Honestly, everyone is holding their breath for this one. Marvel’s First Family has had a rough go of it on the big screen, and with The Fantastic Four: First Steps slated for a 2025 release, the big question isn't just about the suits or the CGI. It’s about the vibe. People are obsessed with the Fantastic Four movie rating because it dictates exactly how weird, retro, or gritty this 1960s-set alternate reality is actually going to get.
Usually, Marvel stays in the safe zone. You know the one. But after the massive success of Deadpool & Wolverine, fans started wondering if the guardrails were finally coming down.
Spoiler alert: probably not for Reed Richards and the gang.
Kevin Feige and director Matt Shakman are aiming for something that feels like "optimistic 1960s futurism." That screams PG-13. While the MPA (Motion Picture Association) hasn't slapped an official sticker on it yet—since the movie is still deep in production and post-processing—the industry consensus is practically set in stone.
Why a PG-13 Fantastic Four Movie Rating is Basically Guaranteed
Let's be real. Disney isn't going to take their most iconic legacy team and lock them behind an R-rating. They need to sell action figures. They need kids in seats. But more than that, the Fantastic Four have always been about family dynamics and scientific wonder.
Historically, every single Fantastic Four film we’ve seen has landed a PG-13. The 2005 Tim Story version? PG-13 for "sequences of intense action and some suggestive content." The 2007 Rise of the Silver Surfer? PG-13. Even the 2015 Josh Trank "Fant-4-stic" disaster—which tried way too hard to be a dark body-horror movie—stayed firmly in PG-13 territory.
Expect the MCU version to follow suit. You’ll get some "sci-fi violence," maybe a stray "S-word," and definitely some intense peril involving Galactus. But don't expect Ben Grimm to be tearing people in half. That’s just not what this brand is about.
What Actually Goes Into a PG-13 Decision?
It’s a balancing act. The MPA looks at four main things: violence, language, sex, and drug use.
Marvel has mastered the art of the "bloodless" battle. You can have a giant space god like Galactus (played by Ralph Ineson) threatening to eat the entire Earth, but as long as you don't show the gruesome details of a billion people vaporizing, you’re safe. The Fantastic Four movie rating will likely hinge on how they handle "The Thing."
📖 Related: Colin Macrae Below Deck: Why the Fan-Favorite Engineer Finally Walked Away
Ben Grimm is a tragic figure. He’s a man trapped in a body of orange rock. In the comics, his struggle is deeply psychological. If the movie leans into the body horror of his transformation—think Cronenberg-lite—that’s where the rating gets pushed toward the edge. However, Shakman has hinted at a more soulful, "Humanist" approach. Expect emotional weight rather than gore.
Comparing Previous Fantastic Four Ratings
It's actually kind of wild how consistent these movies have been despite how much the quality has swung around.
The 2005 film felt like a sitcom with a huge budget. It was bright, campy, and very much a product of the early 2000s. The rating reflected that. It was "soft" PG-13. Then you have the 2015 version. That movie felt like it wanted to be R-rated. There’s a scene in a lab where people’s heads literally explode. It was jarring. But even then, the studio edited it down to keep that precious teen-friendly rating.
For First Steps, we're looking at a different beast entirely. This isn't just another origin story; it’s an MCU cornerstone.
The Galactus Factor
Galactus changes the scale. When you’re dealing with a cosmic entity of that size, the "peril" rating naturally spikes. If the Silver Surfer (played by Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal) is out there wrecking cities, the intensity goes up.
But here’s a nuance people forget: The MCU loves a "low" PG-13.
Think Ant-Man or Ms. Marvel.
The Fantastic Four movie rating is expected to sit closer to Guardians of the Galaxy—plenty of action, some lighthearted bickering, and maybe one or two jokes that go over the kids' heads.
The Cast and How They Affect the Tone
The chemistry between Pedro Pascal (Reed), Vanessa Kirby (Sue), Joseph Quinn (Johnny), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben) is the soul of the movie.
Pedro Pascal brings a sort of "cool dad/distracted professor" energy. Vanessa Kirby is known for high-intensity drama (The Crown, Mission: Impossible). When you have actors of this caliber, the movie relies less on "cheap" thrills—the kind that usually bump a rating up—and more on character-driven tension.
👉 See also: Cómo salvar a tu favorito: La verdad sobre la votación de La Casa de los Famosos Colombia
The 1960s setting is also key. There’s a wholesome, "Jetson-esque" vibe to the concept art we’ve seen. This suggests a movie that is inviting and nostalgic. It’s hard to imagine a film that looks like a retro-future postcard being anything other than a family-friendly blockbuster.
