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Is the 2005 Fantastic Four film underrated? Michael Chiklis certainly thinks so.

Chiklis played Ben Grimm/the Thing in the first live-action adaptation of the iconic superhero quartet. When looking back on the project, a conversation sparked by the recent release of Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the actor told Collider he believes critics at the time “got it wrong.”

“There were a lot of people, I think, critically who got it wrong,” he said of the 2005 film and its 2007 follow-up Rise of the Silver Surfer. “They really maligned our films, and they were very underrated considering… They were very loved by the audience. It was one of those cases where critics weren’t great to those films, but the audience was, and that still remains.”

The Emmy winner acknowledged the appreciation shown by the audience as opposed to critics, adding, “And now all these years later, people are sort of acknowledging like,...

Michael Chiklis, who played Ben Grimm/The Thing in 2005’s Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel, says the films were undervalued by reviewers and embraced by audiences. “There were a lot of people, I think, critically who got it wrong… they really maligned our films,” he said in a recent interview, adding that the movies were “family-friendly” and “got a lot right.” The data points he cites support a divide: the 2005 film holds a 28% critics score and 45% audience score on a major aggregator, while Rise of the Silver Surfer sits at 37% and 51% respectively.

Chiklis’ defense arrives as Marvel Studios’ new iteration, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, posts strong results, opening to $118 million domestically and $218 million worldwide and earning broadly positive notices, a contrast with the Fox-era entries. Box office history shows the earlier films nonetheless drew sizeable crowds: Tim Story’s 2005 release grossed $333.5 million worldwide, and the 2007 sequel took in about $301.9 million.

Say what you will about the 2005 Fantastic Four movie and its 2007 follow-up Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer – and I will say that I don’t think they were very good movies – but did they handle one character very well: Ben Grimm / The Thing, as played by Michael Chiklis. With a new Fantastic Four movie out in theatres now (the Marvel Cinematic Universe entry The Fantastic Four: First Steps), the folks at Collider sat down for an interview with Chiklis, and he took some time to defend the two Fantastic Four movies he worked on, saying they’re underrated films that critics were wrong about.

Chiklis told Collider, “There were a lot of people, I think, critically who got it wrong. They really maligned our films, and they were very underrated considering… they were very loved by the audience. It was one of those cases where critics weren’t great to those films,...

Michael Chiklis played Ben Grimm, a.k.a. The Thing, in 2005's Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. They were moderate successes, but are widely regarded as a disappointing take on Marvel's First Family.

Both movies have reentered the conversation thanks to the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps from Marvel Studios, with plenty of younger fans discovering them for the first time. The discourse surrounding them has softened, with some enjoying that cheesier take on the team.

Talking to Collider, Chiklis reflected on his time as part of the Fantastic Four franchise and defended the movies. "There were a lot of people, I think, critically who got it wrong," the actor said. "They really maligned our films, and they were very underrated considering they were very loved by the audience."

"It was one of those cases where critics weren’t great to those films,...

Michael Chiklis is standing up for 2005’s “Fantastic Four.”

In a recent interview with Collider, Chiklis, who played Ben Grimm, aka The Thing, in “Fantastic Four” and its 2007 sequel “Rise of the Silver Surfer,” said the two Marvel blockbusters were “underrated” at the time of their release, and critics who panned the films “got it wrong.”

“There were a lot of people, I think, critically who got it wrong,” Chiklis said. “They really maligned our films, and they were very underrated considering… they were very loved by the audience. It was one of those cases where critics weren’t great to those films, but the audience was, and that still remains.”

He continued, “I’ve always sort of quietly gone like, ‘Okay, say what you want to say, but the people see it.’ And now all these years later, people are sort of acknowledging like, hey, these films are family-friendly,...

This article contains spoilers for Marvel's The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps writer Eric Pearson recently talked about an uncomfortable argument Marvel creatives had behind the scenes of the movie. Scenes involving Pedro Pascal's Mister Fantastic and his stretching were something that reportedly 'tested the limits.'

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Pearson talked about The Fantastic Four's fight against the villainous Galactus (Ralph Ineson). At one point, when all four family members join together to try and take him down, Galactus is able to thwart Pascal's Reed Richards and finds humor in stretching the hero to his limits, literally trying to pull him apart from both ends. It was this very scene that caused the debate among the film's creatives.

"I don’t know if it made you uncomfortable, the stretch [of Reed Richards]," Pearson said. "[Director] Matt [Shakman] wasn’t allergic to stretching, but he was like,...

As part of Collider's Exclusive Preview event, we are thrilled to exclusively debut a new image from The Senior, the upcoming inspirational sports drama starring Michael Chiklis as Mike Flynt — a man who, at 59 years old, suits up to play college football more than three decades after being kicked off the team. Directed by Rod Lurie (The Outpost) and written by Robert Eisele (The Great Debaters), The Senior is based on Flynt’s incredible real-life story. After getting expelled during his senior year, Flynt returns to the same Texas college nearly 35 years later, determined to rewrite his past — and his legacy.

