Originally published on 7/17/25

If you’re a massive superhero film fan like us, then you probably can’t wait to watch Fantastic Four: First Steps starring The Last of Us’Pedro Pascal, which will be released in theaters on July 25. However, before you do, we S.H.I.E.L.D. [Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division] agents recommend that you watch the other previous adaptations first. To help you do that, we’ve rounded up all the information on them, including where they can be streamed, below.

What is the ‘Fantastic Four’ about?  

The Fantastic Four is a group of Marvel superheroes—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/Human Torch and Ben Grimm/The Thing—who went to space, passed through a “cosmic cloud” and then returned to Earth with powers that help them defeat the evil Dr.Doom.  The characters first appeared in a 1961 comic and have since become one of the most adapted superhero groups of all time. 

A look at all the ‘Fantastic Four’ films 

Throughout the years, Fantastic Four has been adapted several different times. And while the casts have changed, the plots have remained similar, showcasing just how timeless superhero stories can be. 

‘Fantastic Four’ (1967 to 1968)

Way back in 1967, ABC debuted a Fantastic Four Saturday morning cartoon adaptation that starred Paul Frees as The Thing, Gerald Mohr as Mr. Fantastic, Jack DeLeon as The Human Torch and Jo Ann Pflug as Susan Storm. It had 20 episodes total and was even created by the late Stan Lee, who is credited as co-creator of many the world’s most beloved Marvel superheroes (including Spider-Man and Iron Man). 

As of publication, the 1967 Fantastic Four isn’t available to stream anywhere. 

‘The New Fantastic Four’ (1978)

Ten years after the first Fantastic Four cartoon debuted, another one was released, entitled The New Fantastic Four. It starred Mike Road as Mr. Fantastic, Ginny Tyler as Sue Richards (a.k.a. Sue Storm) and John Stephenson as Doctor Doom. There were 13 episodes total and Lee is credited as the creator of the show. 

As of publication, The New Fantastic Four isn’t available to stream anywhere. 

‘The Fantastic Four’ (1994)

The 1994 Fantastic Four is definitely one of the more forgotten films. In it, Dr. Reed Richards (Alex Hyde-White), Johnny Storm (Jay Underwood), Susan Storm (Rebecca Staab) and Ben Grimm (Michael Bailey Smith) team up to try and defeat Dr. Doom (Joseph Culp). The film had a budget of $1 million; however, it never made it to theaters. 

“I think the appeal is you can’t take away from the fact that these guys have been around for over 30 years. The appeal for me is that these were familiar characters; these were characters I grew up with as a kid. I was literally a Fantastic Four fan, I can’t lie,” director Oley Sassone told Ed Gross, Woman’s World Senior Entertainment Editor. “Spider-Man was my favorite guy, but the Fantastic Four and Dr. Doom were number two when it comes to comic book heroes. I think the appeal is the fact that they’ve been around for so long. And the movie’s good, the special effects are going to be interesting and the characters are pretty well developed. I think on that level people will like this movie.”

The Fantastic Four isn’t available to stream anywhere. 

‘Fantastic Four’ (2005)

Long before Chris Evans became Captain America, he played Johnny Storm in the 2005 Fantastic Four film, a role he reprised in 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine. 

Along with Evans, the film starred Ioan Gruffudd as Reed Richards, Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm, Jessica Alba as Sue Storm and Julian McMahon as Victor Von Doom. It had a budget of $100 million and earned $333,535,934 worldwide at the box office. 

“Cap [Captain America] is so precious to me. And you know, I almost don’t wanna disrupt what a beautiful experience that was. But Johnny Storm, I feel like he didn’t really get his day. That was before Marvel really found its footing,” Evans told Variety in June 2022. “I loved that role.” 

Fantastic Four is available to stream on Disney+. 

‘Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes’ (2006)

After a few live-action films, Marvel decided to go back to an animated Fantastic Four in the 2006 series Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes.  Hiro Kanagawa voiced Mr. Fantastic, Lara Gilchrist voiced the Invisible Woman, Christopher Jacot voiced the Human Torch and Brian Dobson voiced The Thing. There were 25 total episodes. 

 Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes is available to stream on Disney+. 

‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer’ (2007)

In 2007, Evans, Alba. McMahon, Gruffudd and Chiklis reunited for a Fantastic Four sequel entitled Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. In it, the team as well as Dr. Doom are shocked to learn that a new enemy in the form of Galactus is coming, threatening to destroy the entire planet.  They find themselves doing everything in their power to stop him and his herald, the Silver Surfer (voiced by Laurence Fishburne) .. 

“I loved playing that character. I feel like my whole life started in a lot of ways at that moment. I met my life partner, we’re still together, we have three kids,” Alba said, per IMDb. “Tim Story, who directed, is still one of my best friends. We have New Year’s Eve together. It was great, and Sue was a truly cool and inspiring character, ahead of her time, I would say, in the genre.

The film has a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes and earned $301,913,131 worldwide at the box office. 

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is available to stream on Disney+. 

‘Fantastic Four’ (2015)

When Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan team up for a film, it’s guaranteed to be a success. Or so one would think. Their 2015 Fantastic Four adaptation—which also starred Kate Mara and Jamie Bell—was a box office bomb, earning only $167.8 million worldwide. The general consensus is that it felt too disconnected from the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which was in full swing at the time, whereas others blame the lack of chemistry between the cast. 

“I don’t wish anybody to be a part of a bomb, it’s just a marker on your career that for some people takes longer to get over than others,” Teller told The Hollywood Reporter after it was announced that it was going to be remade in 2025. “I just wish them the best. I saw the little trailer and I thought it looked fantastic, I’m very excited for them.”

Fantastic Four is available to stream on Disney+. 

‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ (2025) 

Everyone knows about the new Fantastic Four adaptation, which is set to hit theaters at the end of July. Along with PedroPascal, it stars Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. 

“There are aspects of it that are very different to other Marvel films. That felt very compelling to me. And again, going back to who’s involved, Matt [Shakman], of course, the director, I think, is brilliant. Then there’s the castand the script is brilliant. It’s really brilliant. I’m delighted to have this opportunity,” Quinn told Entertainment Weekly in May 2024. “Superhero movies are movies about people. And if we’re invested in the people and the characters and the peril and the spectacle, then that’s why people go to the theaters to watch films. We’re not just in for a penny; we’re in for a pound with this one. We’re going to go for it.”

All of the actors are expected to reprise their roles in the 2026 film Avengers Doomsday, which will star Marvel legend Robert Downey Jr. as Dr. Doom. 

The Fantastic Four: First Steps will release in theaters worldwide on Friday, July 25. 

Link to original: https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/movies/fantastic-four-films-you-forgot-about-where-to-watch