The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Movie, 2025, Phase 6, Set in Earth-828, 1960s
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is #63 of 69 in release order and #60 of 69 in chronological order in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The story
Marvel's First Family has arrived! Join the cast, crew, and fans live from the blue carpet at the World Premiere of Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps recap
On Earth-828 in a 1960s retro future, Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm are celebrated heroes four years after cosmic rays gave them their powers. Reed and Sue announce Sue is pregnant. The Silver Surfer arrives and announces that Galactus, a planet-eating giant, has chosen Earth. The team flies into space to bargain and is captured by Galactus, who wants their unborn child, whose cosmic power could end his hunger. Sue gives birth in space as they escape past a neutron star, and they return with baby Franklin. The public turns against the family when they refuse to trade Franklin for the planet. Reed builds teleportation bridges to move Earth away, Sue rallies the world to build them, and the Surfer, whom Johnny learns is Shalla-Bal, a woman who serves Galactus to save her own world, destroys them.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps ending explained
The team uses Franklin as bait to lure Galactus to the last teleporter, while Harvey Elder, the Mole Man, evacuates New York underground. Sue pushes Galactus into the portal with her powers, and Shalla-Bal, persuaded by Johnny, sends him through as it closes. Sue dies from the strain and is revived by Franklin. The world celebrates the team's fifth anniversary.
Post-credits scenes
Yes. In the mid-credits scene, four years later, Sue reads to Franklin and returns from fetching a book to find him with a cloaked man holding a metal mask: Doctor Doom, setting up Avengers: Doomsday. There is no separate post-credits story scene.
Ratings
IMDb 6.8/10, Rotten Tomatoes 86%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Ironheart, before Eyes of Wakanda.
- Chronological order: after Wonder Man, before Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
What to watch before The Fantastic Four: First Steps
In release order, 40 Marvel Cinematic Universe essentials come before The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), from Iron Man (2008) to Thunderbolts* (2025).
Cast
- Anthony Carboni as Self - Host
- Tamara Krinsky as Self - Host
- Langston Belton as Self - Host
- Jenny Lorenzo as Self - Host
- Matt Shakman as Self - Director
- Louis D'Esposito as Self - Executive Producer
- Ralph Ineson as Self - 'Galactus'
- Julia Garner as Self - 'Silver Surfer'
- Sarah Niles as Self - 'Lynn'
- Michael Giacchino as Self - Composer
- Kevin Feige as Self - Producer, President of Marvel Studios
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Self - 'Ben Grimm' / 'The Thing'