Fantastic Four focuses on fun
The Fantastic Four: First Steps comes out in theatres today. The reboot of Marvel's superhero group takes place in a futuristic 1960s America, giving it a nostalgic aesthetic that roots itself in the original vision of the comic books.
Today on Commotion, guest host Eli Glasner speaks with NPR's TV critic Eric Deggans, entertainment reporter Teri Hart and Mashable entertainment editor Kristy Puchko about their thoughts on The Fantastic Four and if it can reverse Marvel's recent slump at the box office.
We've included some highlights below, edited for length and clarity. For the full discussion on remembering both The Cosby Show's Malcolm-Jamal Warner and wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, listen and follow Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud on your favourite podcast player.
WATCH | Today's episode on YouTube:
Eli: Teri, what's the vision behind this new take on the Fantastic Four?
Teri: What people are seeing in this very, very significant media buy that Disney has put behind this movie is a restart for the MCU [Marvel Cinematic Universe]. It's like, we are done with the Avengers, we are done with those old characters and we are in a new universe for the MCU — and that universe is the Fantastic Four.
It's a really fun movie to watch. I quite liked the movie…. What's nice about this movie is it doesn't wind around itself 16 times, the way so many MCU movies do. It's like, they [the Fantastic Four] went to space, something happened, they have superpowers, let's move on — and then we get going. All the exposition that we were getting into and all of the explainers and all of the different lore in the MCU was tiresome, let's be clear. And this does not have that. So it's fun and it's a summer blockbuster and it's squarely in that territory, and I think it delivers.
Eli: This is just the latest of The Fantastic Four movies. There was the 2005 version with Chris Evans and Jessica Alba, the 2015 version with Michael B. Jordan and Miles Teller. Eric, talk to us about The Fantastic Four as just a story and a Marvel entity and what makes it — up until now, perhaps — so hard to adapt.
Eric: The Fantastic Four were the building blocks for Marvel. They were the first set of heroes to come along to present Marvel's vision of: these are heroes that operate in a reality. They're not in a metropolis or some made-up city, they're in Manhattan. They operate out of a skyscraper in the middle of New York City. They deal with real landmarks and real people. And they were a family with real tensions. And I think one of the things that was hard about adapting this though, is that so much of it was very cosmic, and so many of their villains were really exaggerated. Galactus is a perfect example: a world-eating giant from outside our solar system.
I think a lot of The Fantastic Four movies, where they fell down, were figuring out who the villain could be. It wasn't Galactus in many of them. And if that villain is not Galactus, you've already lost fans of the Fantastic Four because they want to see that classic match-up that defined the Fantastic Four. So it was great that they tackled portraying Galactus the way he is in the comic books [as the villain].
Eli: Let's talk about aesthetic, Kristy. I would describe The Fantastic Four as Norman Rockwell meets The Jetsons: this wonderful vision of the future, by way of the 1960s. So it has a look. It has very interesting aesthetic choices. Do you think that was crucial to the story?
Kristy: I do. Here's the thing: I think that we got into kind of a rut where superhero movies became such a formula because it was working for DC [DC Comics] and MCU for a while that they're like, "These are how these movies look." And the genre might change up a little bit, but they had the consistent look. I think by being like, "We're doing a different look," it says, "We're doing something new, let's reset."
I've seen all the other Fantastic Four movies and I will be honest, I don't remember a lot about them. And I think that's in part because it's hard in this superhero genre that we have developed as an industry, as a society, to make sense of four people that are like, "We wear matching spandex, we're called the Fantastic Four." We haven't allowed for that in any kind of real way.
So they have to embrace the kitschiness of it. And putting it in the '60s, it gives it that Incredibles vibe, where we are allowed to have an idealistic nostalgia of an aesthetic instead of dealing with the reality of the '60s — and notably their 1960s looks very different than our 1960s in a political structure. But aesthetically? Gorgeous, love it. It really does allow us an escapism that I think Marvel got stuck in with all these gritty, "And now here's Yelena [Black Widow], but she's sad." It allows us to be like, "Hey guys, remember when things were just fun and super?"
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
How orcas became such a big symbol of British Columbia
They were once seen by many as threatening monsters, but today are beloved. How did the perception of orcas change so much? Justin McElroy reports.
