Fantastic Four in film

Fantastic Four (2005)

The story features Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Victor Von Doom getting hit by a space storm after boarding a space station. As a result of the radiation from the storm, they gain new abilities and powers that they have to deal with in their own ways.

Chris Columbus was hired by 20th Century Fox to write and direct the film in 1995. In 1997, Peter Segal was attached to a script which had been written by Columbus and Michael France. Segal later left the project in the same year. Phillip Morton worked on the script, and Sam Hamm did rewrites in 1998. The following year, Raja Gosnell signed on as director. The film was announced in August 2000 as being aimed for a July 4, 2001, release date. Gosnell decided to leave the project to film Scooby-Doo. Peyton Reed served as a replacement in April 2001.[5] Reed contemplated making the film as a period piece set in the early 1960s during the space race.[6] He later dropped out from the film. In April 2004, Tim Story was hired to direct, and principal photography began in August in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with re-shoots carried on until May 2005.[7][8] Starring Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis and Julian McMahon, the film was released on July 8, 2005.

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)

The story, both inspired by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's Fantastic Four comic-book storyline "The Galactus Trilogy" and Warren Ellis's comic-book Ultimate Extinction, features the Silver Surfer, whose cosmic energy has been affecting the planet Earth and leaving craters around the planet. Set against an impending wedding between Reed and Susan, the U.S. Army recruits the Fantastic Four to help stop the Silver Surfer, and separately gain help from Doom.[9]

With Fantastic Four grossing $333.5 million worldwide, 20th Century Fox hired director Tim Story and screenwriter Mark Frost in December 2005 to return to work on the sequel.[10] Don Payne was also hired to write the screenplay.[11] Principal photography began on August 28, 2006, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.[12] The film was released on June 15, 2007.

Due to 20th Century Fox's disappointment in the box-office performance of the film, a potential third Fantastic Four film and a Silver Surfer spin-off film were canceled.[13]

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

An alternate version of Reed Richards appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), played by actor John Krasinski, a popular fancasting choice for the character. This version of the character, originating from Earth-838, is both a founding member of his reality's Fantastic Four team, as well as a council member on the Illuminati alongside other superpowered individuals, who observe and apprehend potential threats to the wider Multiverse. He is initially present at the trial of the displaced Stephen Strange from Earth-616 (Benedict Cumberbatch), whom he warns for potentially causing an incursion as his reality's Strange did. However, before he and his colleagues could decide on Strange's consequences, they would be confronted by the corrupted Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch from 616-Strange's reality, who possessed a body of her own variant to infiltrate their headquarters. In spite of Richards' attempts to reason with Wanda without resorting to physical conflict, he is killed alongside most of his associates via shredding after Wanda coldly muses that someone will be alive to raise his children.[30][31] Additionally, the Earth-838 Christine Palmer is mentioned to be a member of the Baxter Foundation as a Multiverse analyst and researcher.

Before the film's release, Disney and Marvel Studios had attempted to retain secrecy surrounding both the inclusion of Mister Fantastic and Krasinski's involvement in the film. However, his appearance in the film alongside the other then-unrevealed Illuminati members would be leaked just before the film's wide release on May 6, 2022, through the circulation of footage and pictures depicting his character.[32]

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

Chris Evans reprises his role as the incarnation of Johnny Storm from the Tim Story films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Deadpool & Wolverine (2024). He was sent to the Void by the Time Variance Authority and became part of a Resistance group against Cassandra Nova. In the movie, a mysterious figure comes across Deadpool and Wolverine when the two are fighting each other in the Void. He was anticipated by Deadpool to be Steve Rogers (whom Evans portrayed in the MCU), only to reveal himself as Johnny Storm. After a brief stand-off with Pyro, Johnny is captured alongside Deadpool and Wolverine. Upon their arrival at Cassandra Nova's lair, Deadpool repeats Johnny's supposed insults towards Nova. When Johnny protests these claims, Cassandra swiftly kills Johnny by removing his skin and muscles, with his body falling apart nearly instantly. Throughout the film, Wolverine holds Johnny's death over Deadpool's head, but in the film's post-credits scene, Wade shows footage proving Johnny's insults true.

Additionally, the Fantasti-Car appears, ridden by Toad, and Reed Richards is mentioned by Johnny, who says Richards had been studying the multiverse learning about the Void.

Thunderbolts* (2025)

In a post-credit scene, the New Avengers receive a distress signal from the Fantastic Four's spaceship as it enters Earth-616 from an alternate reality, Earth-828.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)

