Fantastic Four Reviews Show MCU Can’t Be Counted Out Before Avengers: Doomsday

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As a devoted Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) aficionado, I must confess that the last few years have been a rollercoaster ride with its fair share of bumps and moments of sheer frustration. However, the swell of enthusiastic acclaim for The Fantastic Four: First Steps has me optimistic about the road ahead.

Marvel dominated global popularity when Avengers: Endgame premiered. Nearly everyone, almost without exception, was engrossed in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and eagerly flocked to cinemas to witness the culmination of the Infinity Saga. It was an experience that seemed unmissable. The finale felt like a fitting conclusion to a tale that had been unfolding for over a decade.

However, much like other lucrative franchise series, the narrative continued to unfold. Although there were still a few quality installments, Phases 4 and 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe saw more flops than successes. Even some of the stronger titles, such as Thunderbolts*, didn’t achieve blockbuster box office results.

*Note: In this context, “Thunderbolts” refers to a hypothetical MCU film, as no official movie with that title has been released yet.

Next week, we’ll find out how much Fantastic Four earns, given its promising forecast. However, the reviews hint that Marvel Studios is currently experiencing a resurgence.

Fantastic Four reviews are a good indicator for the MCU’s future

As this article goes live, The Fantastic Four: First Steps currently boasts an impressive 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Thunderbolts* shares a similar score, while Captain America: Brave New World, the last MCU film before that, scored 46%. Remarkably, the new Fantastic Four adaptation’s score is significantly higher than its predecessors, such as the 2005 movie with a mere 27%, Rise of the Silver Surfer with 37%, and the 2015 film at just 9%.

*Note: The asterisk (*) indicates that Thunderbolts is yet to be released.

A victory like this was crucial for Marvel Studios, as they’re aiming to generate enthusiasm for upcoming films such as ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’. However, it’s been challenging to achieve that excitement given the somewhat underwhelming response to many projects within the Multiverse Saga.

The reviews for Fantastic Four: First Steps have sparked a sense of hope that will hopefully extend into upcoming ventures, making us eager for Spider-Man: A New Chapter, Avengers: Day of Doom, and Avengers: Secret Wars. Additionally, the period of mutants is anticipated to commence after these projects, and fans are eagerly waiting for some well-crafted X-Men films.

MCU might finally be back on track with Avengers: Doomsday after stumbling on Kang plotline

It appears that many complications in Marvel’s Multiverse Saga stemmed from the mishandling of the Kang the Conqueror storyline. Prior to Robert Downey Jr.’s casting being revealed, Avengers: Doomsday was originally intended to be called Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and would have centered around Jonathan Majors’ villain character.

I must admit, the plans for featuring Kang in Marvel movies were scrapped not only due to the public stir caused by Major’s personal affairs, but also because it became evident that Kang was not the caliber of villain like Thanos, as Kevin Feige elucidated. Shifting focus towards Doctor Doom seems promising, yet it raises questions about Marvel’s foresight if such a crucial decision wasn’t considered beforehand.

Currently, Marvel appears to have established a solid direction, mapping out a well-thought-out plan. The upcoming MCU Phase 6 project, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” indicates the commencement of a new storyline. This news brings relief to fans, as they can rest assured that this fresh chapter is setting off on the right track.

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2025-07-22 21:27