THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Test Screening Reactions Misinterpreted; Movie Received "Excellent" Scores

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Test Screening Reactions Misinterpreted; Movie Received "Excellent" Scores

It seems the negative reactions to The Fantastic Four: First Steps were blown out of proportion, as the person who shared their thoughts on the movie has revealed how those were taken and misrepresented.

By JoshWilding - Jun 01, 2025 12:06 AM EST
Filed Under: Fantastic Four

A test screening for The Fantastic Four: First Steps took place earlier this week, and reactions soon found their way online. Those were shared by Jeff Sneider, Daniel Richtman, and @MyTimeToShineH, with the recurring theme being that the movie is "meh." 

Now, the person who provided at least one of the trio with this information (their scoops parroted each other, meaning they either share a source or distributed the information between themselves) has come forward to set the record straight. 

"I've been seeing a lot of reporting on anecdotes and facts that I recognized as my own," the test screening attendee wrote. "I wanted to debunk some misinterpretations I've heard. [No] one screamed 'mid' in the audience. There was a guy next to me sighing and flapping his hands around. When the movie was over I asked him his opinion, and he said 'it was mid.'

"I told this story on [Discord] right after I left. Certain insiders have blown this story out of proportion, [saying] that some lunatic [screamed] 'mid' in the theater. This is 100% untrue...there was an employee asking around random people for their reactions. I heard a lot of 'Excellents' the highest rating on the survey."

They added that the film is fast-paced, "but not a mess" and said their issues with the movie were things like Reed Richards not turning "into any crazy shapes" and The Thing not having a Brooklyn accent. However, they acknowledged that they're a big comic book fan and said such nitpicks are unlikely to bother regular moviegoers (a lack of character development may, however, be problematic). 

As we write this, Richtman has apologised, @MyTimeToShine has removed their X post, and Sneider has said nothing. It seems the telephone game got way out of control, with facts misinterpreted or spun to sound more negative. 

While we're not suggesting anyone has deliberately miscontrued the reaction to The Fantastic Four: First Steps, negativity does typically fuel social interactions and subscriptions more than good news. And, as we've repeatedly pointed out, this was ultimately just one opinion from the many people in attendance at the screening. 

Oh, and those claims that Marvel Studios has only publicly screened its bad movies? We've done some digging, and Deadpool & Wolverine also had a public test screening; reviews for that were positive, and it was a huge box office hit last summer. 

Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they face their most daunting challenge yet.

Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.

Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, and Natasha Lyonne have been cast in mystery roles. Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom is rumoured to appear, though that's surely a given with Avengers: Doomsday on the way.

Director Matt Shakman worked with both Avatar: The Way of Water co-writer Josh Friedman and WandaVision's Cam Squires on The Fantastic Four: First Steps' screenplay, with Eric Pearson (Black Widow) later coming on board for a final polish.

The movie is set to be released in theaters on July 25, 2025.

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NGFB
NGFB - 6/1/2025, 12:06 AM
DOOM!!! This movie gonna suck eggs!!! Or not. I can't wait to go see it on the big screen. Take my money!!
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 6/1/2025, 3:49 AM
Pedro Pascal dancing and licking a multicolored light tube:

http://youtube.com/shorts/pPtcRVEPVFk?si=uzYth-KAC84HRycB

Pedro Pascal ordering Joaquin Phoenix not to wave to fans:

http://youtube.com/shorts/s_5ypoBC-BA?si=Rl-mNs4Ym_IlK3Qj
Pictilli
Pictilli - 6/1/2025, 12:14 AM
Pedro won't shave for Reed? Ben Grimm casting and Thing voice sucks... and... Female Silver Surfer?

Yep... sounds like the mid-tastic four to me.

At least they're getting Galactus right.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 6/1/2025, 1:32 AM
@Pictilli - galactus only looks right. Characterization might be questionable.

For all we know he is looking for his boyfriend celestial trapped in mcu earth and needs franklin powers to jump universes
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 6/1/2025, 4:18 AM
@vectorsigma - If you read the plot leaks his motivation is even worse than that. It's really stupid.
DJSharp22
DJSharp22 - 6/1/2025, 1:43 PM
@ObserverIO - The hell are you talking about?
DJSharp22
DJSharp22 - 6/1/2025, 1:44 PM
@Pictilli - You're just speculating.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 6/1/2025, 2:18 PM
@DJSharp22 - Since the thread's gone cool I'll give with a potential spoiler:


POTENTIAL
S
P
O
I
L
E
R




Galactus wants Franklin to recreate his dead universe.
Now what's Galactus gonna do when he gets home, kiss his family, play some hoops, no he's gonna eat his home-planet because that's what planet eaters do.
Pictilli
Pictilli - 6/1/2025, 12:15 AM
Just get Michael Chiklis to voice dub the new Thing and he will have an accurate voice to match his appearance
DJSharp22
DJSharp22 - 6/1/2025, 1:45 PM
@MakeAmericaGrea - The hell are you talking about?
Gambito
Gambito - 6/1/2025, 12:15 AM
Whoa whoa! The thing doesn’t have his accent??? What the actual hell!!!?
SuperCat
SuperCat - 6/1/2025, 12:23 AM
User Comment Image
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 6/1/2025, 1:34 AM
@SuperCat - what's funny here is it has the same lazy cinematography, green screen, cheap set that is already a marvel signature. So the transition and splice looks smooth
DJSharp22
DJSharp22 - 6/1/2025, 1:45 PM
@vectorsigma - Bullshit.
TheOtherOn
TheOtherOn - 6/1/2025, 12:24 AM
Disney and Marvel with their social media army going FULL "DC" MODE!