Is There Any Chance of an R-Rating?
Zero.
Okay, maybe 0.1% if Kevin Feige had a total change of heart, but it’s just not happening. The Fantastic Four are the "North Star" of the Marvel Universe. They are the explorers. The family. You don't make the Avengers' biggest peers inaccessible to 10-year-olds.
What This Means for Parents
If you’re a parent waiting for the Fantastic Four movie rating to decide if you can take the kids, here is the breakdown based on typical MCU standards:
- Violence: Lots of blue beams, rock-punching, and cosmic explosions. Very little, if any, blood.
- Language: Expect a few "hells" and "damns." Maybe one "son of a..." that gets cut off.
- Thematic Elements: Discussion of identity, loneliness (Ben Grimm), and the weight of leadership (Reed).
- Intensity: Galactus is scary. He’s a giant space monster. Some younger kids might find the scale of the threat a bit much, but it’s no worse than Thanos.
Why the Rating Matters for the Box Office
The MCU needs a win. Let’s be blunt. Recent years have been a rollercoaster. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is being positioned as a "reset" for the franchise.
A PG-13 rating is the sweet spot for a billion-dollar run. It allows for the widest possible audience while still giving the filmmakers enough room to tell a story that doesn't feel like a Saturday morning cartoon. If they went PG, it would feel too childish for the core Marvel fanbase. If they went R, they’d lose the family demographic.
The Fantastic Four movie rating is essentially a marketing tool. It tells the audience: "This is a big, serious adventure, but bring the whole family."
Deep Dive: The Evolution of "Action" in the MCU
We’ve seen the MCU get progressively more comfortable with intensity. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness pushed the boundaries of PG-13 with its horror elements.
✨ Don't miss: Cliff Richard and The Young Ones: The Weirdest Bromance in TV History Explained
If Matt Shakman borrows even a little bit of that "threat" for Galactus, we could see a "Hard PG-13." That usually means more property damage and more "perceived" stakes. But given that this movie takes place in a different universe from the main MCU (Earth-616), they have some freedom to play with the rules.
What to Watch While You Wait
Since the official rating won't be finalized until a few months before the July 2025 release, your best bet is to look at the "vibe" of the director's previous work.
Matt Shakman directed WandaVision.
That show was a masterclass in blending retro aesthetics with modern tension. It was rated TV-PG, but it dealt with grief, loss, and mental breaks. If The Fantastic Four follows that path, the Fantastic Four movie rating will be a badge for a movie that is emotionally complex but visually safe.
Final Thoughts on the Rating Speculation
At the end of the day, a rating is just a label. The real test is whether the movie captures the "feeling" of the comics.
The Fantastic Four aren't the X-Men; they aren't outcasts fighting a world that hates them. They are celebrities. They are adventurers. They live in a skyscraper and fly into the Negative Zone for fun. That kind of storytelling naturally lends itself to a broad, exciting, PG-13 experience.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Monitor the MPA Bulletins: Official ratings usually drop 2-3 months before the release date. Watch for the specific "reasons" listed (e.g., "brief suggestive material").
- Expect a 12A in the UK: This almost always mirrors the US PG-13 rating and allows kids under 12 to see it with an adult.
- Ignore "R-Rated" Rumors: Every time a new Marvel movie is announced, "insiders" claim it will be dark and gritty. For the FF, this is almost certainly fake.
- Focus on the "Why": The rating will tell you if the movie is leaning into the "Body Horror" of Ben Grimm or the "Space Adventure" of the whole team.
Keep an eye on the trailers. The first full teaser will give us the best hint of the tone. If the trailer feels like a fun, 60s romp, the rating is a lock. If it feels like a cosmic thriller, expect a slightly more "intense" PG-13. Regardless, the Fantastic Four are finally coming home to the MCU, and they’re bringing the whole family with them.
Next Steps to Prepare for Release:
To get ready for the 2025 debut, you should revisit the "Galactus Trilogy" in Fantastic Four issues #48–50. It’s the definitive source material that explains the scale of the threat we're about to see. Additionally, watching WandaVision on Disney+ is a great way to familiarize yourself with Matt Shakman’s ability to handle period-piece styling within a superhero framework. These two steps will give you a much better sense of the movie's intended "feel" than any early rating leak ever could.