Disney's CEO Bob Iger stated that they plan to integrate the Fantastic Four into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)[33] after purchasing Fox Studios in a $71.3 billion deal, officially completed in March 2019.[34] At the 2019 Marvel Studios San Diego Comic-Con presentation, Kevin Feige announced a Fantastic Four film set in the MCU.[35][36] By December 2020, Jon Watts, who previously helmed the Spider-Man films set in the MCU, was attached to direct.[37] In April 2022, Watts stepped down as director to take a break from directing superhero films.[38] Later in July, Feige revealed that the reboot would not have an origin story.[39] In August, Matt Shakman was in early talks to direct the film,[40] which was confirmed in September during the Disney event D23. The same month, Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer were hired as writers for the film.[41] By March 2023, Josh Friedman was hired to rewrite the script.[42] In February 2024, it was announced that the film would star Pedro Pascal as Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the Thing.[43] In April 2024, it was announced that Julia Garner would portray Shalla-Bal / Silver Surfer.[44] In May 2024, Ralph Ineson was announced to play Galactus.[45] By then, John Malkovich, Paul Walter Hauser, and Natasha Lyonne were added to the cast.[46] In late June, Feige confirmed that the film would be set in a 1960s-inspired retro-futuristic alternate reality rather than the main MCU continuity.[47] Principal photography began in London in late July 2024 and wrapped in November 2024.[48][49]

The Fantastic Four: First Steps was released in the United States on July 25, 2025, as part of Phase Six of the MCU.

During Marvel's Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con in 2024, Michael Giacchino was announced to be composing the score for the film.[50][51]

Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027)

At San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024, Pascal, Kirby, Quinn, and Moss-Bachrach were confirmed to be reprising their roles in the films Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027), starring alongside Robert Downey Jr. (who previously portrayed Tony Stark / Iron Man in the MCU) as Doctor Doom. Downey reprises his role as Doom from the mid-credits scene of First Steps.

Box office performance

The Fantastic Four film series has grossed over $608 million in North America and over $1.3 billion worldwide.[70]

Critical and public response

None of the pre-MCU Fantastic Four films received a positive critical reception.[82] Scott Weinberg of eFilmCritic called the 1994 film "[a] painfully silly film, one with more heroic intentions than actual assets".[83]

Rene Rodriguez of Miami Herald gave negative reviews to the Fantastic Four films directed by Tim Story. Regarding Rise of the Silver Surfer, he said that the "story does the same sort of efficient, impersonal job he did on the first film, keeping things at such a basic, almost childish level that it seems the movie is aimed squarely, if not exclusively, at the 12-and-under set".[84] However, Roger Moore of Orlando Sentinel gave Story's Fantastic Four films good reviews. He called the first film a "popcorn popper" and a "cinematic sugar buzz" and the second film an "entertaining film that doesn't overstay its welcome".[85][86]

The 2015 reboot film was the weakest reviewed in the series. It was criticized for its dark and humorless tone, its character arcs, designs (especially that of Dr. Doom), bland acting, and poorly written story. Director Josh Trank was not satisfied, posting a message on Twitter stating he had envisioned a better version of the film, which audiences would "probably never see". He later deleted the message.[87]

First Steps was the first Fantastic Four film to receive mainly positive reviews.[88]

Fantastic Four 3

A third installment of the 2005 Fantastic Four series was stated to be under consideration.[13] In May 2007, before the release of The Rise of the Silver Surfer, Tim Story, who directed the first two installments, expressed his interest in casting Djimon Hounsou as Black Panther.[89] A month later, he stated he had wanted to feature the Puppet Master as a villain.[90] By August 2009, a potential third Fantastic Four film was cancelled.[91]

Doctor Doom

At the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con, Noah Hawley said that he was developing a film centered on Doctor Doom.[92] Dan Stevens was also said to be involved with the film.[93] In June 2018, Hawley said that the script was almost finished, but that there was "a little uncertainty" about whether it would be filmed due to his upcoming film Pale Blue Dot and the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney.[94] In 2019, Hawley revealed that he was still unsure about whether he would be continuing the project, as it had not been officially greenlit, but that he had spoken to Kevin Feige about it.[95] That August, Hawley told Deadline that the movie "is done", implying that he was no longer working on it.[96]

Silver Surfer

In 2007, after the release of Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, 20th Century Fox hired J. Michael Straczynski to write the screenplay for the Silver Surfer spin-off film. Straczynski said his script was a sequel, but also delved into the Silver Surfer's origins. It was later canceled after Fox decided to reboot the Fantastic Four film series.[97][98]

In February 2018, a Silver Surfer film was in development with Brian K. Vaughan attached to the script.[99]

Untitled sequel to 2015's Fantastic Four

Before 2015's Fantastic Four began filming, 20th Century Fox announced plans for a sequel with a scheduled release date of July 14, 2017.[100] Fox then rescheduled the release for June 2, 2017, with War for the Planet of the Apes taking its place on the July 14, 2017, slot.[101] It changed the release date again to June 9, 2017, to be two weeks after Star Wars: The Last Jedi initial scheduled release date of May 26, 2017.[102] Due to Fantastic Four poor box office performance of and negative reviews, Pamela McClintock of The Hollywood Reporter said that it "throws into question whether Fox will move ahead with a sequel". In November 2015, the sequel was removed from Fox's release schedule.[103] When asked by Collider whether they would make another Fantastic Four film, Kinberg stated: "I have no idea. I think the truth is we would not do another Fantastic Four movie until it was ready to be made. One of the lessons we learned on that movie is we want to make sure to get it 100% right, because we will not get another chance with the fans".[104]

Concept artist Alexander Lozano revealed that Trank's iteration of the Fantastic Four were considered for cameo appearances in Tim Miller's take on Deadpool 2.[105]