Fifth Time's the Charm? The Wild History of the Fantastic Four Movies

Let's be honest, no superhero franchise has had a tougher time on the big screen than the Fantastic Four. For over 30 years, it's been a story of misfires, critical duds, and one legendary film that was never even released. It’s a track record so rough that Wikipedia bluntly states, "None of the Fantastic Four films received a positive critical reception." And yet, here we are, with a fifth film that might just break the curse.

Key Highlights

• ✓ The very first Fantastic Four movie, made in 1994 for just $1 million, was so infamous it was never officially released.
• ✓ The disastrous 2015 reboot directed by Josh Trank was a critical and financial bomb, even sharing a Razzie Award for Worst Film.
• ✓ After years of failed attempts, the new MCU film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, is being hailed as a "triumph" and a "return to form for the MCU."
• ✓ Early reactions praise the new cast's incredible chemistry, with standout performances from Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach.
• ✓ The film introduces major cosmic threats like Galactus and serves as a crucial foundation for the upcoming epic, `Avengers: Doomsday`.

A Saga of Bad Luck and B-Movies

Before the Avengers assembled on screen, there was Marvel's first family. Created by the legendary duo of Stan Lee and Jim Kirby back in 1961, the Fantastic Four weren't your typical heroes. They were a flawed, bickering family who got their powers from cosmic rays, and their relatable dynamic was an instant hit, literally saving a struggling Marvel Comics at the time.

Their journey to Hollywood, however, was anything but heroic. In 1986, to raise some much-needed cash, Marvel sold off the film rights. The cinematic future of Reed Richards and company landed in the hands of German producer Bernd Eichinger for a rumored US$250,000. Eichinger spent years trying to get a big-budget version made but couldn't secure the financing. Here's the catch: he had until December 31, 1992, to start production or the rights would revert to Marvel.

So, in September 1992, he came up with a wild plan. He approached the king of B-movies, Roger Corman, to whip up a film on a shoestring budget. Corman and director Oley Sassone delivered a movie for just $1 million—a laughably small sum compared to the $80 million budget of that year's `Batman Returns`. The film was promoted, trailers ran, and then... it vanished. It was never released.

The Hollywood Legend of the Lost Film

The story behind the unreleased 1994 film has become a piece of Hollywood folklore. Some say Eichinger never planned to release it; he just needed to make a movie to keep the rights, and a low-budget flop would have tainted the brand for a future blockbuster. The more dramatic version of the story claims that Marvel executive Avi Arad caught wind of the cheap production, feared it would damage the Fantastic Four name, and bought up all the prints just to destroy them.

Of course, bootlegs have circulated for years among fans. It's exactly as cheap-looking as you'd imagine, but it has a certain B-grade charm. The unreleased film even became a plot point in the fourth season of `Arrested Development`, cementing its status as a true Hollywood anomaly.

💡 What's Interesting: The 2015 reboot was so reviled that critic Alex Abad-Santos called it "a new depth of terribleness" and the "greatest superhero movie disaster ever foisted on fans." Ouch.

The Fox Era: A Series of Misfires

Having held onto the rights, Eichinger finally got his big-budget movie in 2005. Directed by Tim Story and starring a cast that included a pre-Captain America Chris Evans, the film cost $100 million and made a respectable $333 million worldwide. But critics were not kind, panning its "goofy attempts at wit" and "bland storytelling." A 2007 sequel, `Rise of the Silver Surfer`, cost more and made less, with Rolling Stone's Peter Travers calling it "not egregiously awful like the first film — just plain awful."

Then came the 2015 reboot. Directed by Josh Trank, this was meant to be a darker, more serious take, but it ended up as an absolute trainwreck. Trank famously feuded with the studio, 20th Century Fox, which led to forced reshoots and the film being taken out of his hands. The movie bombed spectacularly, losing the studio between $80 million and $100 million and sharing the Razzie Award for Worst Film of 2015. It was a certified disaster.

Finally, a Triumphant Return to Marvel

Everything changed in 2019. Disney purchased 20th Century Fox, which meant that after decades away, the film rights for the Fantastic Four finally returned home to Marvel. This allowed them to be integrated into the sprawling MCU. As Marvel's head honcho Kevin Feige put it, the goal was to finally bring "Marvel's first family up to the sort of platform and level they deserve."

And that brings us to now. The fifth film, titled `The Fantastic Four: First Steps`, is upon us. Directed by Matt Shakman, it features a stellar cast with Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm. The big question on everyone's mind has been: can they finally get it right?

The Verdict Is In: "SIMPLY FANTASTIC!"

If the first reactions from critics are anything to go by, the answer is a resounding YES. The film, set in a stylish, retrofuturistic 1960s, is being called one of the "biggest surprise hits of the year." Gone are the days of superhero fatigue; this one is being praised for its heart, high stakes, and fresh take on the genre. One viewer gushed, "It's propulsive, grade-A entertainment, fluent in political theory and cinema history, sexy and provocative, tight as a drum and thrillingly tactile."

The chemistry between the four leads is getting massive praise. Critics are singling out Pascal's performance and the strong emotional core provided by Moss-Bachrach's The Thing. It's not just a superhero flick; it’s described as "a sharp commentary on our society." The film also introduces a genuinely menacing Galactus and his herald, the Silver Surfer (played by Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal), bringing "serious stakes" that fans have been craving. People are loving the technical aspects too, with mentions of "incredible miniature work" and calling it a "visual feast." One person simply declared, "Stan Lee would be proud."

Conclusion

What a ride it's been. From a legendary unreleased B-movie to a series of critically panned blockbusters, the Fantastic Four have had arguably the rockiest path to screen success of any comic book property. It's been a long, frustrating wait for fans who knew these characters deserved better. But it seems the wait is finally over.

With `The Fantastic Four: First Steps`, it looks like the MCU and director Matt Shakman have not only broken the curse but have delivered what many are already calling one of Marvel's best films. After three decades of trying, it seems Marvel's first family has finally, finally gotten the fantastic film they've always deserved.