The Gen Z Report

The Gen Z Report

Film, Music, and Entertainment

The Fantastic Four’s Faltering First Steps

'The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ suffers and excels when detached from the glut of the Marvel Cinematic Universe

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Ben Ulansey
Jul 29, 2025
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Pedro Pascal in The Fantastic Four: First Steps / Walt Disney Studio Motion Pictures
Walt Disney Studio Motion Pictures

If there’s a single biggest drawback to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s the congestion. What was once a focused string of superhero stories has snowballed into a runaway network of interlinked narratives, each demanding familiarity with a growing list of flashy lead-up installments.

Audiences have been bombarded with…

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