For Chiklis, the role was more than a performance — it was a personal reckoning. “My first reaction was, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me. Fifty-nine years old? Is this even real?’” He told Collider, “And it turns out he really did it,” in reference to Flynt's true story.

Imagine if there was a spin-off to The Last of Us that starred Liam Neeson as a retired bioterror operative who teams up with a couple of young kids to stop a zombie outbreak. Imagine even further if that spin-off was a horror comedy thriller filled with over-the-top gore, and you have yourself Cold Storage, the new flick by director Jonny Campbell that was written by the same person who's penned such hits as Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible, and Spider-Man.

Thankfully, you don't have to imagine it any longer, as the first trailer for Cold Storage just dropped (seen below), and if it's any indication of what the actual movie will be like, we're in for a real treat when it hits theaters next year. Seriously, this movie has everything from exploding heads and a military cover-up, to elevator-riding deer and infected felines. What's not to love?

Written by David Koepp...

An underrated superhero movie continues to make its mark on the streaming charts following the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

PerFlixPatrol, Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer continues to maintain its place on the chart of the top streaming films on Disney+. As of the time of writing, Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer sits at the number seven spot on the list, having fallen just one spot in recent days.

Helmed by returning director Tim Story from a screenplay by returning writer Mark Frost and co-writer Don Payne, Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer was the direct follow-up to 2005's Fantastic Four. The film saw Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, and Michael Chiklis reprise their roles as Reed Richards, Sue and Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm, better known as Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch, and the Thing, respectively. Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer...

It’s perhaps the comic book film genre’s greatest conundrum: how do you crack the Fantastic Four? This weekend, despite positive word of mouth and a solid opening weekend haul, the quartet’s latest — subtitled “First Steps” — tumbled 66% at the domestic box office. Undoubtedly, before Hollywood looks to craft the next adventure, they’ll look back at what has worked before — and the most recent unequivocal success came from the simply titled “Fantastic Four” in 2005, which featured Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, and Iaon Gruffudd.

Now, “unequivocal,” to be fair, does not count reviews — “First Steps” has most certainly outpaced this older version in terms of critical reception. But the film grossed three times its budget and managed to produce a sequel in 2007 — “Rise of the Silver Surfer” — which also made money. Of course, after that, Marvel Studios became a thing, and something called the MCU happened. But...

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In the early 2000s, superhero movies were on their way to becoming the dominant force in pop culture for the first time. There had previously been one-off hits such as Tim Burton's "Batman," but the success of 2000's "X-Men" put Marvel on the mainstream map for the first time, having built off the popularity of 1998's "Blade." Sam Raimi and Sony's "Spider-Man" took things to another level in 2002, and from there, it was off to the races. 20th Century Fox then followed 2003's "X2: X-Men United" with director Tim Story's "Fantastic Four," which became a solid hit for the studio. It also very nearly created a shared on-screen Marvel universe ... sort of.

Ioan Gruffudd portrayed Reed Richards, aka Mister Fantastic, in Story's 2005 adaptation of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's superheroic comic book family. Jessica Alba co-starred as Sue Storm,...

Long before Pedro Pascal stretched his limbs as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic in “Fantastic Four: The First Steps,” it was Ioan Gruffudd who led Marvel’s first family in 2005’s “Fantastic Four” and 2007’s “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.” The films were critical duds and only mild box office hits (each grossed more than $300 million worldwide). In a new interview with Vulture, Gruffudd looked back at his original “Fantastic Four” franchise being cut short.

“The mindset was that we were going to do three, and I think the second movie was equally successful as the first and equally enjoyable for the fans,” Gruffudd said. “I particularly loved working with Doug Jones [as the Silver Surfer] on that movie, who’s just a terrific artist and an expert in the field of movement. If you want to witness somebody bringing a character to life physically, he’s just untouchable. So there was definitely that sort of momentum,...

The Fantastic Four movies from two decades ago ended prematurely.

Ioan Gruffudd starred as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic in 2005’s Fantastic Four and the 2007 sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and with the new Fantastic Four film recently hitting theaters, he’s reflecting on how there was supposed to be a third film in the early ’00s series and why it didn’t happen.

“The mindset was that we were going to do three,” he told Vulture. “I think the second movie was equally successful as the first and equally enjoyable for the fans. I particularly loved working with Doug Jones [as the Silver Surfer] on that movie, who’s just a terrific artist and an expert in the field of movement. If you want to witness somebody bringing a character to life physically, he’s just untouchable.”

He added, “So there was definitely that sort of momentum, and the plan was to do three movies,...

