Marvel Studios’ Fantastic Four: First Steps is gearing up for its highly anticipated release date of July 25, 2025, and fans have just been presented with a major update: the official runtime. This will be the longest Fantastic Four film ever made. But how does that compare to the earlier versions of Marvel’s First Family? And what can we take away from this extended runtime about Marvel’s larger plans for the reboot? Let’s take a closer look.
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Fantastic Four: First Steps Runtime Revealed
Both AMC Theaters and Odeon Cinemas have announced their updated film listings, and Fantastic Four: First Steps will be 2 hours and 10 minutes. That places it among the longer Marvel Cinematic Universe films, only four minutes longer than the Thunderbolts, which wrapped the Phase 5 finale. For comparison, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 had a runtime of 2 hours and 30 minutes, and Avengers: Endgame is the longest MCU film at 3 hours and 2 minutes.
Bearing in mind that First Steps is launching Phase 6 of the MCU, it’s no surprise Marvel is giving it extra time to tell its story. This is not merely another superhero film, it’s setting up how Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm will be within the overall Marvel universe, which is rumored to be building to Avengers: Doomsday.
Comparison of Previous and Current Fantastic Four Runtimes
This runtime also makes the First Steps the longest Fantastic Four movie in the franchise to date. Here’s the runtime of all the Fantastic movies released so far:
- Fantastic Four (2005): 1 hour 46 minutes
- Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007): 1 hour 32 minutes
- Fantastic Four (2015 remake): 1 hour 40 minutes
- Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025): 2 hours 10 minutes
The numbers speak for themselves. First Steps is 24 minutes longer than the 2005 movie, 38 minutes longer than its 2007 sequel, and 30 minutes longer than the 2015 remake. Marvel is going for a bigger and more detailed approach this time around.
Why a Longer Runtime Makes a Difference
The longer runtime isn’t merely about having more scenes. It’s an indication of a shift in Marvel’s tone, storytelling, and overall approach. First Steps, directed by WandaVision helmer Matt Shakman, will feature a 1960s retro-futuristic look paired with epic, cosmos-level dangers.
That includes the arrival of Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). The main cast features Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us fame), Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the beloved team of superheroes.
As the movie introduces several new characters, establishes high-stakes battles, period-specific setting, and becomes part of the broader MCU, the longer runtime becomes necessary.
Shakman has reportedly also insisted on practical sets and a grounded, retro-futuristic look, so it may give us the vibe of a Stanley Kubrick film made in 1965. A creative vision like that needs time to unfold properly.
Learning from History: Why This Runtime Could be a Game-Changer
Let’s get real, the Fantastic Four franchise never had the best track record, to say the least. The 2005 and 2007 versions, directed by Tim Story, did relatively well at the box office but received mixed reviews.
The 2015 reboot, directed by Josh Trank, was a different story altogether, not in a good way. Critics slammed it for its dark tone, clunky pacing, and lack of cohesion, all of which were made worse by an unusually short 100-minute runtime for what was supposed to be a major reboot.
All the previous versions lacked a balance between character development and plot. The 2015 version, though, appeared to skip over key moments, especially during the third act, which appeared to come out of nowhere. Fans and critics believed it needed more time to breathe.
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In First Steps, though, Marvel appears to have learned from those mistakes. Allowing the story 130 minutes provides enough time to tell the origin of the team, explore their relationships, and introduce cosmic-level threats such as Galactus properly, all without rushing through major events.
How It Fits in the Broader MCU Timeline
Fantastic Four: First Steps is more of a reboot; it’s a cornerstone for the next phase of the MCU. It launches Phase 6, which was initially planned to pick up from the aftermath of Avengers: Doomsday. However, with that movie, and a few others, having release dates pushed back and scheduling changed, Marvel appears to be reworking its release plan for this phase.
Given its runtime and stakes, First Steps feels like a pivotal moment for Marvel, a chance to bring one of its most beloved families to the fore with the respect and care they’ve been due for so long. There’s even speculation that it will pave the way for future crossovers with characters such as Spider-Man and the X-Men.
Final Thoughts
The Fantastic Four have waited a long time for a movie that would finally do them justice, one that highlights both their superpowers and their human side. With a 2 hours and 10 minutes runtime, it looks like Marvel is finally giving them that chance.
If anything, this extended running time is a blessing in disguise for die-hards. Rather than squeezing an origin story, a villain’s back story, and world-building into 90 or 100 minutes, the movie gets to take a breath. And with an all-star cast that features Pascal, Kirby, Quinn, and Moss-Bachrach, along with a menacing Galactus looming in the background, this ain’t just another superhero flick.
It’s a reboot and redemption story for a franchise that’s never quite been given the respect it deserved. Is 130 minutes the perfect length for Fantastic Four’s epic MCU debut? We’ll find out soon enough when Fantastic Four: First Steps arrives in theaters on July 25, 2025. But from everything we’ve learned and seen up until this point, this could be the movie that finally puts Marvel’s First Family where they belong, in the spotlight.
