Music composed by Michael Giacchino
Music conducted by Cliff Masterson, Alfonso Casado
Music orchestrated by Jeff Kryka, Logyn Okuda
Music recorded at Abbey Road Studios
Total album running time: 82 minutes
Available on Hollywood Records/Marvel Music
Michael Giacchino is not a newcomer to the Marvel world, having written music for Doctor Strange (2016), Spider-Man trilogy (2017-2021) and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022). He also directed/scored the television special Werewolf by Night (2022) and of course wrote the opening Marvel logo in 2016.
For the film, Giacchino's main theme contains different parts - notably the fanfare and Fantastic Four chant (you probably heard this already in trailers and commercials). The other major themes are for Silver Surfer and the gigantic Galactus. Ultimately, the various guises of these themes work in well in the retro-futurism heroics the film needed. On to the score!
The concert-styled suite The Fantastic Four: First Steps Main Theme Extended Version begins right with the fanfare and chant. Next is the lullaby variation of the theme with choir before electronics join an upbeat variation to the theme. It's a great cue for the introductions of themes and style he created. And yes, the choir gets to add "Fantastic Four" to the chant motif. Pregnancy Testing 1, 2, 3 gives a calmer main theme and chant.
Fantastic Four, First Cue underscores their origin montage with a rousing reprise of the main theme with some frenetic action mixed in the second half. We also hear the poppy retro motif and choir chant. Herald Today, Gone Tomorrow introduces the eerie backing of the Silver Surfer theme, typically supported with intriguing choral writing. The string writing is mysterious and tense and gives the impression that something bigger is at stake. Jetting off to fight Galactus, Out to Launch gradually builds to a large heroic statement of the main theme layered with the previously mentioned parts of theme.
A Galactus Case of the Munchies brings in subtle electronics, aggressive choral chanting. Bowel Before Me continues the eeriness with string and choral writing of Galactus's short motif which then builds into an pulsing action cue. The action continues as the Fantastic Four are chased by Silver Surfer. The chase continues in The Light Speed of Your Life with the choir bringing in Silver Surfer's theme. His thrilling writing continues as the choir chants against a strained Fantastic Four theme.
Nothing Neutron Under the Sun continues more dissonance with choral chanting and the main theme playing against each other. There are definitely some otherworldly writing in this cue. During the slingshot around a black hole, Sue Storm goes into labor in Starship Birth. The tension builds with rising notes before the gentle version of the theme appears on piano (classic Giacchino!) with an equally lovely solo cello. Span-tastic Voyage brings more optimism with a determined take on the main theme. The theme gets lighter moments with flutes, light electronics and bongos. The brass make a big entrance in The Bridges of Silver Surfer County, following up with a big statement of the Silver Surfer theme as she ruins the Fantastic Four's plan to evade Galactus with some returning choir chanting tossed in as well.
A Mole in Your Plan underscores the next last ditch effort before Galactus is lured to Earth. We hear his theme with an ever-worrisome version of the main theme. A Walk on the City brings the musical weight to Galactus stomping around New York City. We get dissonant glissando strings, choir, percussion and booming brass mixing with Galactus's theme and moments of the main Fantastic Four theme. There's some horror moments that are combined with the driving action. The Other Sue Drops continues the monumental sound with more choir, shrieking instruments and pounding drums. Brass and percussion get to shine before the choir takes over with some lovely writing leading up to a heroic moment for Silver Surfer's theme. Don't Sue the Baby! is more somber with a quiet rendition of the Fantastic Four main theme that stays hopeful.
Without Further Adieu lets the tender moment with son Franklin continue. Electronics and swirling strings bring the main theme back with a sweep. Carseat Drivers is funky jazz version of the main theme. This leads into Fantastic Four to Be Reckoned With, used under the beginning of the credits. It's a great brass and choir-filled version of the main theme full of energy and excitement for the future. After the mid-credit scene, we hear The Galactus/Silver Surfer Suite full of the same grandiose material as heard earlier for those characters.
For bonus cues, there's Tripping the Lights Fantastic - an unused light romantic version of the main theme. Giacchino tapped back into his childhood to write the end credit bit The Fantastic Four Power Hour (Cartoon Theme). The Ted Gilbert Show is a bit of kitschy jazz intro for the talk show, but I believe it's unused in the film. The credits also featured the folk song-styled Let Us Be Devoured (written and performed by Andrea Datzman). The album ends with H.E.R.B.I.E.’s Lullaby, a bit of robot music.
Giacchino scored a lively score to the Fantastic Four's introduction into the MCU. The main theme is one of Marvel's new bright spots which hopefully will be used in future films. The optimistic melody gets plenty of different versions in the film and worked well when putted against the dark ominous choir and dissonance. The album is in story order, making it easy to follow and enjoy without the film. Overall, it's a modern action superhero score with retro bits and a theme that begs you to tap your toes and chant along with it!
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