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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThe Fantastic Four: First Steps opened with an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score: Forbes reported an 88% Tomatometer on July 22, 2025, as reviews arrived. That figure was a launch-period snapshot, not a permanent rating. On October 4, 2026, Rotten Tomatoes displayed an 86% Tomatometer from 408 critic reviews and a 90% Popcornmeter from more than 10,000 verified ratings. The critic percentage is still strong, but it measures the share of reviews judged positive—not an average rating or a promise that every viewer will like the film.
What is The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Rotten Tomatoes score?
As of October 4, 2026, Rotten Tomatoes listed the 2025 film at 86% on the Tomatometer, based on 408 critic reviews, and 90% on the Popcornmeter, based on 10,000+ verified audience ratings. Those are separate measures, and the figures can change as more reviews or ratings are counted. [Rotten Tomatoes film page]
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Blu-ray + Digital | $22.96 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps - 4K + Blu-ray + Digital | $27.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The headline’s “genuinely fantastic” framing came from an earlier moment. Forbes reported an 88% Tomatometer on July 22, 2025, when reviews were first appearing and before the film’s July 25 theatrical release. The later 86% does not contradict that report: each percentage records the score at a different time. [Forbes, July 22, 2025] [Marvel’s film listing]
What the Tomatometer and Popcornmeter actually measure
The Tomatometer is the percentage of professional critic reviews that Rotten Tomatoes classifies as positive. It is not an average star rating, and 86% does not mean that critics rated the film 8.6 out of 10 or that 86% of all viewers will enjoy it. Rotten Tomatoes labels a film Fresh when its Tomatometer is 60% or higher. Certified Fresh has additional requirements, including a higher score, a minimum number of reviews, and at least five Top Critic reviews; for a wide release, the cited criteria require at least 80 reviews. [Rotten Tomatoes: About]
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#1 Best Overall
- Set against the backdrop of a ?60s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel?s First Family faces a daunting challenge. Forced to balance being heroes with their family bond, they must defend Earth from a space god and his enigmatic herald.
The Popcornmeter reflects audience ratings rather than professional reviews. Rotten Tomatoes says verified ticket-purchase ratings are displayed by default when available. The two percentages therefore describe different groups and should not be treated as directly interchangeable. The site also has an adjusted Tomatometer for some editorial rankings; that is not the score shown as the official Tomatometer on the film page. [Rotten Tomatoes: About] [Rotten Tomatoes FAQ]
Why critics responded positively
Rotten Tomatoes’ first-review roundup, published July 22, 2025, highlighted several recurring points of praise: the cast’s chemistry, the retro-futurist 1960s design, the family-centered emotional story, and the film’s ability to work without extensive preparation in other Marvel movies. The site’s later critics consensus likewise praised the cast and period design: “Benefitting from rock-solid cast chemistry and clad in appealingly retro 1960s design, this crack at The Fantastic Four does Marvel’s First Family justice.” [Rotten Tomatoes first-review roundup] [Rotten Tomatoes film page]
Some reviewers in that roundup were especially enthusiastic. Nagier Chambers of Big Gold Belt Media called it a long-awaited success: “After years of false starts and forgettable reboots, Marvel has finally delivered a Fantastic Four that lives up to its name.” Danielle Solzman of Solzy at the Movies wrote, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps finally gives them the movie they deserve.” Those are individual critical opinions, not a guarantee of universal approval. [Rotten Tomatoes first-review roundup]
Why a strong score does not mean every review loved it
A high Tomatometer means most counted reviews were classified as positive; it does not show how strongly each critic felt or how consistent their praise was. Some reviewers cited in the roundup found the screenplay rushed or unfocused, the villains underwhelming, or the story too attached to familiar Marvel franchise machinery. That range of reactions can coexist with a high percentage because the score counts positive reviews rather than averaging the intensity of each review. [Rotten Tomatoes first-review roundup] [Rotten Tomatoes: About]
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Rank #2
- Set against the backdrop of a ?60s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel?s First Family faces a daunting challenge. Forced to balance being heroes with their family bond, they must defend Earth from a space god and his enigmatic herald.
There was also a notable point of comparison: Kristen Lopez of The Film Maven wrote, “Some would argue, myself included, that The Incredibles remains the best Fantastic Four movie we’ve ever gotten, and that doesn’t change with the release of Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” The comment shows why an aggregate score is a starting point for understanding reception, not a substitute for reading individual reviews. [Rotten Tomatoes first-review roundup]
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is it a standalone movie, or do you need Marvel homework?
The early reviews included praise for the film’s ability to stand on its own, so viewers need not treat a long list of prior MCU films as required preparation. The reviews also included reservations about franchise setup, which means “standalone” should not be taken to mean entirely free of connections to a wider series. The film follows Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm as they face Galactus and his Herald, Silver Surfer; Marvel lists its release date as July 25, 2025. [Rotten Tomatoes first-review roundup] [Marvel]
Is The Fantastic Four: First Steps worth watching?
The Rotten Tomatoes figures point to broadly favorable critical and verified-audience reception at the time captured, while the reviews explain what that approval is about: ensemble chemistry, retro design, and a family-focused approach. If those elements appeal to you, the score is a useful sign of positive reception. It cannot settle whether the film’s pacing, villains, or franchise connections will work for you personally. The movie is listed as PG-13, with a runtime of 1 hour 55 minutes. [Rotten Tomatoes film page]
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