Toronto Sun
14 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
‘Fantastic Four: First Steps' scores Marvel's first $100 million box office opening of 2025
Published Jul 27, 2025 • Last updated 0 minutes ago • 3 minute read From left, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/the Thing, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch. Photo by Jay Maidment / 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. LOS ANGELES — Marvel's first family has finally found box office gold. 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' the first film about the superheroes made under the guidance of Kevin Feige and the Walt Disney Co., earned $118 million in its first weekend in 4,125 North American theatres, according to studio estimates Sunday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account That makes it the fourth biggest opening of the year, behind 'A Minecraft Movie,' 'Lilo & Stitch' and 'Superman,' and the biggest Marvel opening since 'Deadpool & Wolverine' grossed $211 million out of the gate last summer. Internationally, 'Fantastic Four' made $100 million from 52 territories, adding up to a $218 million worldwide debut. The numbers were within the range the studio was expecting. The film arrived in the wake of another big superhero reboot, James Gunn's 'Superman,' which opened three weekends ago and has already crossed $500 million globally. That film, from the other main player in comic book films, DC Studios, took second place with $24.9 million domestically. 'First Steps' is the latest attempt at bringing the superhuman family to the big screen, following lackluster performances for other versions. The film, based on the original Marvel comics, is set during the 1960s in a retro-futuristic world led by the Fantastic Four, a family of astronauts-turned-superhuman from exposure to cosmic rays during a space mission. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The family is made up of Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), who can stretch his body to incredible lengths; Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), who can render herself invisible; Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), who transforms into a fiery human torch; and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), who possesses tremendous superhuman strength with his stone-like flesh. The movie takes place four years after the family gained powers, during which Reed's inventions have transformed technology, and Sue's diplomacy has led to global peace. Both audiences and critics responded positively to the film, which currently has an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and promising exit poll responses from opening weekend ticket buyers. An estimated 46% of audiences chose to see it on premium screens, including IMAX and other large formats. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The once towering Marvel is working to rebuild audience enthusiasm for its films and characters. Its two previous offerings this year did not reach the cosmic box office heights of 'Deadpool & Wolverine,' which made over $1.3 billion, or those of the 'Avengers'-era. But critically, the films have been on an upswing since the poorly reviewed 'Captain America: Brave New World,' which ultimately grossed $415 million worldwide. 'Thunderbolts,' which jumpstarted the summer movie season, was better received critically but financially is capping out at just over $382 million globally. Like Deadpool and Wolverine, the Fantastic Four characters had been under the banner of 20th Century Fox for years. The studio produced two critically loathed, but decently profitable attempts in the mid-2000s with future Captain America Chris Evans as the Human Torch. In 2015, it tried again (unsuccessfully) with Michael B. Jordan and Miles Teller. They got another chance after Disney's $71 billion acquisition of Fox's entertainment assets in 2019. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Comscore: 1. 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' $118 million. 2. 'Superman,' $24.9 million. 3. 'Jurassic World Rebirth,' $13 million. 4. 'F1: The Movie,' $6.2 million. 5. 'Smurfs,' $5.4 million. 6. 'I Know What You Did Last Summer,' $5.1 million. 7. 'How to Train Your Dragon,' $2.8 million. 8. 'Eddington,' $1.7 million. 9. 'Saiyaara,' $1.3 million. 10. 'Oh, Hi!,' $1.1 million. Sports Columnists Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA
Winnipeg Free Press
14 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Fantastic Four: First Steps' scores Marvel's first $100 million box office opening of 2025
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Marvel's first family has finally found box office gold. 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' the first film about the superheroes made under the guidance of Kevin Feige and the Walt Disney Co., earned $118 million in its first weekend in 4,125 North American theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. That makes it the fourth biggest opening of the year, behind 'A Minecraft Movie,' 'Lilo & Stitch' and 'Superman,' and the biggest Marvel opening since 'Deadpool & Wolverine' grossed $211 million out of the gate last summer. Internationally, 'Fantastic Four' made $100 million from 52 territories, adding up to a $218 million worldwide debut. The numbers were within the range the studio was expecting. The film arrived in the wake of another big superhero reboot, James Gunn's 'Superman,' which opened three weekends ago and has already crossed $500 million globally. That film, from the other main player in comic book films, DC Studios, took second place with $24.9 million domestically. 'First Steps' is the latest attempt at bringing the superhuman family to the big screen, following lackluster performances for other versions. The film, based on the original Marvel comics, is set during the 1960s in a retro-futuristic world led by the Fantastic Four, a family of astronauts-turned-superhuman from exposure to cosmic rays during a space mission. The family is made up of Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), who can stretch his body to incredible lengths; Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), who can render herself invisible; Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), who transforms into a fiery human torch; and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), who possesses tremendous superhuman strength with his stone-like flesh. The movie takes place four years after the family gained powers, during which Reed's inventions have transformed technology, and Sue's diplomacy has led to global peace. Both audiences and critics responded positively to the film, which currently has an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and promising exit poll responses from opening weekend ticket buyers. An estimated 46% of audiences chose to see it on premium screens, including IMAX and other large formats. The once towering Marvel is working to rebuild audience enthusiasm for its films and characters. Its two previous offerings this year did not reach the cosmic box office heights of 'Deadpool & Wolverine,' which made over $1.3 billion, or those of the 'Avengers'-era. But critically, the films have been on an upswing since the poorly reviewed 'Captain America: Brave New World,' which ultimately grossed $415 million worldwide. 'Thunderbolts,' which jumpstarted the summer movie season, was better received critically but financially is capping out at just over $382 million globally. Like Deadpool and Wolverine, the Fantastic Four characters had been under the banner of 20th Century Fox for years. The studio produced two critically loathed, but decently profitable attempts in the mid-2000s with future Captain America Chris Evans as the Human Torch. In 2015, it tried again (unsuccessfully) with Michael B. Jordan and Miles Teller. They got another chance after Disney's $71 billion acquisition of Fox's entertainment assets in 2019. Top 10 movies by domestic box office With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore: 1. 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' $118 million. 2. 'Superman,' $24.9 million. 3. 'Jurassic World Rebirth,' $13 million. 4. 'F1: The Movie,' $6.2 million. 5. 'Smurfs,' $5.4 million. 6. 'I Know What You Did Last Summer,' $5.1 million. 7. 'How to Train Your Dragon,' $2.8 million. 8. 'Eddington,' $1.7 million. 9. 'Saiyaara,' $1.3 million. 10. 'Oh, Hi!,' $1.1 million.
