How Many Fantastic Four Movies Are There?

The Journey of the Fantastic Four in Cinema

The release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps marks a significant milestone for Marvel fans, as it brings some of the most iconic characters from Marvel Comics into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). While earlier films like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness introduced variations of these characters, the full family finally gets their own cinematic adventure.

Over the years, the Fantastic Four have been a target for filmmakers looking to capitalize on their popularity. However, the journey of bringing this team to the big screen has been anything but smooth. Let’s take a look at every cinematic attempt that has featured the Fantastic Four.

The Early Attempts

One of the earliest attempts to bring the Fantastic Four to the screen was a project directed by Oley Sassone. This film, which never saw a public release, was produced to secure the rights to the characters. According to reports, Marvel legend Stan Lee once mentioned that the movie was never intended to be seen. It included Alex Hyde-White, Rebecca Staab, Jay Underwood, and Michael Bailey Smith in key roles.

A decade later, Twentieth Century Fox took inspiration from the success of their X-Men franchise and released Fantastic Four (2005). Directed by Tim Story, this adaptation became the most well-known version of the team. It featured Ioan Gruffudd as Mr. Fantastic, Jessica Alba as the Invisible Woman, Chris Evans as the Human Torch, and Michael Chiklis as the Thing. The film grossed $333 million globally, making it a commercial success.

The Sequel and Its Fate

Following the success of the first film, Fox released Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer in 2007. This sequel continued the story of the team as they faced the cosmic threat of Galactus. Despite earning $300 million worldwide, the studio decided not to move forward with a third installment. This marked the end of Tim Story's version of the team.

Modern Reboots and Challenges

In the years after Rise of the Silver Surfer, the Fantastic Four entered a new era of filmmaking. The 2015 reboot, directed by Josh Trank, was met with critical and commercial disappointment. It received poor reviews and only earned $167 million globally. The film was also plagued by behind-the-scenes issues, with the studio abandoning the project even though a sequel had already been planned for 2017.

In 2019, the Walt Disney Company acquired 20th Century Fox, which returned the cinematic rights of the Fantastic Four to Marvel Studios. This paved the way for the team to finally join the MCU.

The New Era Begins

After teasing their arrival in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the post-credits sequence of Thunderbolts, and a cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine, the Fantastic Four made their official debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Directed by Matt Shakman, who previously worked on WandaVision, this latest reboot is expected to set the stage for future adventures in the MCU.

With the team now officially part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, fans are eager to see how the Fantastic Four will integrate into the larger storylines of the franchise. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for one of Marvel’s most beloved teams.