Marvel fans are basically professional detectives at this point. We scour every casting call, every leaked set photo from the UK, and every stray comment from Kevin Feige to figure out what's coming. Lately, the buzz has shifted toward the clock. People are obsessing over the Fantastic Four First Steps runtime because, honestly, the length of a movie tells a story before the first frame even flickers on screen.
Is it a tight, punchy 100-minute retro-future romp? Or a sprawling three-hour epic that needs an intermission?
The truth is a bit more nuanced than the rumors you see on Reddit. We’re looking at a film that isn't just another entry in the Multiverse Saga; it’s a foundational reset. When director Matt Shakman took the reins, the conversation shifted from "when is it coming out" to "how much story can they actually fit into one sitting?"
Why the Fantastic Four First Steps Runtime Is Such a Big Deal
Movies are getting longer. It’s a trend. But for the First Family, the length matters because of the sheer volume of "firsts" this movie has to handle. We aren't just meeting Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben. We're meeting a 1960s-inspired alternate reality. We’re meeting Galactus. We’re meeting the Silver Surfer.
Doing all that in under two hours feels... well, it feels impossible.
If the Fantastic Four First Steps runtime ends up being on the shorter side, say 125 minutes, it suggests a very specific type of filmmaking. It suggests a movie that hits the ground running. No origin story. No radioactive cloud in space for the third time. Shakman has already hinted that we aren't getting the traditional "how they got their powers" beat. That saves a massive amount of real estate.
On the flip side, if we see a runtime creeping toward 160 minutes, we’re likely looking at heavy world-building. You can't just drop Galactus—played by the imposing Ralph Ineson—into a movie for five minutes and call it a day. He’s a cosmic event. He needs room to breathe.
Comparing Marvel's Recent Lengths
To get a real sense of where this might land, you have to look at the patterns. Marvel Studios hasn't been shy about letting movies run long lately. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever clocked in at 161 minutes. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was 149 minutes. Even The Marvels, which was notably short at 105 minutes, felt like an outlier—and many fans argued it suffered from being too fast.
The Fantastic Four First Steps runtime will likely aim for that "sweet spot" of the MCU's prestige entries. Think Captain America: The Winter Soldier (136 minutes) or the original Avengers (143 minutes). These are films that feel substantial but don't overstay their welcome.
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: 126 minutes
- Spider-Man: No Way Home: 148 minutes
- Eternals: 156 minutes
Looking at those numbers, it's clear that when a movie has to establish a "new" team or a massive shift in the status quo, Marvel leans into the two-and-a-half-hour mark. Considering Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach are playing characters with decades of baggage, the script needs to give each of them a "moment." You can't rush Ben Grimm's pathos. You just can't.
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The Galactus Factor and Narrative Weight
Let's talk about Ralph Ineson. His voice alone carries weight. When you cast a guy like that to play the Devourer of Worlds, you aren't making a lighthearted Saturday morning cartoon. The scale of this film is reportedly massive.
The title itself, "First Steps," implies a beginning, but the retro-futuristic setting suggests we are dropping into a world that is already fully formed. This is brilliant for the runtime. It means the movie doesn't have to explain why the technology looks different; it just is.
However, the "cosmic" side of Marvel usually demands more time. Eternals tried to do a lot of world-building and needed over two and a half hours, and even then, some people felt it was rushed. If the Fantastic Four First Steps runtime stays under 140 minutes, it'll be a masterclass in economic storytelling.
Honestly, I’m betting on 145 minutes. It’s long enough to be an "event" but short enough to keep the pacing snappy, which is something Matt Shakman excelled at during WandaVision.
Production Realities and Post-Production Edits
The movie started filming in the summer of 2024 at Pinewood Studios in London. Right now, we’re in the thick of it. Any "leaked" runtime you see on a random theater chain website this early is almost certainly a placeholder.
Editors like to say the movie is "written" three times: once on the page, once on the set, and once in the edit suite. We are currently in that second phase. The final Fantastic Four First Steps runtime won't even be locked until a few months before the July 2025 release date.
Marvel is famous for their "additional photography" (don't call them reshoots). They use this time to tighten up character arcs or add those crucial post-credit scenes that set up the next five years of the franchise. This process can shave five minutes off a movie or add ten.
What This Means for the Audience
If you're planning your opening night, expect a commitment. This isn't a "quick trip to the cinema" kind of movie. It's the launch of a new pillar for the MCU.
- Pacing matters more than minutes. A 150-minute movie that flies by is better than a 90-minute movie that drags.
- The "Vibe" check. Everything we've seen suggests a stylized, colorful, and slightly weird aesthetic. That kind of visual flair usually benefits from a bit of breathing room.
- The Ensemble. Balancing four leads plus a major villain plus a herald (Julia Garner's Shalla-Bal) is a logistical nightmare for a short script.
The Fantastic Four First Steps runtime is ultimately a tool. It's the canvas size. If the canvas is too small, the portrait of Reed Richards' family feels cramped. If it's too big, the paint gets thin.
Actionable Insights for Fans Tracking the Film
While we wait for the official confirmation from Disney and Marvel Studios, here is how you can stay ahead of the curve and manage your expectations for the release:
- Ignore Early Theater Placeholders: Websites for major chains often list "120 minutes" as a default setting for movies that haven't been rated yet. Don't take it as gospel until the MPAA rating (likely PG-13) is officially released.
- Watch the Rating Announcements: Traditionally, the final runtime is revealed at the same time the film is officially rated by the MPAA, usually 3-4 weeks before the premiere.
- Monitor "Test Screening" Reports: While often unreliable, consensus among multiple scoopers regarding the "pacing" usually leaks about six months before release. If people say it feels "dense," expect a longer runtime.
- Prepare for the "Event" Experience: Given the 1960s NYC setting and the scale of Galactus, this is a film designed for IMAX. If the runtime is over 140 minutes, the premium format is definitely the way to go to avoid visual fatigue.
Keep your eyes on the official Marvel social channels as we get closer to 2025. The actual length of the movie will be one of the last things confirmed, but all signs point to a substantial, mid-to-long-range epic that finally gives these characters the space they deserve. No more rushed origins. Just the First Family, the cosmos, and a clock that hopefully gives them enough time to save the world.