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is drawing close to a major box office record. The new Marvel Cinematic Universe movie stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch, and the Thing, who are the four members of the titular superhero team.

First Steps is the fifth Fantastic Four movie, though it is only the fourth to come to theaters. Previous movies adapting the comics include an unreleased Roger Corman-produced feature from 1994, pirated copies of which have made it something of a cult classic.

This was followed by 2005's Fantastic Four and 2007's Rise of the Silver Surfer, both of which starred Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, and Michael Chiklis. Another adaptation was mounted in 2015, starring Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, and Jamie Bell.

Per The Numbers, The Fantastic Four: First Steps brought in $8.6 million at...

After years of being out of Marvel’s grasp, the Fantastic Four has finally, officially and fully, joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe with The Fantastic Four: First Steps – and to celebrate, we have decided to look back at the other Fantastic Four movies that have been made to put together a list of Fantastic Four Movies Ranked. Here we go, from worst to best:

Fantastic Four (2015)

The ‘94 film is the one executives tried to bury, but the making of the 2015 Fantastic Four was such a horrible mess, maybe Fox should have just scrapped it and used it for a $120 million tax write-off, Warner Bros. style. The differing opinions behind the scenes are apparent in the finished movie, where the more traditional comic book movie sensibilities of screenwriter Jeremy Slater and writer/producer Simon Kinberg come through in the first half, while director Josh Trank’s wrong-headed attempt to turn the...

Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd first played Reed Richards in 2005's Fantastic Four, and later reprised the role in 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. His take on Mister Fantastic remains well-liked among fans, though Gruffudd has yet to return to the blockbuster realm.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrived in theaters last weekend, bringing the original Fantastic Four cast back into the conversation. Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis, and Chris Evans didn't appear in the Marvel Studios movie, though there were rumours about the latter showing up as Nomad (setting the stage for next December's Avengers: Doomsday).

Vulture recently spoke with Gruffudd in a piece that takes a deep dive into his role in the Fantastic Four movies. It's well worth a read to learn how he approached playing the character, and the conversation eventually turned to the infamous deleted scene with Mister Fantastic transforming into Hugh Jackman's Wolverine.

When you think of "Twin Peaks," you probably think of David Lynch. After all, it's Lynch's bizarre stylings and penchant for the surreal that the franchise is most famous for. But it wasn't all Lynch -- far from it. The property was co-created by Lynch and writer Mark Frost, who had previously cut his teeth on the popular 1980s TV series "Hill Street Blues."

While Lynch brought his auteur filmmaker sensibilities, Frost brought recent, prominent experience from the TV drama realm -- a space where he had already experimented with the more ambitious long-term storytelling that made his collaboration with Lynch so appealing. Frost also returned alongside Lynch in 2017 for the long-awaited third season of "Twin Peaks" (aka "Twin Peaks: The Return"), ensuring that the unique combo that made the original TV show so successful stayed intact.

In between, of course, Frost worked on a number of other projects,...

Jack Kirby, the iconic artist and penciller, breathed life into countless beloved comic-book heroes and villains, but couldn’t seem to get it right when it came to the Thing. As a Fantastic Four member, Ben Grimm‘s cosmically irradiated alter ego has been an instantly recognizable figure due to his distinct look, but Kirby almost wanted to ditch that rocky outfit for, wait for it, a dinosaur hide!

Instead, what Jack Kirby envisioned had more to do with animalistic strength than the stoicism of a rock. Although the fans will never be able to see Kirby’s original vision brought to life, Marvel has been through enough adventures to appreciate what the Thing’s rocky demeanor brings to the table.

Jack Kirby’s Dramatic Childhood Helped Shape a Key Fantastic Four Member Jack Kirby (center) with legendary cartoonist Will Eisner (L) [Image by Alan Light, licensed under Cc By 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons...

Former Reed Richards actor Ioan Gruffudd shares his thoughts on The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Phase 6 provides the MCU with a new Reed Richards, a new Sue Storm, a new Johnny Storm, and a new Ben Grimm. After their debut movie, the McU's Fantastic Four will likely be recurring heroes in the franchise.

On Threads, the 2005 Fantastic Four Reed Richards actor Ioan Gruffudd praised Marvel Studios for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Gruffudd describes Matt Shakman's reboot as "a superb homage to the original comics from the sixties." He also shares photos from the world premiere, which former Silver Surfer actor Doug Jones also attended. Read Ioan Gruffudd's full comments below:

"Thank you @marvel for a wonderful evening at the world premiere of @fantasticfour: First Steps.Marvel’s first family is alive and well and in safe hands. A superb homage to the original comics from the sixties. Acting,...

