Long before the Avengers ever made it to screen, Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm had been saving the day and entertaining audiences with their Saturday morning cartoons and delightfully campy live-action adventures.
And now, with their successful induction into Marvel’s Cinematic Universe, the love and excitement for the Fantastic Four has been reignited—and rightfully so. If hopping through multiverses sounds like your kind of fun, here’s your guide to all the Fantastic Four movies and shows ranked in order of fantastic-ness:
8. Fantastic Four (2015)
Starting out with the weakest entry on the list, Fantastic Four reboots 20th Century Fox’s live action Fantastic Four through a sci-fi lens rather than the classic superhero story. The movie follows the government’s attempt to control and weaponise the team’s powers, which sounds very cool on paper but falls flat in execution due to its uneven tone and lack of chemistry. If you’re looking for a story that actually delivers on that darker, government controlled superhero idea, then check out Thunderbolts* instead.
If you’re a purist, you’re better off skipping Fantastic Four altogether. The movie takes a sharp turn from the comics trademark optimism and family dynamics that make the duo so beloved, and trades it for a darker, more grounded approach, aiming for a tone similar to Chronicle, Trank’s previous found-footage superhero film. Instead, check out the animated series Fantastic Four: The Animated Series which truly brings out the comic’s adventurous spirit and fun family dynamics. That said, if you are a completist or just curious about every take on Marvel’s first family, then Fantastic Four might still be worth a watch, especially if you’re a fan of Michael B Jordan, who makes his flashy superhero debut as Human Torch.
7. The New Fantastic Four (1978)
Fantastic Four’s second animated outing, The New Fantastic Four introduces fans to the beloved robot H.E.R.B.I.E as a replacement for Human Torch whose rights were tied up at the time. It’s lighthearted, full of adventure and heart, and kitschy animation style makes it an interesting watch for fans of the superhero team.
If you’re a fan of classic Fantastic Four villains like Doctor Doom, Magneto, and the Frightful Four, then you’ll find plenty to love here. But keep in mind that this cartoon did come out in 1978, giving the whole series a more retro vibe to it. If you’re looking for a sleeker, more modern animation style, check out Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes instead.
6. Fantastic Four (1967)
Fantastic Four marks the superhero team’s first television outing. The cartoons capture the fun, campy spirit of retro cartoons, with exaggerated action and colourful villains a lot like The New Fantastic Four, except with this version you actually get Human Torch and not H.E.R.B.I.E. The episodes are simple and formulaic, and the animation is pretty dated if you compare it to cartoons from the present day, but that said, it’s still essential viewing for Marvel fans who are curious about Fantastic Four’s early origins, and fans of retro cartoons.
Fantastic Four is a solid cartoon that does justice to the comics if you can appreciate it for the time and the animation standards of the era it was released in. But if you’re after a more polished, modern-day animation with sharper visuals and deeper storytelling, then Marvel’s more recent additions like Avengers Assemble or Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H will be more up your alley (both of these cartoons feature plenty of easter eggs and references to the beloved superhero family.)
5. Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes (2006)
Released almost immediately after the live-action film, Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes goes on to ignore almost all of the film’s changes, opting for a more contemporary, Cartoon Network style animation that blends traditional cel drawings with CGI backgrounds in each episode. If you’re looking for a more stylised and amped up version of Fantastic Four similar to Johnny Bravo or Ben 10, then consider giving this one a watch.
That said, Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes still doesn’t match up to the 1994 Fantastic Four: The Animated Series in terms of charm, character depth, and nostalgic appeal, even though it benefits from sleeker animation and more modern visuals.
4. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)
A direct sequel to Fantastic Four (2005), Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is the second live action adaptation of the Fantastic Four squad and is best enjoyed after the first one given that its story builds on the team’s established relationships and origin. The movie introduces fans to the mystical Silver Surfer, who serves as Galactus’ messenger. If you’ve watched MCU’s latest The Fantastic 4: First Steps, and are curious to see how the earlier films approached the same villains, then Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is worth watching.
Unlike the darker 2015 reboot, this film retains the lighter, adventurous tone of the 2005 movie, with emphasis on humour, team dynamics, and family bonds. It’s a fun watch for anyone who’s a fan of early 2000s superhero films like Spider-Man 2 or X-Men: The Last Stand in the way that it blends adventure, humour, and modest CGI-based cosmic elements. That said, compared to Fantastic Four (2005), the sequel does tend to feel more rushed and formulaic, and Doctor Doom doesn’t get enough screen time or space for development making him pretty unforgettable as a villain.
3. Fantastic Four (2005)
The first ever live-action adaptation of Fantastic Four, 20th Century Fox’s 2005 film Fantastic Four, brings together Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, and Julian McMahon, a team-up that did a pretty solid job at bringing out the family dynamic and camaraderie of Marvel’s first family. Fantastic Four is a great watch for anyone who’s a fan of early 2000s campy superhero films like Sky High or X-Men.
Obviously given that it was released nearly two decades before MCU’s First Steps, Fantastic Four lacks the same finesse and cinematic spectacle of modern superhero films but it more than makes up for it with its team chemistry, and early 2000s charm. If you’re looking for a fun, easy to follow origin story that lays out the life of the Fantastic Four then this is a good place to start. But if you’re looking for a movie that delivers a big, bad, satisfying villain, then even Fantastic Four falls short.
2. Fantastic Four: The Animated Series (1994)
Fantastic Four: The Animated Series is a little tricky to judge. The series originally aired as the second half of a one hour syndication of The Marvel Action Hour which included Iron Man and Fantastic Four in two separate 30 minute segments. The first season of the show was quite a swing and a miss, with clumsy animation and an out of place disco themed opener.
But the show made a strong comeback with its second season beautifully blending the lighthearted adventures of the family with exciting battles, giving fans everything they’d expect from a 90s Marvel cartoon—catchy theme music, bright animation, and plenty of teamwork. If you remove season 1 out of consideration, Fantastic Four: The Animated Series is easily the best animated adaptation of the Fantastic Four, since the animation is a lot fresher compared to The Fantastic Four and The New Fantastic Four, and the storyline’s a lot more faithful to the comic book origins compared to World’s Greatest Heroes.
1. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
Marking Fantastic Four’s long awaited debut into the MCU and kickstarting Marvel’s ambitious Phase 6, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the grand, emotionally grounded, and visually stunning adaptation fans have been waiting for all along. The retro-futuristic setup gives the film a refreshing visual identity, setting it apart from the MCU’s more formulaic modern settings like Avengers: Infinity War or Iron Man 3, and grounding its cosmic adventure in a distinct, stylised world that feels both nostalgic and new.
The dynamics between the four heroes feel natural and deeply human, compared to the campy feel of the earlier live-adaptations like Fantastic Four or Rise of the Silver Surfer. Compared to Rise of the Silver Surfer, The Fantastic Four: First Steps also manages to do a lot more justice to its villains and morally conflicted characters, giving the Silver Surfer a lot more emotional grounding, and achieving what’s never been done before, bringing Marvel’s grandest, most feared villain Galactus into full live-action cosmic glory. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is definitely the satisfying payoff longtime fans of the comics have been waiting for all along, but it's also the perfect entry point for new audiences as it serves as the opening chapter to Marvel’s new Avengers saga.
