That might sound like no big deal, but after 2023’s “The Marvels,” this spring’s fourth “Captain America” movie and “Thunderbolts*” all underperformed by Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) standards, the new “Fantastic Four” may offer broader audience appeal by not pulling from other franchises.

We're 37 films deep into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. How does "Fantastic Four: First Steps" rank against "Ant-Man" or "Avengers: Endgame"?

The Fantastic Four: First Steps has finally arrived, and it ushers in a new era for the MCU: Marvel Phase 6. Marvel movies are known to be loaded with cameos and Easter eggs, and the Fantastic Four digs up some lesser-known adversaries from the comics that you may or may not have heard of.