At this year's Emmys, The Pitt did quite well by scoring 13 nominations overall. Its star, Noah Wyle, is currently the frontrunner to win Best Drama Actor, according to the Gold Derby predictions. He previously earned five bids in supporting for his role as John Carter on ER, but never won. If he prevails this time, this would not only mark his very first Emmy, but he'd also be the 11th performer since 2000 to have triumphed in this particular category for a first-year show.

In The Pitt, Wyle plays Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch, a senior attending physician who starts a grueling 15-hour shift at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital's emergency room by welcoming four newcomers. Yet he struggles as he is still reeling from his traumatic experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The following 10 Best Drama Actor champs since 2000 have been for first-year shows:

Michael Chiklis, The Shield (2002) James Spader, Boston Legal (2005) Bryan Cranston,...

"No one's gonna run over me, I'll guarantee you that." Angel Studios has revealed an official trailer for The Senior, a sports comedy being played as an uplifting sports drama. At age 59, Mike Flynt returns to college football to confront the past and change his future. This first premiered back in 2023 at the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival, but was never released. Religious distributor Angel Stu&dios picked it up it and is dropping it in theaters this fall. The story follows Mike Flynt, a man who, 37 years ago, was kicked off of his collegiate football team for an altercation. Now at 59, he still carries that burden... He decides to go back to school to get his degree and try out for the team to redeem his past. Michael Chiklis stars as aging football player Mike Flynt, with Mary Stuart Masterson, Brandon Flynn, James Badge Dale, and Rob Corddry. Yep this...

It’s been 20 years since Fantastic Four hit theaters in 2005, bringing Marvel’s first family to the big screen. The movie wasn’t a huge hit with critics, but fans still remember the fun action, cool powers, and the cast who brought these characters to life. After all, before the MCU became a billion-dollar franchise, this film gave us a glimpse of what superhero movies could be.

Now, two decades later, in the wake of the new Fantastic Four movie starring Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby, fans are looking back and wondering what the original cast is doing today. From Chris Evans to Jessica Alba, fans are wondering where each actor is now. Turns out, most stars are thriving in Hollywood, while Julian McMahon tragically passed away.

So, whether you watched Fantastic Four back in 2005 or recently discovered it on streaming, let’s take a look at where the original team is now.

Longtime actor Michael Chiklis is gearing up to play real-life linebacker Mike Flynt in the official trailer for The Senior, an upcoming sports drama that will be distributed by Angel Studios later this year. The two-minute footage showcases Flynt returning to his alma mater, Sul Ross State, after getting expelled from the institution in the early 1970s for fighting. At age 59, Flynt returned to Sul Ross State University and rejoined his former college team, later becoming the oldest college linebacker in NCAA history. "I told him I thought he was crazy," said Jerry Larned, who coached Flynt during his time at Sul Ross in 1969 and supported him at the start of his comeback. But Flynt wouldn't take no for an answer. With his undeniable grit and unwavering determination, Flynt proved that he was up for the challenge.

According to Variety, Chiklis will star alongside Mary Stuart Masterson (The Stepford Wives...

I’ve yet to see The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but it seems that the movie, which comes out today, might have finally gotten things right after four truly terrible previous films. First there was the low-budget, never-released Roger Corman-produced film in 1994 made simply to hold onto the film rights of the characters. Then, in 2005, came Fox’s near-universally panned movie by Tim Story and its 2007 sequel that did about as well as the first. Most recently, there was the stupidly-titled 2015 Fant4stic that everyone hated even more than the two Fox films from a decade earlier.

Still, I’d argue that none of these four films are entirely without merit. Here’s one actually fantastic thing from each of them…

[subtitle]4Young Reed and Ben Are Charming in ‘Fant4stic’[/subtitl35the]

While Fant4stic isn’t the worst Fantastic Four movie (that distinction belongs to the 1994 Corman film), it’s the hardest to...

After chasing the elusive, once-upon-a-time success of the MCU for the past 6 years, Kevin Feige ultimately found it with Marvel’s first family. The franchise has now hit the golden pot at the end of the rainbow with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which takes a step back from the current timeline to travel back to the retrofuturistic past of the 1960s.

Meanwhile, Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby‘s blockbuster success comes at the tail end of a long, rocky, and often backbreaking odyssey at 20th Century Fox with the Fantastic Four property. Despite the studio’s unrelenting attempt to reboot the franchise, F4 has always managed to bomb at the box office, each time somehow worse than the last.

Below is a list of every Fantastic Four movie ever made, ranked in order of their runtime, from shortest to longest.

5. The Fantastic Four (1994): 90 minutes The Fantastic Four (1994) [Credit: New Concorde]

Roger Corman’s 1994 film,...

It’s no stretch to say that cinematic adaptations of the Fantastic Four have been off to a rocky start. The team has been brought to screen a few times already, with a 1990s film rendered culturally invisible and a 2015 franchise attempt doomed from the beginning. Although 2005’s “Fantastic Four” received a sequel, a planned third film ultimately burst into flames.

