Thesuperhero teamFantastic Four featured inMarvel Comics publication has appeared in five live-action films since its inception. The plots deal with four main characters, known formally asReed Richards,Susan Storm,Ben Grimm andJohnny Storm, and how they adapt to the superpowers they attain.

Constantin Film bought the film rights for the characters in 1986. Alow-budget film was produced in 1992 by New Horizon Studios owned byRoger Corman, though it has never been officially released. In 2004, after Constantin sub-licensed the film rights to20th Century Fox, a secondFantastic Four film entered production.Fantastic Four was released in 2005 and the sequelFantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer was released in 2007. Both films were not ill-received by critics, yet earned a combinedUS$635 million worldwide at the box office. Due to Fox's disappointment with the box-office returns ofRise of the Silver Surfer, a potential third film and aSilver Surfer spin-off film were canceled.

A reboot of the series,Fantastic Four, directed byJosh Trank, was released in 2015 and received largely negative reviews from both critics and audiences, and was abox-office bomb. Trank himself disowned the final product, claiming studio interference from Fox. A sequel was scheduled to be released in 2017, but was canceled.

In March 2019,Marvel Studios regained the film rights to the Fantastic Four and their associated characters, after theacquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney.The Fantastic Four: First Steps, part ofPhase Six of theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), was released in 2025 and became the most positively reviewed film in the series.

After the acquisition, the Fox-producedFantastic Four films were rebranded as "Marvel Legacy" films onDisney+ alongside other non-MCU Marvel films.^[1] They were then retitled "Fantastic Adventures" in July 2023, alongside two Fantastic Four animated series.^[2]

The plot follows four astronauts on an experimental spacecraft who are bombarded with a comet's cosmic rays, whereby they acquire extraordinary abilities.

Bernd Eichinger ofConstantin Film acquired the film rights of theFantastic Four fromMarvel Comics in 1986.^[3] To maintain the rights, Eichinger hiredRoger Corman in 1992 to produce a low-budget film. The1994 adaptationThe Fantastic Four had itstrailer released to theaters, while the cast and director went on a promotional tour; however the film was never officially released. Some accused the film of being anashcan copy, made only to retain the license.^[4]Stan Lee and Eichinger stated that the actors had no idea of the situation, instead believing they were creating a proper release.^[5] Marvel Comics paid in exchange for the film's negative, so20th Century Fox could go ahead with the big-budget adaptation. While released neither to theaters nor home-video,bootleg copies did surface and as of 2025 the film is available to watch onYouTube andDailymotion for free.

The story featuresReed Richards,Ben Grimm,Susan Storm,Johnny Storm andVictor 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 by20th 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 andMichael France. Segal later left the project in the same year. Phillip Morton worked on the script, andSam Hamm did rewrites in 1998. The following year,Raja Gosnell signed on as director.^[6] The film was announced in August 2000 as being aimed for a July 4, 2001, release date. Gosnell decided to leave the project to filmScooby-Doo.Peyton Reed served as replacement in April 2001.^[6] Reed contemplated making the film as aperiod piece set in the early 1960s during thespace race.^[3] He later dropped out from the film. In April 2004,Tim Story was hired to direct and principal photography began in August inVancouver, British Columbia, Canada with re-shoots carried on until May 2005.^[7][8] StarringIoan Gruffudd,Jessica Alba,Chris Evans,Michael Chiklis andJulian McMahon, the film was released on July 8, 2005.

The story, both inspired byStan Lee andJack Kirby'sFantastic Four comic-book storyline "The Galactus Trilogy" andWarren Ellis's comic-bookUltimate Extinction, features theSilver 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, theU.S. Army recruits the Fantastic Four to help stop the Silver Surfer, and separately gain help from Doom.^[9]

WithFantastic Four grossing $333.5 million worldwide, 20th Century Fox hired directorTim Story and screenwriterMark Frost in December 2005 to return to work for the sequel.^[10] Don Payne was also hired to write the screenplay.^[11] Principal photography began on August 28, 2006, inVancouver, 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 thirdFantastic Four film and a Silver Surfer spin-off film were canceled.^[13]

The story, loosely based on theUltimate Fantastic Four comic-books, features four people teleporting to an alternate universe, which alters their physical form and grants them new abilities. They must learn to harness their abilities and work together as a team to save the Earth from a familiar enemy.^[14]

In August 2009, development for a reboot of theFantastic Four film franchise was announced by 20th Century Fox.^[15] In July 2012,Josh Trank was hired to direct.^[16]Michael Green, Jeremy Slater,Seth Grahame-Smith andSimon Kinberg were hired to write the screenplay with Slater and Kinberg receiving credit.^[17][18][19] Casting began in January 2014 with the announcement of the cast occurred in the following months.^{[20][21][22][23]} Principal photography began in May 2014 inBaton Rouge, Louisiana and ended in August the same year.^[24][25] StarringMiles Teller,Kate Mara,Michael B. Jordan,Jamie Bell andToby Kebbell, the film was released on August 7, 2015.^[26] The film received largely negative reviews, was abox-office bomb, and is often considered one of the worst superhero films ever made.^[27][28] A sequel was originally planned for 2017, but was removed from the studio's schedule in November 2015.^[29] This was also the lastFantastic Four film produced by Fox before the company was acquired by Disney in 2019, allowing Marvel Studios to regain the rights to the Fantastic Four characters.

