Fantastic Four: First Steps, The

Story

In a 1960s-inspired futuristic world, Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) go into space as the bravest and brightest of astronauts. They return home as the Fantastic Four. After surviving a space storm that alters their DNA, they have superpowers that they use to protect and serve humanity.

When Sue finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, Reed could not be more thrilled and sets out to baby-proof the world, making it as safe as possible for his unborn son. Just as police launch an attack to neutralise the numerous criminal gangs Reed has been tracking before his child’s birth, an unprecedented threat arrives in the form of a Silver Surfer called Shalla-Bal (Julia Garner). She warns the Fantastic Four about Galactus (voice of Ralph Ineson) – a planet-devouring cosmic entity who’s determined to destroy Earth.

The Fantastic Four follow Shalla-Bal to a distant galaxy where they encounter and try to negotiate with Galactus. Sensing a strong power in their unborn child, Galactus offers Sue and Reed a deal – he’ll leave Earth in peace, but they must give him their son. They refuse and flee, trying to outmanoeuvre Shalla-Bal as they try to return to Earth, all while Sue gives birth to baby Franklin (Ada Scott).

Faced with their imminent demise, the people of Earth begin to turn on one another. They also turn against the Fantastic Four because of their refusal to sacrifice the baby. When the Fantastic Four introduce Franklin to the world and talk about the importance of family, it strikes a universal chord. The nations unite to build a series of bridges that Reed believes will teleport Earth out of Galactus’s reach as he draws closer in his quest for Franklin.

The bridges seem to be the only option, but at the last minute the Fantastic Four discover another possibility – although this one might cost more than they’ve bargained for.

Themes

Sacrifice; alien threats; fear of the unknown; destruction of planets; impending death

Violence

The Fantastic Four: First Steps has some violence:

Ben is known for hitting, punching and clobbering villains or opponents. He admits he likes punching. A cartoon based on the Fantastic Four repeatedly shows scenes of ‘The Thing’ (Ben) using the catch phrase, ‘It’s clobbering time!’
Johnny absorbs the fire from a building, sucking it into himself.
A Pan Am building sinks into the ground, and a mole-man attacks others.
A child is nearly crushed by falling debris.
Parts of fight scenes show the Fantastic Four battling and conquering various creatures and villains who are threatening to harm innocent people.
Johnny attacks as Galactus threatens Sue and she goes into labour. He flies around burning whatever he can so they can get back to their ship.
Shalla-Bal knocks Ben and Reed down and tries to prevent them from leaving.
Shalla-Bal is shoved into a pool of lava.
Shalla-Bal pursues the Fantastic Four, entering their ship and reaching out a hand to Sue’s stomach, as if she’s trying to drag the infant from Sue’s womb. Sue tells Johnny to kill Shalla-Bal because she’s trying to take the child.
Johnny repeatedly tries to shoot and kill Shalla-Bal.
Shalla-Bal is sucked into a black hole while the Fantastic Four’s spaceship starts to come apart and Sue gives birth in space.
As Galactus approaches Earth, a foreboding shadow looms over New York city and people cower underground in fear.
Galactus rips up trees, overturns boats, kicks buses and crushes city buildings as he searches for Franklin.
Johnny shoots fire directly into Galactus’s eyes. Ben throws a bus at him, and Johnny lights his body on fire after the impact of the vehicle.
Ben throws a crane at Galactus, who retaliates by throwing Ben into outer space where he almost freezes before Johnny flies up to rescue him.
Sue is nearly crushed by Galactus when he smashes her car into a building.
Reed climbs up Galactus and stabs at his body with a metal rod.
Galactus grabs Reed and tries to rip him apart by stretching him as far as he can reach. Reed’s clothes rip, and his limp body is tossed to the ground.
To get to Franklin, Galactus smashes through a building as well as the protective layers a robot has put in place.
Sue pushes Galactus through a portal. When he begins to crawl back through, Johnny says to tell his nephew he loves him as he flies at full speed, determined to push Galactus back. Shalla-Bal knocks Johnny out of the way and shoves Galactus through herself before the portal closes behind them.

Sexual references

The Fantastic Four: First Steps has some sexual references. For example, Sue and Reed discuss her unexpected pregnancy and Sue remarks that ‘talking wasn’t the important part’ of becoming pregnant.

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

The Fantastic Four: First Steps shows some use of substances. For example, characters appear to be drinking beer during a dinner.

Nudity and sexual activity

The Fantastic Four: First Steps has some nudity and sexual activity. For example:

An illustrated billboard shows a dog biting a man’s underpants as he pulls, exposing the top of the man’s bottom.
An alien woman’s body is covered in silver coating instead of clothing. Johnny refers to her as beautiful, naked and a ‘sexy alien’. He flirts with her but is rebuffed. He’s later teased about his ‘alien girlfriend’.
Sue kicks off the pants of her spacesuit when she’s about to give birth. Her bare knees are briefly shown as she begins to push.

Product placement

The following products are displayed or used in The Fantastic Four: First Steps: Canada Dry, Coppertone, Pan Am and Campbell’s Soup.

Coarse language

The Fantastic Four: First Steps has some coarse language.

Ideas to discuss with your children

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a retro-futuristic superhero movie from Marvel Studios, based on comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The movie features powerful messages about family, community and the power of global unity to accomplish positive things.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is best suited to viewers aged over 12 years.

The main messages from The Fantastic Four: First Steps are that nothing is more important than family. Also, family is about connecting to something bigger than each of us individually. Family is something to fight and make sacrifices for. It’s a foundation that can change the world.

Values in The Fantastic Four: First Steps that you could reinforce with your children include courage, respect, sacrifice, ingenuity and love.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps could also give you the chance to talk with your children about the importance of holding onto our humanity no matter how chaotic the world seems or how dire the latest news story is.