First Reactions Say ‘Fantastic Four’ Is ‘Possibly The Best Marvel Film Ever Released’

If you want to know what confidence looks like from a studio ahead of a movie’s release, look no further than what Disney just did with the Fantastic Four social media embargo, actually moving it up.

That was apparently a decision made because reactions to the film has been so universally positive that they want to get them out there. In the wake of the very well-reviewed Superman, it appears we may be getting two excellent superhero movies within just weeks of each other, both from opposite ends of the spectrum of the Marvel/DC divide.

These initial reactions, which are not scored reviews, are almost all raves. Some are from critics, some are from influencers, some are from regular early, random viewers, so you can take all this with a grain of salt, but it is never mandatory these reactions are positive, and praise can often be muted. Here? That’s not what’s happening.

Here’s a list of reactions, starting out with the one my title is based on:

Georger McKay (Harpers Media) – “Quite possibly the best Marvel Studios film ever released. Absolutely loaded with talent and standout performances from Vanessa Kirby and Joseph Quinn. If you thought the MCU died with Endgame, think again. Thoughtfully crafted and easily a genre-defining classic”

Brian Long Films – “I came in tempered but #FantasticFour is truly a return to form for the MCU, the opening minutes blew my socks off in IMAX. Gardner’s & Quinn’s work stood out to me the most. Galactus gives this film real stakes and his presence is felt even off screen, incredible miniature work!”

Brandon Davis – “#FantasticFour First Steps is visually one of the best things Marvel has ever made. Parts feel like Interstellar & demand IMAX. Galactus is awesome. Silver Surfer looks really, really good. VFX were often immaculate. Cosmically and on Earth, Matt Shakman dropped a visual feast.”

There is also a lot of praise for one character an actor specifically, Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm:

iOlsen – “Matt Shakman delivers an action packed, humorous and fun film with #TheFantasticFour the family dynamic between Marvel’s first family is there! The entire cast is great but the FANTASTIC standout is Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm!”

Lizziesjull – “#FantasticFour is what marvel needed. Family dynamics are there and the stakes are high. Everyone is perfectly cast and Vanessa Kirby as Sue is a stand out! Matt Shakman reminds us why we loved his work in WandaVision and why we’ll love this film!”

Ash Crossan – “#FantasticFour is visually stunning, stylish, self-contained, and easy to jump into. I had such a good time with this one. The retrofuturism is such a snack. My stand out is Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm babe I will die for you, you are perfect.”

You get the idea. These are not official critic scores, I would not expect something insane like a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, but these are overwhelmingly positive reactions, especially in this era of frequent Marvel burnout. And unlike Thunderbolts, which was also highly praised this year, Fantastic Four is likely to go on to also be a box office success due to its far more widely-known characters.

Fantastic Four is out in the US on July 24, 2025, and we can all judge for ourselves. The critic embargo should be up before that, and we can do this all over again.

Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.