Created by artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby and editor/co-scripter Stan Lee, the Fantastic Four made their comic book debut in November 1961. Dubbed ‘Marvel’s first family,’ this dysfunctional team of superheroes later appeared in several animated television series, a short-lived radio show, and several movies.
The first movie to feature the Fantastic Four was made in 1994 but it was never intended for an official release. You can learn more about the reasons why here.
In 2005, the Fab Foursome finally made their big screen debut but the movie was a critical flop. The 2007 sequel and the 2015 reboot also flamed out upon release, meaning there has never been a good Fantastic Four movie.
The Fantastic Four will hit the big screen again in May 2025 as part of the MCU. The movie will be part of Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it will be directed by Matt Shakman. Here’s hoping the movie is a good one as the fans might decide it’s “clobbering time” if it proves to be another outing for the Fantastic Four that fails to do justice to the original comic books.
Below, we list all of the Fantastic Four movies that have been released so far. These include the 1994 movie that wasn’t officially released but which can be found on YouTube, and the documentary that delves into the reasons behind that movie’s no-show.
The Fantastic Four
US Release Date: N/A
Worldwide Box Office: N/A
Director: Oley Sassone
Metascore: N/A
Main Cast:
Alex Hyde-White (Reed Richards), Jay Underwood (Johnny Storm), Rebecca Staab (Sue Storm), Michael Bailey-Smith (Ben Grimm), Joseph Culp (Victor Von Doom)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
When dosed with cosmic rays, four intrepid explorers are given incredible powers.
Fantastic Fact:
Mark Ruffalo auditioned for the role of Dr. Doom in this ‘unreleased’ film but the part went to Joseph Culp. Ruffalo entered the Marvel universe a couple of decades later when he took on the role of the Hulk.
Fantastic Four
US Release Date: July 8, 2005
Worldwide Box Office: $333.5 million
Director: Tim Story
Metascore: 40
Main Cast:
Ioan Gruffudd (Reed Richards), Chris Evans (Johnny Storm), Jessica Alba (Sue Storm), Michael Chiklis (Ben Grimm), Julian McMahon (Victor Von Doom)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
A group of astronauts gain superpowers after a cosmic radiation exposure and must use them to oppose the plans of their enemy, Doctor Victor Von Doom.
Fantastic Fact:
Several moments in the movie take their visual cues from the first Fantastic Four comic book, including the scene when Ben smashes into an oncoming truck and the sequence involving the cosmic storm that gives the foursome their powers.
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
US Release Date: June 15, 2007
Worldwide Box Office: $301.9 million
Director: Tim Story
Metascore: 45
Main Cast:
Ioan Gruffudd (Reed Richards), Chris Evans (Johnny Storm), Jessica Alba (Sue Storm), Michael Chiklis (Ben Grimm), Julian McMahon (Victor Von Doom), Doug Jones (Silver Surfer), Laurence Fishburne (voice of Silver Surfer)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
The Fantastic Four learn that they aren’t the only super-powered beings in the universe when they square off against the powerful Silver Surfer and the planet-eating Galactus.
Fantastic Fact:
Doctor Doom’s mask was redesigned to make it resemble the mask seen in the comics.
Fantastic Four
US Release Date: August 7, 2015
Worldwide Box Office: $167.9 million
Director: Josh Trank
Metascore: 27
Main Cast:
Miles Teller (Reed Richards), Michael B. Jordon (Johnny Storm), Kate Mara (Sue Storm), Jamie Bell (Ben Grimm), Toby Kebbell (Victor Von Doom)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
Four young outsiders teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe which alters their physical form in shocking ways. The four must learn to harness their new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.
Fantastic Fact:
At the start of the movie, a teacher jokingly talks about young Reed building a flying car. In the comic books, the older Reed Richards did build a flying car – the Fantasticar.
Doomed: The Untold Story of Roger Corman’s
The Fantastic Four
US Release Date: July 10, 2015
Worldwide Box Office: N/A
Director: Marty Langford
Metascore: N/A
Main Cast:
Roger Corman, Joseph Culp, Jay Underwood, Alex Hyde-White, Carl Ciarfalio, Michael Bailey Smith, Rebecca Staab
Synopsis (from IMDB):
A documentary that tells the history of The Fantastic Four (1994), which was executive produced by Roger Corman.
Fantastic Fact:
This documentary is full of fantastic facts about the unreleased movie from 1994.
Which is your favourite Fantastic Four movie? Let us know in the comments below.