The Fantastic Four: Ranking Every Movie / The Thing SPEED-ART
Hey guys, I’m back, and this time I’m ranking Marvel’s First Family!
I recently covered The Fantastic Four on my animation channel, well, it was a few months back, but I jumped right into working on the horror video for the Halloween season, so I didn’t get a chance to get this recorded, but nonetheless here it is. I went through all their appearances across TV and film, so naturally I had to rewatch every single movie. From unreleased oddities to MCU reboot, I’m ranking every live-action Fantastic Four movie today. I know I covered the animated shows as well, but it’s hard to rank those as I didn’t watch every episode and to compare them to films is pretty odd to do. So, without any cosmic rays mutating me, let’s get started.
5. Fantastic Four (2015) 1.5/5
In last place, it’s Fant4stic, because apparently they thought replacing the “a” with a “4” would make it cool.
To be fair, the first half of this movie is actually pretty good. The build-up, the tone, the setup, it feels like it could turn into something solid. But once they get their powers, the whole thing falls apart faster than Reed Richards’ stretching budget.
It’s clear the filmmakers wanted to do a gritty Dark Knight-style reboot, but The Fantastic Four were never meant to be brooding or joyless. They’re a family of explorers, not victims of body horror. Still, I’d be curious to see Josh Trank’s original cut someday, just out of curiosity.
4. Fantastic Four (2005) 2.5/5
Next up is the 2005 Fantastic Four.
This one’s a fun little superhero flick, very early-2000s, with some great casting, especially Chris Evans as the Human Torch. The tone is light, the action’s simple, and it definitely feels like a comic book movie from the pre-Iron Man era.
Sure, it’s cheesy and full of dated effects, but there’s a certain charm to it. It’s not trying to be deep, it just wants to entertain, and for the most part, it succeeds.
3. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) 2.5/5
In third, it’s the sequel Rise of the Silver Surfer.
This one doubles down on the goofy tone of the first, but it’s surprisingly entertaining. The cast is clearly having fun, and the addition of the Silver Surfer brings a much-needed sense of scale and cosmic wonder to the story.
It’s still silly and full of mid-2000s humor, but I can’t help but enjoy it. The Silver Surfer looks great, and Doug Jones’s performance gives the movie a quiet emotional weight. Galactus being a cloud, though… yeah, that’s still a choice.
2. The Fantastic Four (1994) 3/5
In second place is The Fantastic Four from 1994, yes, the unreleased one.
I went in expecting a disaster, but honestly? It’s better than expected. Despite the shoestring budget, this movie captures the spirit of the comics more than some later versions. The tone is campy but earnest, and everyone seems genuinely excited to be there.
It’s bizarre this one never got officially released, it’s rough, sure, but there’s real heart behind it. It’s like a fan film that accidentally became one of Marvel’s best early attempts at a movie.
Special Mention: Doomed: The Untold Story of Roger Corman’s The Fantastic Four (2015)
Before we reach the top, I’ve got to shout out Doomed: The Untold Story of Roger Corman’s The Fantastic Four.
It’s a fascinating documentary about how that 1994 film was made, why it never got released, and how the cast found out their work was never meant to see the light of day. If you’re into behind-the-scenes movie stories, this is a must-watch, it’s tragic, funny, and quite informative.
1. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)3.5/5
And finally, in first place, it’s the MCU’s long-awaited Fantastic Four: First Steps.
At last, Marvel gets it right. With a fun retro-futuristic setting, heartfelt moments, and a strong cast dynamic, this feels like the Fantastic Four movie fans have been waiting decades for. It’s emotional when it needs to be, funny without forcing it, and full of that cosmic adventure spirit.
It’s not one of the best MCU entries, but it’s a pretty fun Superhero film, and proof that Marvel’s First Family finally has a future on the big screen.
So that’s my ranking of The Fantastic Four franchise! It’s been a wild ride through cosmic rays, stretchy budgets, and multiple reboots, but I’m happy we finally got a version that lives up to the name.
What’s your favourite Fantastic Four movie? Let me know down below, and check out my Evolution of the Fantastic Four video to see how their designs changed over the years. I want to thank the Patrons. Until next time, I’ve been Aaron—and I’ll tell you something later!