The Fantastic Four: First Steps – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2025

76%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Marvel's first family faces a planet-eating space god while keeping their own family intact—cosmic stakes meet domestic dynamics.

7/10

86%

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The Fantastic Four: First Steps

movie

PG-13, 2025

76%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Marvel's first family faces a planet-eating space god while keeping their own family intact—cosmic stakes meet domestic dynamics.

86%

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7/10

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Screenwise Verdict

Marvel's Fantastic Four reboot leans into the family angle, which is smart—these aren't brooding loners or workplace teammates, they're actual family trying to save the world without falling apart. Galactus brings legitimate cosmic stakes, and the Silver Surfer adds visual flair.

The challenge? It's a 2025 MCU entry arriving when superhero fatigue is real. Metacritic 65 and IMDb 7.0 suggest it's competent but not groundbreaking. For families who still enjoy Marvel's formula, this delivers action, spectacle, and themes about balancing responsibility with relationships. For those tired of superhero movies, this won't convert you.

The planet-eating threat means expect some intense destruction sequences—fine for older kids used to Marvel stakes, but potentially scary for the under-10 crowd. If your family still gets excited for Marvel movies, this is a solid theater outing. If you're burned out, maybe wait for streaming.

Age Fit

Best for kids 10+ who can handle Marvel-scale action and cosmic peril. The family dynamics make it more accessible than some MCU entries, but Galactus's planet-destroying threat level may be too intense for younger or sensitive kids. Teens and adults who enjoy superhero spectacle will find plenty to like.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Family-centric superhero story that emphasizes balancing heroic duties with family bonds. Marvel's PG-13 formula typically includes some violence and peril but maintains an optimistic, team-oriented tone. The focus on the Fantastic Four as a family unit models cooperation and loyalty, though expect typical superhero action sequences.

Imaginative

Galactus and the Silver Surfer bring cosmic-scale sci-fi spectacle to the MCU. The Fantastic Four's powers (stretching, invisibility, force fields, human torch, rock form) offer visually creative action sequences. Space-god mythology and interdimensional threats push beyond typical street-level superhero fare into imaginative cosmic territory.

Safe

Expected PG-13 Marvel fare: action violence, peril, and destruction but no gore, minimal language, no sexual content. Galactus as a 'ravenous space god' suggests planet-threatening stakes and potentially intense sequences of mass destruction. No surprise content for families familiar with MCU films, though younger kids may find cosmic threat scenarios scary.

Enriching

Explores themes of family responsibility, sacrifice, and protecting Earth from existential threats. The balance between personal relationships and heroic duty offers discussion points about priorities and teamwork. Introduces cosmic-scale science fiction concepts, though primarily serves as entertainment rather than deep character study. IMDb 7.0 and Metacritic 65 suggest solid but not exceptional execution.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Family-as-superhero-team angle offers a refreshing take on Marvel's usual solo-hero or assembled-strangers formula
Galactus and Silver Surfer bring legitimate comic book spectacle and cosmic-scale imagination to the big screen
The Fantastic Four's varied powers make for visually creative action sequences beyond punch-kick-blast
Balancing world-saving with family dynamics creates built-in character tension and relatability

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What to Watch For

Planet-threatening stakes mean potentially intense destruction sequences that could frighten younger viewers
Typical Marvel PG-13 violence—lots of action, some peril, but nothing graphic
Early reviews suggest solid but not spectacular execution (Metacritic 65)—may feel formulaic to superhero-fatigued families

Conversation Starters

"If you had to choose between saving the world and protecting your family, what would you do?"
"Which Fantastic Four power would you want and why? What would you use it for?"
"The movie shows a family working together as a team. What makes our family work well together? What could we do better?"
"Galactus is so powerful he eats planets. What would you do if you faced a problem that seemed impossible to solve?"

Deep Dive

The 1960s-That-Never-Was

The first thing you’ll notice is that this doesn't look like the typical "concrete and airport tarmac" Marvel movie. The retro-futuristic setting is a vibe. It’s the 1960s if the Space Age promises actually came true—all bright colors, rounded edges, and optimistic tech. It’s a smart move because it makes the movie feel like a standalone adventure rather than a mandatory homework assignment for the broader MCU.

While the critics were a bit lukewarm (that Metacritic 65 suggests some "superhero fatigue" at play), the audience scores are through the roof. It’s easy to see why. This isn't a movie about a lone wolf brooding in a cave; it’s a movie about a family that actually likes each other. If your kids are used to the snarky, detached tone of some recent blockbusters, the earnestness here might actually surprise them.

The Galactus Problem

We need to talk about the scale of the threat. Galactus isn't a guy in a suit or a purple alien with a glove; he’s a "ravenous space god" who eats planets. When he shows up, the movie shifts from a fun family comedy to something much more intense.

There is an extended sequence where a giant being ravages a city that might be a bit much for the under-10 crowd. It’s loud, it’s destructive, and it carries a sense of cosmic dread that your average bank robbery scene lacks. If you’re trying to figure out where this sits on the Marvel intensity scale, think of it as a step up from the early Spider-Man movies but less cynical than Guardians of the Galaxy.

If Your Kid Liked...

If your family loved The Incredibles, this is the closest live-action equivalent we’ve ever had. The friction between the characters isn't "end of the world" drama—it's "who left the milk out" drama that just happens to take place on a spaceship.

For parents navigating age-appropriate Marvel and superhero movies, this is a solid entry point for tweens. It hits that sweet spot of being sophisticated enough for a 13-year-old but clean enough that you won't be diving for the remote to skip a scene.

The Silver Surfer is the visual standout. Every scene he's in is basically a piece of moving art, which helps keep the "boring" exposition scenes moving for younger viewers.
The family bond is the actual superpower. The movie spends as much time on their domestic life as it does on the action, which makes it one of the best movies for tweens 2025 had to offer.

If you’re watching on Disney+, it’s worth a "family meeting" viewing. The stakes are high, the colors are bright, and for once, the heroes actually seem happy to be there. Just be ready for the "can we get a telescope?" requests afterward.

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