enjoyable story within a different version of the Marvel universe. However, upon repeated viewings, some flaws become more apparent once the initial excitement fades. Despite a still-compelling story and the film potentially being among the strongest in the MCU, certain elements could have been improved.

10. Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom Should Have Had A Bigger Role

We always planned for Galactus and the Silver Surfer to be the main villains in the movie, which meant Doctor Doom’s part would be small. Ultimately, Robert Downey Jr.’s version of Doctor Doom only made a quick appearance in the extra scene after the credits of The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

With the change in main villain from Kang to Doctor Doom, it became crucial to properly introduce Doom before the upcoming ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ movie. Since Doctor Doom is a major antagonist in the comics, the movie ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ seemed like the ideal place to start building his character. Unfortunately, his appearance is very brief and doesn’t even show his face, hindering that necessary development.

9. Galactus Might Have Been Defeated Too Easily

I was really impressed by how they presented Galactus in the Fantastic Four movie – they built him up to be this unbelievably terrifying threat. When the team finally went to his ship, seeing just how massive he was made it feel like nobody could possibly beat him! But then, surprisingly, the Fantastic Four actually managed to defeat him, and it honestly seemed… almost easy. It was a bit of a shock, but a fun one!

Reed Richards devised a plan to send Galactus to the far side of the universe using a portal. Galactus didn’t initially believe it, but Sue Storm ultimately forced him through the portal by pushing him with her powers, sending him soaring through New York City. Although Sue gave it her all, simply pushing Galactus wasn’t a particularly impressive way to defeat him.

8. The MCU Movie Never Explains The Fantastic Four Ship Seen In Thunderbolts*

A key feature of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is how all the stories connect. That’s why fans were excited to see the Fantastic Four’s spaceship briefly appear after the credits of the Thunderbolts movie. There’s been speculation that the upcoming film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, will explain how the team ended up traveling to another universe, setting up that appearance.

Okay, so the big connection fans were hoping for between the Fantastic Four and the ship we saw in Thunderbolts? Didn’t happen. Earth is still perfectly fine, and that mystery isn’t getting solved anytime soon. Honestly, it feels like we’ll have to wait until Avengers: Doomsday in 2026 for that reveal now. While Thunderbolts still works as its own film, it was a little letdown that this particular tease didn’t pay off immediately. I was really expecting a bigger connection!

7. The Film Should Have Been Longer To Include An Intriguing Deleted Storyline

At 1 hour and 56 minutes, ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ was relatively short for a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. Considering the film introduces a brand new universe and team, it could have been longer, like many other major Marvel releases. A longer runtime might have allowed for more in-depth character development and a more relaxed pace.

The movie felt a bit hurried in places, and it’s obvious some scenes were cut. The most noticeable omission was John Malkovich’s character, the Red Ghost. A flashback sequence showed Reed Richards battling one of the Red Ghost’s Super-Apes, but the villain himself – who has a backstory similar to the Fantastic Four’s – was completely left out.

6. Mole Man’s Redemption Needed More Of A Focus

Paul Walter Hauser’s character, Mole Man, doesn’t get much development due to the movie’s quick pace. We see a brief flashback of the Fantastic Four stopping him, and how he unexpectedly connected with Sue Storm. This connection later leads to him sheltering New York’s population while the Fantastic Four battled Galactus.

As a film fan, I felt like this character’s growth was really rushed. It would have meant so much more if we’d seen a longer scene of the team confronting him earlier, really establishing his backstory and making his eventual turn feel earned. He felt a little one-dimensional, and honestly, I was hoping they’d delve deeper into the dynamic between him and Reed – that relationship felt really underdeveloped.

5. The Fantastic Four Movie’s Ending Twist Does Not Hit As Hard On A Rewatch

Okay, so listen, one of the most surprising moments in this new Fantastic Four movie, First Steps, is definitely the ending. Just when everything seems wrapped up – they’ve actually managed to send Galactus packing – things take a really dark turn. Sue Storm, pushing herself to the absolute limit, collapses and… well, she dies. It’s brutal! But then, just when the team is completely devastated and thinks all hope is lost, her son, Franklin Richards, steps in and brings her back to life. It’s a huge twist and honestly, a really powerful scene.

Rewatching The Fantastic Four: First Steps on Disney+ highlights a surprising drawback: Sue’s death and return to life don’t have the same impact the second time around. Knowing what happens beforehand diminishes the emotional punch of the scene. However, it remains a touching moment with sincere performances from the actors.

4. The Montage Showing The Team’s Origin And Feats Could Have Been Expanded

Superhero films rarely start with the complete backstory of well-known characters anymore, as most viewers are already familiar with it. This trend applies to Spider-Man with Tom Holland, Superman in James Gunn’s DC Universe, and now the Fantastic Four in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Rather than dedicating an entire movie to their beginnings, the new Fantastic Four film included a shorter scene showing how the team first came together and what they’ve accomplished in the past.

Including the Fantastic Four was a fun way to give fans a glimpse of the team without needing to retell their origin story, which many already know. However, the scene felt too brief, meaning cool moments – like seeing them in their classic comic book outfits – ended up feeling like minor details. The film could have benefited from showing more of their important moments.

3. Reed Richards’ Plan To Save Their Earth Is Even Less Believable On A Rewatch

Throughout The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Pedro Pascal’s portrayal of Reed Richards consistently highlights his intelligence. However, his plan to save Earth from Galactus by teleporting the entire planet felt unrealistic, and this wasn’t simply because it’s science fiction—the idea itself didn’t quite hold up.

As a huge movie fan, I always find it a bit of a stretch when Reed Richards’ plan in the Fantastic Four movies relies on everyone globally cooperating. The idea that all countries would just put aside their disagreements and work together to build those portal devices before Galactus shows up… well, it’s a fun movie moment, but let’s be real. Rewatching The Fantastic Four: First Steps on Disney+ just highlights how incredibly unlikely that scenario is in the real world. It’s a nice fantasy, but it really feels like something that only works within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

2. The Thing Does Not Get The Same Focus As The Rest Of The Team

The casting in The Fantastic Four: First Steps was spot-on. Each actor perfectly embodies their character, and the movie particularly highlights the dynamic between Reed and Sue – how they balance their differing approaches while working together. Johnny Storm is also portrayed with surprising intelligence, revealing more depth than just his typical rebellious attitude.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s portrayal of Ben Grimm felt underdeveloped compared to the rest of the Fantastic Four. The movie seemed to be hinting at a relationship between Ben and Natasha Lyonne’s character, Rachel Rozman, but she had very little screen time, and any potential romance never materialized. Additionally, Ben’s journey to self-acceptance regarding his appearance could have been explored more thoroughly.

1. It Is Another MCU Movie With World-Ending Stakes

Ultimately, The Fantastic Four: First Steps brings the familiar threat of universal destruction to the MCU, which is fitting considering Galactus is the villain. It’s a good approach for the team’s debut film, but the MCU’s Multiverse Saga has featured several stories with similarly high stakes.

Now that the initial excitement has faded, revisiting the Fantastic Four movie on Disney+ highlights how it fits in with other Marvel films. Despite its flaws, The Fantastic Four: First Steps remains one of Marvel’s stronger recent movies. It’s a good way to get ready for Avengers: Doomsday, and it’s still an enjoyable watch.

2025-11-05 20:13