The Fantastic Four: First Steps

What’s it about?

Whilst navigating their roles as superheroes and their newfound family bond, the Fantastic Four must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer.

The facts

• Directed by Matt Shakman
• Starring Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us), Vanessa Kirby (Mission: Impossible – Fallout), Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear)
• Runtime: 115 minutes
• English language

Why did it get this rating?

This film was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.

Violence

The film contains violence at the level to be expected from teenager superhero action films. There is frequent peril, suspense, and destruction, with one scene depicting a mass evacuation of a city’s residents into underground shelters. There is not much onscreen death, but one character does die during an intense fight scene.

A massive alien entity consumes entire planets to satisfy his hunger. In one scene, he destroys an entire planet and all its inhabitants.

During the various fantasy-style fight sequences, opponents punch each other and fire blasts of energy and fire at each other.

A villain chases a woman seeking her unborn child as she goes into labour.

Coarse language

There is one use of the word “bullsh*” and three uses of the word “sh*t.”

When content stays with you:

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?
• Brain development – how it works, why it matters