Movie review
July 23, 2025 · 115 min · PG-13
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
The Fantastic 4: First Steps is a 2025 Marvel movie set in a retro-futuristic 1960s-inspired alternate universe. The already-established First Family faces a cosmic threat from Galactus and his herald while Sue Storm is pregnant, with the story centering on their family bonds and duty to protect their child and Earth. The film uses classic adventure structure and emotional family stakes without prominent modern identity or activist messaging. A female Silver Surfer variant drew some pre-release criticism but did not define the final product.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Fantastic 4: First Steps.
Woke representation / casting
Core team casting stays close to classic character designs and backgrounds; one clear gender variant on Silver Surfer; no heavy audience-visible DEI signaling or story-mismatching diversity emphasized in coverage.
Woke political dialogue
No activist speeches, systemic critiques, or ideological framing; conversations stay on family loyalty, science, survival, and heroism.
Identity-driven story themes
Pregnancy and family unity drive emotion but appear as universal human experiences of protection and sacrifice, not modern identity politics or social-justice messaging.
Western institutional / cultural critique
None present; story pits a traditional family team against an external cosmic threat with no portrayals of toxic masculinity, patriarchy, or cultural undermining.
Woke character or canon changes
Main alteration is Silver Surfer reimagined as female Shalla-Bal variant; some pre-release debate occurred, though comic precedent exists; core team powers and dynamics remain faithful.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Pre- and early post-release complaints from conservative voices and online communities focused on female Silver Surfer and perceived gender emphasis as identity politics or DEI; criticism framed the choices as prioritizing messaging, though it remained niche amid broader positive reception.
Creator track record context
Mix of apolitical classic creators and low-activism director alongside MCU leadership with representation priorities; contributing writers show no activist patterns, keeping overall influence moderate.
Production
