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The fictional superhero team Fantastic Four featured in Marvel Comics publication has appeared in four live-action films since its inception. The plots deal with four main characters, known formally as Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm, and how they adapt to the superpowers they attain.
Constantin Film bought the film rights for the characters in 1986. A low-budget film was produced in 1992 by New Horizon Studios owned by Roger Corman. In 2004, after Constantin sub-licensed the film rights to 20th Century Fox, a second Fantastic Four film entered production. Fantastic Four was released in 2005 and the sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer was released in 2007. Both films received mixed to negative reviews from critics, yet earned a combined US$635 million worldwide at the box office. Due to 20th Century Fox's disappointment with the box-office return of Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, a potential third Fantastic Four film and a Silver Surfer spin-off film were canceled.
A reboot of the series, Fantastic Four, directed by Josh Trank, was released in 2015 and received largely negative reviews from both critics and audiences, as well as from Trank himself and became a box office bomb. 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 associated characters, along with The X-Men and Deadpool, after The Walt Disney Company acquired Fox. A new film featuring the team, part of Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is currently in development for a scheduled release on November 8, 2024.
After the acquisition, the 20th Century Fox-produced Fantastic Four films were rebranded as "Marvel Legacy" films on Disney+ alongside the studio's X-Men films, thus separating them from MCU titles produced by Marvel Studios.
Fantastic Four (1994 unreleased)[]
Roger Corman and Bernd Eichinger produced a Fantastic Four film in 1994 it was made in order for Eichinger to keep the Fantastic Four film rights. It was not released officially, although pirated copies have circulated since.
The film stars Alex Hyde-White, Rebecca Staab, Mercedes McNab, Jay Underwood, Phillip Van Dyke, Michael Bailey Smith, Joseph Culp, Kat Green as Alicia Masters, Ian Trigger and Annie Gagen.
| # | Title | Release Date | Director | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Fantastic Four | May 31, 1994 | Oley Sassone | Unreleased |
Tim Story Films (2005-2007)[]
Tim Story directed a Fantastic Four film in 2005 it's was followed by a Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer in 2007. Due to the box office dissapointment in the second film, a potential third Fantastic Four film and a Silver Surfer spin-off film were cancelled.
The films star Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Kerry Washington, Andre Braugher, Doug Jones, Laurence Fishburne, Beau Garrett, Brian Posehn, Zach Grenier, Vanessa Minnillo and Stan Lee.
| # | Title | Release Date | Director | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Fantastic Four | July 8, 2005 | Tim Story | Released |
| 3 | Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer | June 15, 2007 |
Josh Trank Films (2015)[]
A reboot titled Fantastic Four was released in 2015 directed by Josh Trank. It was panned by critics and Trank also voiced his displeasure with the final film, blaming the studio's interference. A sequel was scheduled for a June 9, 2017 release, but was cancelled after the first film's failure. It was the last Fantastic Four film to be distributed by 20th Century Fox, as the film rights to the team, along with the film rights to the X-Men and Deadpool, reverted to Marvel Studios following the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney in 2019. Another reboot is planned and will be set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The film stars Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell, Toby Kebbell, Reg E. Cathey, Tim Blake Nelson, Dan Castellaneta, Tim Heidecker and Chet Hanks.
| # | Title | Release Date | Director | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Fantastic Four | August 7, 2015 | Josh Trank | Released |
Marvel Cinematic Universe (2022 present)[]
The film rights of the Fantastic Four reverted to Marvel Studios in 2019. A reboot set the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be released in 2025. An alternate version of Reed Richards appeared in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness portrayed by John Kransinski.
The film will star Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ralph Ineson, Julia Garner, Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Niles.
| # | Title | Release Date | Director | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness | May 6, 2022 | Sam Raimi | Released |
| 6 | The Fantastic Four: First Steps | February 14, 2025 | Matt Shakman | |
| 7 | Avengers: Doomsday | May 1, 2026 | Anthony and Joe Russo | Pre-Production |
| 8 | Avengers: Secret Wars | May 7, 2027 | In Development |
Cancelled Films[]
- Fantastic Four 3
- Doctor Doom
- Silver Surfer
- Untitled Fant4stic Sequel