That brings us to “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” the fourth go at bringing Marvel’s First Family to the big screen. Directed by “WandaVision” helmer Matt Shakman, the film introduces the superhero team to the MCU in an alternate retro-futuristic 1960s landscape.

In the film, the team of Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/The Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) face off against the cosmic world-eating being Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his herald,...

Michael Chiklis provides some veteran locker room presence in the first trailer for “The Senior,” a sports drama from Angel Studios.

The footage introduces the unlikely athletic journey of Mike Flynt, a real life linebacker who was expelled by his college shortly before graduating in the ’70s. Decades later and on the other side of middle-age, Flynt decided to make a comeback by rejoining his college roster, becoming the oldest linebacker in the history of NCAA football.

Along with Chiklis, “The Senior” also stars Mary Stuart Masterson, Brandon Flynn, James Badge Dale and Rob Corddry. Rod Lurie directs. Robert Eisele wrote the screenplay, after being introduced to Flynt by producer Mark Ciardi in 2008 — one year after Flynt’s record-breaking season for Sul Ross State University in Texas.

“I love football — everything about it: the intensity, the strategies, the artfulness of the athleticism… but mostly, I am imbued with it as...

With 130 reviews now counted, The Fantastic Four: First Steps sits at 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. The Marvel Studios movie has been Certified Fresh by the review aggregator, marking another win for the MCU at a time when the superhero genre needs one.

Thunderbolts* was a critical hit, but struggled at the box office (it tapped out at $382 million). Captain America: Brave New World, however, received largely negative reviews and barely passed $400 million worldwide.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps has quickly become one of Marvel Studios' best-reviewed movies, marking a phenomenal start for the McU's First Family that breaks an unfortunate streak for the Fantastic Four franchise.

Every single Fantastic Four movie until now has been rated "Rotten" on Rotten Tomatoes; First Steps is the only one produced by Marvel Studios, and the first to not only be deemed Fresh, but Certified Fresh.

In 2005, Tim Story's Fantastic Four movie, starring Ioan Gruffudd,...

It can be tough to pass the torch, especially of the human variety, but Michael Chiklis – who played The Thing 20 years ago in 2005’s Fantastic Four – is doing so in a noble way, wishing the cast of the MCU’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps the best of luck as the next wave of superheroes gives it a go.

Michael Chiklis recently took to social media to thank the fans who have shown their support for him and his interpretation of The Thing leading up to the release of First Steps, while also giving due respect to the cast. “I want to thank everyone for all the Fantastic Four love this last couple of months during the run up to the new F4 flick. Speaking of which, I want to wish the cast and crew of First Steps the best of luck and success. I admire these actors and look...

Even though they are considered some of the most important characters in Marvel Comics, even earning the title of “Marvel’s First Family,” the Fantastic Four doesn’t have the strongest history on the big screen.

Now that the Fantastic Four is finally joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in The Fantastic Four: The First Steps — well, after cameos from John Krasinski as Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Chris Evans as Johnny Storm in Deadpool & Wolverine — it’s time to look back on every adaptation we have seen.

Fans hoping that director Matt Shakman (WandaVision) would redeem the superhero team were thankfully rewarded with The First Steps, but where does it stack up against the other Fantastic Four adaptations?

5. Fantastic Four (2015)

Despite being co-written by Simon Kinberg, hot off the tails of the highly acclaimed X-Men: Days of Future Past, 2015’s Fantastic Four has...

The critics have spoken and agree that The Fantastic Four: First Steps lives up to the heroic team's name, with initial reviews on Tuesday celebrating the film for its character-driven storytelling and strong performances.

David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter praises Marvel for shifting its focus toward character development. “There’s a fresh willingness to prioritize character over the usual barrage of interchangeable CG action sequences that often overwhelm them, instead giving us relatable folks to invest in,” Rooney writes, highlighting the film’s commitment to emotional depth amid the spectacle.

Directed by Matt Shakman, the film is set in the early 1960s and stars Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Reed’s wife Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Sue’s brother Johnny, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm. Julia Garner appears as the mysterious Silver Surfer known. Rooney notes, “The actors are so terrific and their chemistry...

The reviews are in for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and that means we have an all-important Rotten Tomatoes score. Love or hate it, the review aggregator plays a crucial role in helping many moviegoers decide whether a new release is worth buying a ticket for.

As we write this, The Fantastic Four: First Steps has 88% based on 88 reviews. That number will fluctuate in the coming days as more verdicts are counted (we'd expect at least 300+), but like Superman, we wouldn't expect the number to change too much.

The movie is also "Certified Fresh," another win for Marvel Studios at a time when one is needed.

