All 5 Fantastic Four movies ranked from worst to best

The Fantastic Four superhero franchise has experienced its share of ups and downs, as well as extremely low points, throughout the years, particularly in terms of film critic reviews and fan reception.

One would think that combining superheroes, found-family elements, and stellar casts would be the precise formula for a guaranteed review darling blockbuster. Still, somehow, the franchise struggled through multiple attempts to get it right.

However, despite the several failed attempts, there was still some hope that there would be a Fantastic Four film that would properly emphasise what the Fantastic Four represent at their core: a family who struggles as any other, with the layer of being superheroes who are willing to give their lives as they defend the planet from unknown forces. Additionally, their interpersonal dynamics have consistently demonstrated how even individuals with different personalities can thrive in the pursuit of common goals.

Due to their popularity, comic fans, casual viewers, and hardcore superhero fans have clamoured for years to have their favourite superhero family accurately depicted on screen. This list doesn't include Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), as only Mr. Fantastic (John Krasinski) appears as a variant of the character for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), nor Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), where Chris Evans reprised his role as a variant of Johny Storm.

As of 2025, there have been four, well technically five, live adaptations of the beloved Marvel family, and here is their ultimate ranking from worst to best:

5. Fantastic Four (1994)

This film is more of an honourable mention, as it technically was never officially released. German producer Bernd Eichinger had the Fantastic Four film rights, and to retain them, he produced this film but never released it due to its low budget. The cast included actors Alex Hyde-White, Rebecca Staab, Jay Underwood, and Michael Bailey Smith, who portrayed Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Susan Storm/Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/The Human Torch, and Ben Grimm/The Thing, respectively.

As previously mentioned, there are no official copies of this film available, but clips have circulated online since pirated versions were leaked on several content platforms. Rotten Tomatoes has an approval rating of 33% based on 12 reviews, with the consensus stating that the film had potential due to its campy script and performances, but could've had more potential had it been polished before release.

In an unexpected yet amazing surprise, Hyde-White, Staab, Underwood, and Bailey Smith appeared together on the premiere of The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), over thirty years after filming their forgotten film. They were also announced to have a surprising cameo in the latest release of the Fantastic Four franchise.

4. Fantastic Four (2015)

Now, we'll venture towards the cinematically released films, and I think I can speak for most fans and general audiences alike when it comes to wishing this film had never seen the light of day. This film was a complete disaster, plagued by miscast choices, dull special effects, a boring script, and repetitive storytelling.

For starters, Miles Teller was not the appropriate choice for Mr. Fantastic, as Teller was too young to play such an iconic role. Secondly, the story was already in fans' minds, as it was the same one told in the 2005 film, which is how the foursome got their powers in space and fought against Dr Doom. Thirdly, the pacing was too slow; there was no character development, too much time was spent on unnecessary details, and the finale was extremely rushed. All in all, this film is considered one of the worst superhero films of all time and a generally poor movie, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting only 9% positive overall reviews.

3. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)

Now, after the last entry, there's nowhere to go but up. The sequel to the Fantastic Four (2005) saw the return of the excellent ensemble of the first film, plus it had the additions of Doug Jones as Norrin Radd/Silver Surfer, the late, iconic actor Andre Braugher as General Hager, and, as always, a cameo by the missed superhero creator, Stan Lee.

Unfortunately, the film had several missed opportunities, particularly in its weak and predictable plot, the controversial design of the main villain, Galactus, and the rampant sexism towards Jessica Alba, which significantly impacted her performance and feelings towards the entertainment industry. Rotten Tomatoes scored this film with only a positive 37%, and the film's poor critical reception led to the cancellation of a third film.

2. Fantastic Four (2005)

This movie was the first production to introduce the Fantastic Four to a broader audience on the big screen. Fantastic Four set the premise of what would constitute the F4 canon in subsequent films as Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm travel to space, alongside Victor von Doom, where in the quest of searching a cure for several diseases on Earth, met an unprecedented cosmic storms which alterns all of their DNAs, and in turn, gives them all superhuman abilities.

Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chilkies, and the late Julian McMahon, alongside Kerry Washington, carry out well-rounded performances to various degrees, with Evans stealing every scene he's in as the reckless Johnny Storm and his devil-may-care attitude. The CGI holds up to this day, and even the film's soundtrack accompanies this fun, entertaining, and heroic film. The critics weren't too kind, though, as it only scored 28% on Rotten Tomatoes, for instance.

1. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)

The newly released F4 film, the first movie in Phase 6 of the MCU, is everything a Fantastic Four film should be. Packed with an A-list cast, an emotionally charged script, believable special effects, and, finally, a nefarious, no-nonsense, well-designed villain, this movie blockbuster might be exactly what the MCU needed to engage fans' interests once again.

Pedro Pascal plays Reed Richards to perfection, leveraging his intelligence and need to protect his family to new levels. Vanessa Kirby is always a scene-stealer, but certainly brings Sue Storm's character to a whole new level of being a leader, protective mother, and the team's compass all into one. Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach play Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm, respectively, with engaging chemistry and fun banter that perfectly encapsulate the fantastic foursome.

Also, the extra assets of Julia Garner as the Silver Surfer, the character Franklin's first appearance on screen, and the little breadcrumbs that appear leading into the long-awaited Avengers films, make this film such an enjoyable experience that no one might remember the other attempts made when it came to bringing this formula to the cinemas. It also became the first F4 film to score a high rating with critics, with a positive 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and 92% on the Popcornmeter.

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