Ultimate ‘Fantastic Four’ Guide: Every Movie, Ranked
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is coming to theaters on July 24. Will it be able to break the curse of its predecessors? Here's what we think.
Despite being one of Marvel's most beloved comic book franchises, The Fantastic Four has had a rocky relationship with the big screen. Multiple attempts to bring the characters to live have failed to capture the same essence that made comic books so iconic.
Today, we're looking at every Fantastic Four movie ever created, ranking them by their IMDb scores.
5. ‘The Fantastic Four’ (1994)
IMDb score: 3.8/10.
Budget: $1 million.
This low-budget film was never officially released, and it was allegedly never intended for public viewing. Despite its shortcomings, it's developed a cult following among fans who appreciate its campy charm and practical effects that were ambitious given the limited resources.
4. ‘Fantastic Four’ (2015)
IMDb score: 4.3/10.
Budget: $120 million.
Despite its talented cast and impressive budget, the 2015 Fantastic Four reboot resulted in a bad story and poor character development.
3. ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of The Silver Surfer’ (2007)
IMDb score: 5.6/10.
Budget: $130 million.
The second installment of the 2000s Fantastic Four franchise introduced Silver Surfer. While the film maintained a lighter tone more in keeping with the comics, it still suffered from underdeveloped villains and an overly simplified plot.
2. ‘Fantastic Four’ (2005)
IMDb score: 5.7/10.
Budget: $100 million.
The 2005 Fantastic Four film was the first major studio adaptation of the beloved comic series. Jessica Alba, Ioan Gruffudd, Michael Chiklis, and Chris Evans brought the iconic characters to life, with Evans later becoming known for a different Marvel role as Captain America.
1. ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ (2025)
IMDb score: Unknown/10.
Budget: $200 million.
Marvel Studios' latest attempt at bringing The Fantastic Four to life comes with high expectations. First Steps aims to properly integrate Marvel's first family into the MCU. And the first reviews are quite promising!
“The film was so fire, and i dont wanna stretch the joke, cause it will disappear, but here's the thing: it [is] very fantastic,” Flibburt on Letterboxd wrote.
“Great standalone movie. Great balance of sci-fi, superhero and emotional beat. Great that Galactus is not a space cloud anymore,” Hady Abd Hamid on Letterboxd said.