The only place for The Fantastic Four: First Steps to go was up after the team's previous movies. 2015's Fantastic Four, directed by Josh Trank and starring Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell, and Michael B. Jordan, is one of the worst-reviewed superhero movies ever,...

Fourth time’s the charm. First there was the low-budget version of “The Fantastic Four,” produced by Roger Corman, which Marvel managed to bury before it hit theaters (though bootlegs abound). The comic-book company was far more enthusiastic about a pair of early-2000s adaptations at Fox, which boasted a fun cast — including Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis — but couldn’t get the tone right, skewing corny in both the dialogue and effects departments. Then came the 2015 reboot, which was a bomb, turning the characters into sullen, moody versions of themselves (and Doctor Doom into an emo megalomaniac).

As live-action adaptations of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s pulp quartet go, Marvel’s back-to-the-drawing-board “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” succeeds where earlier attempts have faltered — and good thing, too, since the studio has a lot more riding on this franchise now. At their peak, Marvel movies earned upwards...

Original “Fantastic Four” star Michael Chiklis is sending well wishes to the team behind Marvel’s upcoming reboot.

In a post on X Monday, Chiklis, who played The Thing in 2005’s “Fantastic Four,” sent his best regards to the cast and crew of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.”

“I want to thank everyone for all the ‘Fantastic Four’ love this last couple of months during the run up to the new ‘F4’ flick,” Chiklis wrote. “Speaking of which, I want to wish the cast and crew of ‘First Steps’ the best of luck and success. I admire these actors and look forward to seeing them take on these iconic roles. #F4Forever #TheThing.”

Chiklis starred in the Marvel blockbuster alongside Ioan Gruffudd (Mr.Fantastic), Jessica Alba (Invisible Woman), Chris Evans (Human Torch) and Julian McMahon (Dr. Doom). Tim Story directed the film, which went on to gross over $330 million at the worldwide box office.

Twenty years after playing Ben Grimm, Aka the Thing, in “Fantastic Four,” Michael Chiklis is revisiting his own “first steps” in the franchise. The acclaimed actor congratulated the cast of the franchise reboot, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” prior to the film debuting in theaters July 25.

“I want to thank everyone for all the ‘Fantastic Four’ love this last couple of months during the run up to the new ‘F4’ flick,” Chiklis wrote on X. “Speaking of which, I want to wish the cast and crew of ‘First Steps’ the best of luck and success. I admire these actors and look forward to seeing them take on these iconic roles. #F4Forever #TheThing”

Chiklis played the Thing in the 2005 20th Century Fox film “Fantastic Four” and its 2007 sequel, “The Silver Surfer.” The franchise was rebooted with 2015’s “Fantastic Four,” prior to Marvel acquiring the property in 2017. The new “Fantastic Four...

Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s friends and peers in the industry are paying tribute to the late “Cosby Show” star after he died from drowning while on vacation in Costa Rica on Sunday. He was 54.

“I love you, Malcolm. First I met you as Theo with the rest of the world then you were my first TV husband,” his “Reed Between the Lines” co-star Tracee Ellis Ross wrote on Monday. “My heart is so, so sad. What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant. You made the world a brighter place. Sending so much love to your family. I’m so sorry for this unimaginable loss.”

“R.I.P. King. My big little brother,” the late actor’s “Malcolm & Eddie” co-star Eddie Griffin added.

Warner became a household name after starring as Theo Huxtable for all eight seasons of the NBC sitcom “The Cosby Show” from...

Bmf Season 4 arrives with the weight of empire on its shoulders, and this time, it’s carrying the load with surprising grace. The Black Mafia Family saga continues its dramatized dive into the real-life drug empire that Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory built from Detroit’s streets, now expanding into Atlanta’s glittering, dangerous 1990s landscape. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s executive production touch remains evident, but the series has matured beyond its initial growing pains into something more focused and emotionally resonant.

The casting coup of having Demetrius Flenory Jr. portray his own father adds an authenticity that no amount of method acting could achieve. There’s something both haunting and healing about watching a son embody his father’s criminal legacy on screen. This season pushes the timeline into the late 1980s and early 1990s, a period when hip-hop culture was exploding and Atlanta...

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is getting very, very retro with its marketing campaign.

Mimicking the style of old-timey, 1960s-era commercials, Marvel's latest trailer for the First Family's MCU debut promises a new experience presented "in brilliant Fantastivision" amidst clips from the movie. Other retro techniques include using old animation styles, voiceover narrations, musical cues, aspect ratios, and title boxes introducing each of its four stars as Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm. Additionally, the trailer features several new scenes like the Fantastic Four launching themselves into space, using their powers, the Fantasticar, and their faithful robot H.E.R.B.I.E. watching over baby Franklin Richards.

