The Fantastic Four: First Steps cropped poster featuring Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Pedro Pascal, Vanessa … More
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, starring Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby, opens this week in theaters. How do Rotten Tomatoes critics rank all the “Fantastic Four” movies to date?
Playing in Thursday previews and opening in theaters nationwide on Friday, the official summary for the new Fantastic Four movie reads, “Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel’s First Family — Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) — as they face their most daunting challenge yet.
“Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.”
To date, there have been five Fantastic Four movies, although the first one — produced in 1994— was never released. Still, some RT critics found a way to rate the movie.
Below are all Fantastic Four movies made for the big screen as ranked by Rotten Tomatoes critics, from worst to best.
‘Fantastic Four’ (2015)
Fox-Marvel’s attempt to reboot the film series after producing Fantastic Four in 2005 and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer was savaged by Rotten Tomatoes critics, which gave the movie a lowly 9% “rotten” rating based on 259 reviews.
Audiences didn’t like the film, either, awarding the film an 18% “rotten” Popcornmeter score based on 100,000-plus user ratings.
Directed by Josh Trank, 2015’s Fantastic Four stars Miles Teller (Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic), Kate Mara (Sue Storm/Invisible Woman), Michael B. Jordan (Johnny Storm/Human Torch) and Jamie Bell (Ben Grimm/The Thing). Toby Kebbell also stars in the film as the villainous Victor Von Doom.
The RT Critics Consensus for the film reads, “Dull and downbeat, this Fantastic Four proves a woefully misguided attempt to translate a classic comic series without the humor, joy, or colorful thrills that made it great.”
‘Fantastic Four’ (2005)
Directed by Tim Story, the first Fantastic Four movie following the unreleased version from 1994 stars Ioan Gruffudd (Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic), Jessica Alba (Sue Storm/Invisible Woman), Chris Evans (Johnny Storm/Human Torch) and Michael Chiklis (Ben Grimm/The Thing).
Julian McMahon also stars in the film as the superheroes’ chief nemesis, Dr. Doom.
Fantastic Four earned a 27% “rotten” rating from Rotten Tomatoes critics based on 212 reviews. Audiences, meanwhile, gave the film a 45% “rotten” Popcornmeter score based on 250,000-plus user ratings.
The RT Critics Consensus for the film reads, “Marred by goofy attempts at wit, subpar acting, and bland storytelling, Fantastic Four is a mediocre attempt to bring Marvel’s oldest hero team to the big screen.”
‘The Fantastic Four’ (1994)
Directed by Oley Sassone and executive produced by film legend Roger Corman, the first big-screen version of The Fantastic Four stars Alex Hyde-White (Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic), Rebecca Staab (Sue Storm/Invisible Woman), Jay Underwood (Johnny Storm/Human Torch) and Michael Bailey Smith (Ben Grimm/The Thing), while Joseph Culp plays Dr. Doom.
While The Fantastic Four never had a theatrical run nor has been released on home video, bootleg copies of the movie eventually made their way online.
As such, Rotten Tomatoes critics gave The Fantastic Four a 33% “rotten” rating based on 12 reviews, while audiences gave the film a 32% “rotten” Popcornmeter score based on 5,000-plus user ratings. There is no RT Critics Consensus for the film.
Although the film never had a proper release, Marvel Studios appears to be doing right by the film’s stars by featuring them in a cameo appearance in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, per The Hollywood Reporter.
‘Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer’ (2007)
Director Tim Story returned to the helm of the second and last Fantastic Four movie starring Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis.
In the sequel, the First Family of Superheroes squared off once again with Dr. Doom (Julian McMahon). as well as the planet-eating villain Galactus and his herald, Norrin Radd/The Silver Surfer (Doug Jones and voice of Laurence Fishburne).
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer earned a 37% “rotten” rating from Rotten Tomatoes critics based on 171 reviews and a 51% “rotten” Popcornmeter score based on 250,000-plus verified user ratings.
The RT Critics Consensus for the film reads, “While an improvement on its predecessor, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is nevertheless a juvenile, simplistic picture that has little benefit beyond its special effects.”
Evans, of course, got to reprise Johnny Storm/The Human Torch one last time in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine.
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ (2025)
Directed by Matt Shakman (WandaVision), Fantastic Four: First Steps has the distinction of being the first Fantastic Four film to earn a “fresh” review from Rotten Tomatoes critics.
To date, RT critics have given The Fantastic Four: First Steps an 88% “fresh” rating based on 101 reviews. The RT Critics Consensus and Popcornmeter rating from verified users are still pending.
Robert Downey Jr., who is the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s new Dr. Doom, isn’t set to appear in the MCU until Avengers: Doomsday in 2026, but don’t be surprised if he makes a cameo appearance somewhere in The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Rated PG-13, Fantastic Four: First Steps plays in Thursday previews before opening in theaters nationwide on Friday.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/timlammers/2025/07/22/all-fantastic-four-movies-ranked-worst-to-best-by-rotten-tomatoes-critics/