No, not THAT Detective Comics.... Damage Control. 🤦‍♂️

User Comment Image
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 6/1/2025, 12:44 AM
@TheOtherOn - this will be Feige's last ditch effort before getting fired
DJSharp22
DJSharp22 - 6/1/2025, 1:45 PM
@TheOtherOn - How so?
DJSharp22
DJSharp22 - 6/1/2025, 1:45 PM
@vectorsigma - He's not getting fired.
POWERDUDE
POWERDUDE - 6/1/2025, 6:07 PM
@DJSharp22 - why are you so protective over Marvel? You’re on every comment that’s even slightly, just SLIGHTLY negative about the MCU like a fly.😂
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 6/1/2025, 12:29 AM
Well , that’s good to hear if true!!.

However most if not all rumors & such are a game of telephone to some extent which this seems like got more crazy then others recently which I wouldn’t be surprised if some were just genuinely mistaken and others were doing it for the grift since negativity sells sadly,

Anyway , I do hope the movie turns out well since it’s looked good imo!!.
ItsAllOurBlood
ItsAllOurBlood - 6/1/2025, 12:33 AM
Kinda shocked to see the chronically online girl, MAGA, even has limits to how much time they can sit in their mom's basement to whine about comic book movies.

I'm glad I have enough going on in my life that I can just be excited to watch this fun-looking movie.
Rpendo
Rpendo - 6/1/2025, 1:15 AM
@ItsAllOurBlood - right?!?!
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 6/1/2025, 3:53 AM
@ItsAllOurBlood -

I really did a number on you and your comradskis.

You're in your parents' house more often than I am.
KingZero
KingZero - 6/1/2025, 4:13 AM
@MakeAmericaGrea - why would you be in their parents' house?
Yellow
Yellow - 6/1/2025, 10:25 AM
@MakeAmericaGrea - girl what are you doing in his house?
ItsAllOurBlood
ItsAllOurBlood - 6/1/2025, 1:13 PM
@MakeAmericaGrea - The only numbers you do are the amount of comments you post online because you have nothing else going on
TheFinestSmack
TheFinestSmack - 6/1/2025, 12:34 AM
Damn, them scoopers are usually SO RELIABLE.
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 6/1/2025, 3:59 AM
"Ha ha! Now you &$@%# take this ten thousand dollars and tell everyone Fantastic Four is GREAT!"

🐭
DJSharp22
DJSharp22 - 6/1/2025, 1:46 PM
@MakeAmericaGrea - What?
POWERDUDE
POWERDUDE - 6/1/2025, 6:09 PM
@DJSharp22 - calm down sweetheart, you’re everywhere. Your precious Marvel will be ok petal. People are allowed to disagree & think they’re utter shit.😂
movieguy18
movieguy18 - 6/1/2025, 12:35 AM
Once again proves why they need to stop reporting what these bozos spew at us. Just stop posting their nonsense.
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 6/1/2025, 3:55 AM
@movieguy18 -

Nothing has been proven.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 6/1/2025, 8:50 AM
@movieguy18 - yep they say one and then retract it. Rinse and repeat, I [frick]ing hate what this has become
DJSharp22
DJSharp22 - 6/1/2025, 1:46 PM
@bobevanz - Come again?
POWERDUDE
POWERDUDE - 6/1/2025, 6:10 PM
@DJSharp22 - you’re everywhere. Hail Marvel!!! Excelsior! Jesus Christ man, get a grip! 😂
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 6/1/2025, 12:46 AM
How is an f4 movie excellent with girl boss Sue and female Surfer?

Marvel shill force double time i see 😭
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 6/1/2025, 3:56 AM
@vectorsigma -

Exactly right.

Liberal spin doctors are getting friction burn from spinning so fast.
DJSharp22
DJSharp22 - 6/1/2025, 1:47 PM
@vectorsigma - The hell are you talking about?
POWERDUDE
POWERDUDE - 6/1/2025, 6:12 PM
@DJSharp22 - & here you are again! 😂 Good God, pull your tongue out of Disney Marvel’s proverbial schpincter. 😂
Oberlin4Prez
Oberlin4Prez - 6/1/2025, 12:56 AM
Here comes the damage control.
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