Unlike previous Marvel Cinematic Universe films, this Fantastic Four iteration will be the only established heroes in their universe, a reto-futuristic timeline influenced by the Space Race and Stanley Kubrick's 1968 sci-fi masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey. This, according to director Matt Shakman,...

On July 8, 2005, 20th Century Fox brought the Fantastic Four to the big screen, launching the Marvel superheroes to a $330 million worldwide gross and a quickly greenlit sequel. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review of the Tim Story-directed film is below:

Given the sheer number of screenwriters and directors who have come and gone along the way, the comic book-to-motion picture journey taken by Fantastic Four has been fraught with enough obstacles to make that DNA altering cosmic radiation storm encountered by the Marvel superheroes look like a gentle breeze by comparison.

Now, 44 years after the quartet made its comic book debut, Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and the Thing arrive on the big screen courtesy of a script officially credited to Mark Frost and Michael France, direction by Tim Story and about 800 visual effects shots.

And the result? Fantastic Four‘s a colossal snore.

After all the fussing...

Julian McMahon's precise cause of death has been revealed, a little over a week after the much-loved actor died aged 56. The Sydney-born star, known for his leading roles in Charmed, Nip/Tuck, and FBI: Most Wanted, as well as portraying the iconic Marvel villain Doctor Doom in the 2000s Fantastic Four movies, passed away on July 2, 2025, after what his wife, Kelly, revealed to be "a valiant effort to overcome cancer." The manner of death has now been ruled as natural, with new details emerging about his recent health battle.

According to a Cremation Approval Summary Report from the Pinellas County Medical Examiner's Office in Florida obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, McMahon "died from lung metastasis as a result of head and neck metastatic cancer." Metastasis, in the context of cancer, is the process where cancer cells spread from the primary tumor to other parts of the body. McMahon's cancer diagnosis was made public by Kelly,...

Fantastic Four has turned 20. The anniversary of the 2005 superhero blockbuster comes less than three weeks before the latest big-screen adaptation of Marvel's First Family hits theaters around the world.

Michael Chiklis, who portrayed Ben Grimm/The Thing in 2005's Fantastic Four, recently took to X to pay tribute to the Marvel movie on its 20th anniversary. The actor shared an image of himself as The Thing from the movie, captioning it, "20 years ago. Time flies...," along with the Fantastic Four hashtag. Superhero movies have come a long way in the 20 years since Fantastic Four was released. Back then, Fantastic Four was only the 13th Marvel movie ever released in theaters. Now, the newest adaptation, Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps will be the 78th Marvel movie released in theaters.

20 years ago. Time flies... #FantasticFourpic.twitter.com/BXwSjqSUy1— Michael Chiklis (@MichaelChiklis) July 8, 2025

Directed by Tim Story, Fantastic Four was the...

Angel Studios has boarded “The Senior,” Wayfarer Studios’ sports drama starring Michael Chiklis, and set the film for nationwide theatrical release on Sept. 19.

Directed by Rod Lurie and written by Robert Eisele (“The Great Debaters”), “The Senior” is based on the true story of Mike Flynt (Chiklis). Thirty-five years after getting kicked off his college football team, Flynt returned to the gridiron for his senior year of eligibility, proving, as the film’s logline explains, “to his family, former teammates, and himself that it’s never too late to tackle your dreams.” Mary Stuart Masterson, Brandon Flynn, James Badge Dale and Rob Corddry round out the cast.

“’The Senior’ is the kind of story that reminds us it’s never too late to defy expectations, overcome regrets, and live out your purpose,” said Brandon Purdie, Angel’s global head of theatrical distribution and brand development. “The Angel Guild resonated with Mike’s inspiring story,...

On July 25, the Fantastic Four are taking their First Steps into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But really, Marvel's First Family have assembled once every 10 years for the past two decades. (That extends backwards to three decades if you count the never officially released 1994 Roger Corman production.)

2005 brought us Tim Story's Fantastic Four, which featured the quartet of Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, and Michael Chiklis playing the super-powered clan and the late Julian McMahon as their nemesis, Doctor Doom. (A sequel limped into theaters two years later.) Jump ahead to 2015 and that previous foursome was replaced by Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, and Jamie Bell in Josh Trank's ill-fated would-be franchise launcher.

These once-a-decade reunions have culminated in Fantastic Four: First Steps, which introduces the Ff's latest phase and also ushers in Phase 6 of the MCU — a hugely consequential era that heralds the return of...

Julian McMahon's Marvel Universe rivals are paying tribute to the late actor following his death at age 56. McMahon played Victor Von Doom in the original Fantastic Four duology.

Ioan Gruffudd, who played Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic) in the 20th Century Fox films, posted photos on Instagram of Julian and made a heartfelt post about working as "each other's nemeses" on The Fantastic Four movies. "This is terribly sad news about Julian," he wrote. "Even though we played each other’s nemeses, there was always so much lightness and laughter working together. Every encounter with him was a joy. It was an honor to be Dr. Richards to his Dr. Doom. My heart goes out to his wife and family. God speed Julian."

