Ranking the Fantastic Four movies from worst to best, including First Steps

There’s a new Fantastic Four in town, and with the quartet taking their First Steps this week, we’re comparing the new movie with what’s gone before.

The Fantastic Four got off to an unsteady start, with a movie made in the early 1990s, then shelved because Marvel didn’t want a low-budget adaptation getting in the way of the big-budget blockbusters they had planned. We’ve got the lowdown on that Fantastic Faux here.

The field was then clear for 20th Century Fox to take a shot at the franchise, and they released two movies in the mid-2000s that took a light approach to the characters, followed by a 2015 F4 flick that was much darker in tone.

So here’s how they measure up, and compare with the Fantastic Four’s first MCU flick.

4. Fantastic Four (2015)

20th Century Fox

• Director: Josh Trank
• Cast: Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell
• Release date: August 7, 2015
• Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes

What it’s about: Four scientists gain superhuman abilities in an alternate dimension. When they return to earth, the group must set aside their differences to do battle with former colleague Victor Don Doom, who has also developed devastating powers.

What we think: The 2025 Fantastic Four is to be applauded for trying something different by taking a more serious approach to the material. But both casting and pacing are disastrous, and the visuals so drab that it’s hard to watch. The result is a movie that continually misses the mark, and ultimately betrays Marvel’s First Family.

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

20th Century Fox

• Director: Tim Story
• Cast: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis
• Release date: June 15, 2007
• Runtime: 1 hour 32 minutes

What it’s about: The Fantastic Four face a new cosmic threat when the Silver Surfer appears, heralding the arrival of planet-hungry Galactus. If that weren’t enough, Victor Von Doom returns to wreak even more havoc.

What we think: Rise had an opportunity to build on the solid foundations that had been build for the Fantastic Four two years previous. But the film fumbles badly, with the introduction of Silver Surfer forgettable, and the depiction of Galactus as a big cloud unforgivable.

2. Fantastic Four (2005)

20th Century Fox

• Director: Tim Story
• Cast: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis
• Release date: July 8, 2005
• Runtime: 1 hour 46 minutes

What it’s about: While experimenting with a teleportation device, four scientists gain superpowers in a cosmic storm. While trying to control their new abilities, they are forced to confront former friend Victor Von Doom, who now has powers of his own, as well as nefarious plans.

What we think: The 2005 Fantastic Four is a silly, goofy, intermittently entertaining comic book movie that lacks depth but delivers fun-filled thrills. Chris Evans is a good Human Torch, Michael Chiklis is an amazing Thing, while if you like your villains camp, look no further than Julian McMahon’s dastardly Doctor Doom.

1. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)

Marvel Studios

• Director: Matt Shakman
• Cast: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach
• Release date: July 25, 2025
• Runtime: 1 hour 55 minutes

What it’s about: The Fantastic Four are a super-powered quartet who face their toughest challenge when the Silver Surfer appears on Earth with news of Galactus’s impending and all-destroying arrival.

What we think: First Steps is easily the best of the F4 flicks, kicking off with the heroes powered up and fully established as earth’s protectors so the film can hit the ground running. They’re played to perfection by the cast, the arrival of Silver Surfer and Galactus are jaw-dropping spectacles, and the birth of a baby seriously raises the stakes. As we wrote in our First Steps review, the film is “fantastic, and easily the best MCU movie since Guardians of the Galaxy 3.” 

For more F4 action, find out why Fantastic Four takes place on Earth-828, and where to get the Fantastic popcorn buckets, at alternatively check out our breakdown of every upcoming MCU project, and list of best superhero movies ever.