DVD Corner

Ranking The Fantastic 4 Films

“Fantastic 4: The First Steps” is now in theaters, and with that, the F4’s long awaited introduction into the MCU is finally here. To mark this momentous occasion, it’s time to take a look back at the history of the Fantastic 4 in cinema with a brand new ranking. 

1. Fantastic 4: The First Steps- Director Matt Shakman nails it. Not only is this the F4 film fans have been waiting for, but it’s easily a top 3 MCU movie. My only minor quibble is that I wish there was a tad bit more humor. Otherwise, it captures the comics (and Galactus) perfectly.

2. Fantastic 4 (2005)- A perfectly respectable pre-MCU origin story. The cast is delightful and the humor and tone is downright FUN (something frequently missing these days). Chris Evans definitely steals the show as Johnny Storm.

3. Fantastic 4: Rise Of The Silver Surfer- I went back and forth on whether this or 2005’s “Fantastic 4” was better. The Silver Surfer material is so spot on and it certainly elevates the movie, but the interpretation of Galactus falls flat, Doctor Doom is shoehorned in, and Johnny’s arc is a bit goofy.

4. The Fantastic 4 (1994)- The unreleased Roger Corman produced F4 movie isn’t as bad as some make it out to be. It’s fairly comic accurate, but it does suffer from campy humor and budgetary constraints to be sure. It’s worth seeking out for anyone curious about it and it’s still better than one such F4 movie…

5. Fantastic 4 (2015)- Despite a great cast, this Josh Tank directed take is an absolute trainwreck. A prime example of how not to do a reboot. 

July 30, 2025 - Posted by nicklyons1 | List | Chris Evans, Fantastic 4 (2005), Fantastic 4 (2015), Fantastic 4: Rise Of The Silver Surfer, Fantastic 4: The First Steps, Marvel, MCU, Ranking The Fantastic 4 Films, Silver Surfer, The Fantastic 4 (1994)