Another one of the original Fantastic Four actors, Michael Chiklis (Ben Grimm / The Thing) also paid tribute to McMahon on X (formerly Twitter). "I’m devastated to...

On Friday, the news broke that Fantastic Four star Julian McMahon had passed away following a private battle with cancer. The actor was known for numerous projects, including the hit series Nip/Tuck, but became synonymous with Doctor Doom after portraying the villain in two films.

McMahon was only 56, making the news he'd died even harder to fathom. Now, two of his Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer co-stars have paid homage to someone they clearly had a great deal of love and respect for.

Mister Fantastic actor Ioan Gruffudd wrote, "This is terribly sad news about Julian. Even though we played each other’s nemeses, there was always so much lightness and laughter working together. Every encounter with him was a joy."

"It was an honor to be Dr. Richards to his Dr. Doom," the Welsh actor added. "My heart goes out to his wife and family.

Julian McMahon’s former co-stars and more of Hollywood are mourning his loss.

The Australian actor died on Wednesday in Clearwater, Florida, following a battle with cancer, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed. He was 56.

McMahon was known for portraying villain Doctor Doom in 2005’s Fantastic Four and 2007’s sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. He also played Christian Troy in Ryan Murphy’s Nip/Tuck and Cole Turner in Charmed. His more recent credits were in The Residence and The Surfer.

Ioan Gruffudd, who played Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic in the superhero films, posted a tribute on Instagram: “Even though we played each other’s nemeses, there was always so much lightness and laughter working together. Every encounter with him was a joy,” he wrote. “It was an honor to be Dr. Richards to his Dr. Doom. My heart goes out to his wife and family. God speed Julian.”

Michael Chiklis,...

Best known for starring roles in such shows as “Charmed,” “Nip/Tuck” and “FBI: Most Wanted,” as well as the “Fantastic Four” films, actor Julian McMahon died in Clearwater, Fl, on Wednesday, July 2 after a private battle with cancer, his family announced. He was just 56 years old.

“With an open heart, I wish to share with the world that my beloved husband, Julian McMahon, died peacefully this week after a valiant effort to overcome cancer,” said McMahon’s wife, Kelly McMahon, in a statement released to Deadline. “Julian loved life. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He loved his work, and he loved his fans. His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible. We ask for support during this time to allow our family to grieve in privacy. And we wish for all of those to whom Julian brought joy, to continue to find joy in life.

The news of Julian McMahon's death saw an immediate reaction on social media, from both those who have worked with the actor and those who have spent many years watching him on TV and in cinemas. The actor's passing was announced by his wife, who shared the below statement:

“With an open heart, I wish to share with the world that my beloved husband, Julian McMahon, died peacefully this week after a valiant effort to overcome cancer. Julian loved life. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He loved his work, and he loved his fans. His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible. We ask for support during this time to allow our family to grieve in privacy. And we wish for all of those to whom Julian brought joy, to continue to find joy in life. We are grateful for the memories.

Charmed actor Julian McMahonhas passed at the age of 56 from a private battle with cancer, his family confirms. The actor was best known for his role as Cole Turner in the WB series along with his role as Christian Troy in Nip/Tuck. His wife, Kelly McMahon, confirms the actor passed peacefully earlier this week in Clearwater, Florida. Now, Charmed cast members are sharing their thoughts and condolences in honor of the late actor's passing.

Alyssa Milano, who played Phoebe Halliwell, shared probably the most screentime with McMahon as Cole was Phoebe's love interest in a forbidden witch/demon romance. She took to Instagram late Friday night to express her heartbreak over McMahon's passing. She says, "Julian McMahon was magic." And, "Julian was more than my TV husband. He was a dear friend. The kind who checks in. The kind who remembers. The kind who shares. The kind who tells you the truth,...

Hollywood is reacting with shock and sadness to actor Julian McMahon‘s death at age 56.

After the Golden Globe nominee died Wednesday following a private battle with cancer, several of his peers paid tribute on social media, including co-stars from Charmed, Nip/Tuck and Fantastic Four (2005), as well as his ex-wife Brooke Burns, who posted a photo of him with their daughter Maddy.

Nicolas Cage, who recently starred alongside McMahon in the Cannes midnight title The Surfer, said in a statement to Deadline, “Such deeply saddening news. I spent six weeks working with Julian, and he was the most talented of actors. Our scenes together on The Surfer were amongst my favorites I have ever participated in, and Julian is one of my favorite people. He was a kind and intelligent man. My love to his family.”

Rose McGowan, who starred with McMahon on The WB’s Charmed, shared a statement on her Instagram Story.