Movies & TV

Fantastic Four is unbearably dull," says co-creator of Deadpool

Despite its initial box office success and positive audience ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, Rob Liefeld's criticism towards Marvel's Fantastic Four film suggests that some viewers may find it less engaging than they initially expected.

Carlos Mendoza 2 August 2025 · 1 min read

Key takeaways

Fantastic Four: First Steps has faced criticism from Deadpool co-creator Rob Liefeld, who described the movie as mind-numbingly hollow and dull, citing nearly empty cinema photos during a midweek showing.
Despite Liefelds criticism, the film has been successful at the box office, earning over $218 million in its opening weekend and reaching $250 million in total cinema receipts before the second weekend.
Contrary to Liefelds view, Fantastic Four: First Steps holds a 92% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating positive feedback from moviegoers.
This latest criticism is consistent with Rob Liefelds history of vocal displeasure regarding various issues with Marvel Studios, suggesting that his opinion may not be representative of the broader audience or industry response to Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Marvel's Fantastic Four Faces Backlash from Deadpool Co-Creator Liefeld

Rob Liefeld, co-creator of Deadpool for Marvel Comics, recently expressed strong disapproval of the film Fantastic Four: First Steps. He asserted that the movie is "mind-numbingly hollow and dull," making it unwatchable a second time. To support this view, Liefeld posted photos of a nearly empty IMAX cinema, captioning them: "This was at the 5 PM session of Fantastic Four at my Imax." Liefeld also criticized Marvel Studios, specifically Kevin Feige and Disney, for not inviting him to the premiere of Deadpool & Wolverine, calling their decision "poor taste." However, box office performance and audience reception for Fantastic Four: First Steps tell a different story. The film earned over $218 million in its opening weekend and reached $250 million in cinema receipts before its second weekend. Additionally, it holds a 92% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Photos taken during a midweek 5 PM showing may not accurately reflect the movie's overall popularity. These recent remarks are consistent with Liefeld's history of vocal displeasure regarding various issues with Marvel Studios.