An alternate version of Reed Richards appeared in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) filmDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), played by actorJohn 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 theIlluminati alongside other superpowered individuals, who observe and apprehend potential threats to the widerMultiverse. He is initially present at the trial of the displacedStephen Strange fromEarth-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 corruptedWanda 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 theBaxter Foundation as a Multiverse analyst and researcher.

Prior to the film's release,Disney andMarvel 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 prior to the film's wide release on May 6, 2022, through the circulation of footage and pictures depicting his character.^[32]

Chris Evans reprises his role as the incarnation of Johnny Storm from the Tim Story films in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) filmDeadpool & Wolverine (2024). He was sent to the Void by theTime Variance Authority and became part of a Resistance group againstCassandra Nova. In the movie, a mysterious figure comes acrossDeadpool andWolverine when the two are fighting each other in the Void. He was anticipated by Deadpool to beSteve Rogers (whom Evans portrayed in the MCU), only to reveal himself as Johnny Storm. After a brief stand-off withPyro, Storm is captured alongside Deadpool and Wolverine. Upon their arrival to Cassandra Nova's lair, Deadpool repeats Storm's supposed insults towards Nova. When Johnny protests these claims, Cassandra swiftly kills Storm by removing his skin and muscles, with his body falling apart nearly instantly. Throughout the film, Wolverine holds Storm'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 byToad, and Reed Richards is mentioned by Johnny, who says Richards had been studying the Void.

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

Disney's CEOBob Iger stated that they plan to integrate the Fantastic Four into theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)^[33] after purchasing Fox Studios in a $71.3 billion deal, officially completed in March 2019.^[34] At the 2019Marvel StudiosSan Diego Comic-Con presentation,Kevin Feige announced aFantastic Four film set in the MCU.^[35][36] By December 2020,Jon Watts, who previously helmed theSpider-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 theDisney eventD23. 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 starPedro Pascal asMister Fantastic,Vanessa Kirby as Invisible Woman,Joseph Quinn asHuman Torch, andEbon Moss-Bachrach as the Thing.^[43] In April 2024, it was announced thatJulia Garner would portrayShalla-Bal / Silver Surfer.^[44] In May 2024,Ralph Ineson was announced to playGalactus.^[45] By then,John Malkovich,Paul Walter Hauser, andNatasha Lyonne were added to the cast.^[46] In late June, Feige confirmed that the film would be set in a 1960s-inspiredretro-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 ofPhase 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]

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

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment releasedFantastic Four (2005),Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer andFantastic Four (2015) on DVD,Blu-ray anddigital download.^[54] The films were also released on DVD and Blu-raybox sets:

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

None of the pre-MCUFantastic 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 ofMiami Herald gave negative reviews to theFantastic Four films directed by Tim Story. RegardingRise 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 ofOrlando Sentinel gave Story'sFantastic 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 most weakly 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 firstFantastic Four film to receive mainly positive reviews.^[88]

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

At the 2017San Diego Comic-Con,Noah Hawley said that he was developing a film centered onDoctor 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 filmPale Blue Dot and theacquisition 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 toKevin Feige about it.^[95] That August, Hawley toldDeadline that the movie "is done", implying that he was no longer working on it.^[96]

In 2007, after the release ofFantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, 20th Century Fox hiredJ. 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 theFantastic Four film series.^[97][98]

In February 2018, aSilver Surfer film was in development withBrian K. Vaughan attached to the script.^[99]

Before 2015'sFantastic 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, withWar 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 afterStar Wars: The Last Jedi's initial scheduled release date of May 26, 2017.^[102] Due toFantastic Four's poor box office performance of and negative reviews, Pamela McClintock ofThe 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 byCollider 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 inTim Miller's take onDeadpool 2.^[105]

• 20th Century Studios franchises
• Action film series
• Fantastic Four films
• Marvel Entertainment franchises
• Science fiction film series

• Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments
• All articles lacking reliable references
• Articles lacking reliable references from May 2022
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from October 2024
• Use American English from January 2024
• All Wikipedia articles written in American English