Spoiler alert! This article contains spoilers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps opened with a scene on par with the beautiful ending of Avengers: Endgame, and that’s arguably why the movie worked. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has delivered some of the most emotionally resonant character moments in superhero film history. One of the best examples of this comes from the celebrated Fantastic Four: First Steps.
While audiences often remember the MCU timeline’s biggest action set pieces, it’s the smaller, heartfelt scenes that leave the longest-lasting impact. Much like Endgame, First Steps was bookended by one of these scenes, establishing a distinct tone that carried throughout the movie. It helps highlight the humanity in characters often viewed solely as superheroes.
Avengers: Endgame’s Last Scene Ended The Movie On A Quiet, Important Character Moment
The final scene of Avengers: Endgame closes out over a decade of storytelling. However, not with a battle or a tease for the next threat, but with Steve Rogers dancing with Peggy Carter. It’s the quiet resolution of an arc that began in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, where Steve promised Peggy a dance he’d never get to have.
Related
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Just Gave Us The Most Accurate Comics Cover Recreation In The MCU So Far
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a celebration of 1960s-era comics, and fittingly offered a perfect tribute to one of the era’s most famous covers.
After returning the Infinity Stones and choosing to live a life in the past, he finally honors that promise. There’s no dialogue, just a record player spinning and two soulmates swaying in a modest living room. This is more than just an emotional payoff for Steve.
It’s a reminder that the MCU at its best is as much about the internal journeys of its heroes as it is about time travel and alien invasions. The scene doesn’t shout, it whispers. It trusts the audience to feel the weight of the moment, to recognize that a man defined by sacrifice finally chose something for himself.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ First Scene Introduces Reed Richards And Sue Storm Perfectly
The Fantastic Four: First Steps opens with a similarly subtle yet meaningful moment. The first scene shows Reed Richards tidying up a messy bedroom and searching for iodine in his bathroom. Sue Storm, meanwhile, appears taking a pregnancy test, before joining Reed and sharing the news that she is pregnant.
Related
60 Fantastic Four: First Steps Easter Eggs & Marvel References Explained
The MCU’s Fantastic Four have finally arrived, and their first movie features a wide collection of Easter eggs, references, and amazing comic ties.
The moment is quiet, filled with nervous joy, and unfolds with realistic awkwardness, humor, and emotion. It’s a beautifully crafted scene that does triple duty: introducing Reed and Sue as individuals, establishing their dynamic as a couple, and immediately giving the audience a reason to care about them. Instead of rushing into powers or battles, First Steps anchors its story in relationships.
Related
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Ending Explained: The Shocking Truth About Galactus and Franklin Richards Connection Revealed
The Fantastic Four: First Steps sets the wheels in motion for the Multiverse Saga to end, with Marvel’s First Family now firmly inserted in the MCU.
Reed’s stunned silence followed by his soft, overwhelmed smile conveys more about his heart than any monologue. Sue’s grounded warmth and strength come through effortlessly as she takes the lead in that moment. It’s a brilliant narrative choice, echoing Endgame’s scene in tone and impact. By prioritizing quiet, human moments over action, The Fantastic Four: First Steps was primed for success.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Release Date
July 25, 2025
Runtime
115 minutes
Director
Matt Shakman
Writers
Jeff Kaplan, Josh Friedman, Ian Springer, Eric Pearson
Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic
Vanessa Kirby
Sue Storm / The Invisible Woman