Reasons Why All Fantastic Four Movies Have Failed So Far

Ok – Nobody freak out. But the Fantastic Four is finally back in town; good news is Marvel Studios would take charge of this. 

I know, even already changing to another producer, but there is still some suspicion about this coming back, especially after its ticket box’s failure in 2015.  

Hence, we are going to look through how F4 has brought onto the movie screen so far and what makes it fail dramatically. 

Let’s dive in!    

What Did the Audience Expect From Fantastic 4?

First things first, it is undeniable the influence of The Fantastic Four (F4, for short) within Marvel’s comics fandom. 

The F4 is a team composed of: Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards), Invisible Woman (Susan Storm-Richards), Human Torch (Johnny Storm), and The Thing (Ben Grimm). 

2 reminders here: First: they are all brilliant scientists; and second: their “superheroes’ names” speak their abilities out loud – except Mr. Fantastic (sounds vague) and The Thing (you can tell).

About their power origins, it is indeed each member gained unique abilities from cosmic rays during a space mission, securing their status as iconic figures in comics. 

Their major antagonist, Doctor Doom, is considered one of the mightiest villains in the Marvel Universe and holds a solid place among comic fans.

Audiences expected the film adaptations to mirror the comics’ innovative storytelling, from the introduction of formidable foes like Doctor Doom to legendary arcs such as the Galactus Trilogy.

Key expectations included the portrayal of the group’s family dynamics, the complex relationships among the Fantastic Four members, and their inherent natures.

And 20th Century Fox took its first shot at bringing these characters to life after sub-licensing the filming rights. 

However, even though the 2005 debut and its 2007 sequel captured some essence of the comics, it began to falter in maintaining continuity. 

In 2015, amidst the burgeoning popularity of superhero franchises like Iron Man, Fox decided to reboot Fantastic Four with an entirely new cast. 

Sadly, despite some criticism of Fox’s handling of the Fantastic Four since the 2007 movie, the 2015 reboot did not improve the situation and was even considered a disaster.

So, what led to this failure?

Reason 1: A Poor Built-Up Storyline

When discussing a movie, the first element to consider is the script. Indeed, the story plot for Fantastic Four seems to be poorly constructed. 

Initially, a few critics felt that the 2005 and 2007 Fantastic Four films were all set up without delving into the complexities of the F4, failing to tell a compelling story. 

The narrative was deemed underwhelming, blurring the distinctiveness of the team compared to other superhero groups. It was also criticized for its forced humor, and poor character development. 

Besides, the resolution of the conflict with Galactus was criticized for being too simplistic and unconvincing. The climax did not live up to the expectations set by the buildup of the storyline. 

Nevertheless, while the first 2 movies still garnered some credit from the audience, the 2015 reboot faced the harshest criticism for its narrative approach and character portrayal.

When the 2005 film struck a ridiculous tone, the 2015 Fantastic Four reboot turned dramatically somber, contrasting sharply with the source material’s spirit. 

They argued it sacrificed fun for seriousness, resulting in a visually and emotionally dull film that promised something “Fantastic” but delivered a lifeless experience instead. 

Additionally, a crucial element that highlights the problem of a vague story plot is the movie’s distribution of time. Let’s examine the 2015 Fantastic Four (spoiler alert):

This 100-minute movie allocates 40 minutes to introducing Reed Richards and other characters, another 40 minutes to space travel, and less than 20 minutes to introducing the villain, staging the final battle, and resolving the conflict.

Such pacing is off, with excessive time spent on introductions and insufficient time devoted to developing an engaging conflict or a satisfying conclusion

Reason 2: Doctor Doom Has Been Actually… Dumb

In the comics, Doctor Doom is a formidable figure, rivaling Reed Richards in intelligence and possessing the strategic vision of a true conqueror. 

He’s known for creating a robot army and planning conquests with precision. 

Ideally, his portrayal should parallel the significance of Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man 3: Quantumania.

However, Julian McMahon’s 2005 version deviated significantly, turning Doom into a metallic villain misusing powers for personal gain, which weakened the plot and engagement. 

Toby Kebbell as Dr. Doom in 2015 F4 also received criticism for poor character design, neglecting Doom’s rich backstory, and failing to adequately explain his motivations.

His powers were also underrated by reducing to no more than telekinesis – which diminishes his menacing presence.

The film’s somber tone and rushed development left Doom’s arc feeling shallow and unsatisfying, undermining one of Marvel’s iconic villains and contributing to the films’ failures.

Reason 3: Ignore The Key Selling Point Of F4 Comics 

Totally, as mentioned earlier, the most key selling point of the F4 in Marvel Comics is the sense of family.  

Their comic version at first emphasized the mutual assistance between team members, overcoming the complexity and shared experience of gaining powers from cosmic rays. 

This family essence includes the romantic couple of Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman, the sibling dynamic between Sue and her younger brother, the Human Torch, and their bond with the lifelong friend, the Thing.

However, all Fox’s Fantastic Four movies significantly fell short in capturing this essential family dynamic. 

The films struggled to depict the profound relationships and character nuances that are central to the comics. 

Changes in character dynamics, especially the portrayal of Franklin Storm, and the restricted narrative scope that focused on classic but limited pairings, undermined the rich, interconnected relationships seen in the comics. 

Moreover, given that the 2015 Fantastic Four is characterized by a somber tone, it’s hard to imagine who would find satisfaction and enjoy the family spirit in such a movie, right?

This failure to convey the foundational family element contributed to the films’ inability to resonate with audiences as authentically as the comics do.

Reason 4: Production Is Like A Joke (2015 Fantastic Four)

The production of the “Fantastic Four” movies, particularly the 2015 reboot, faced several issues that rendered it almost farcical. 

Roger Ebert, a film critic, criticized the film for its lack of visual appeal, describing the characters as mere collections of traits that were poorly portrayed by the actors. The film’s dark tone was also heavily criticized for lacking the series’ characteristic humor and hope. 

Moreover, the design of Doctor Doom was particularly panned for its impractical and unappealing metal-like, severely burned appearance.

Additionally, disagreements over the film’s producers added to the chaos. Notably, director Josh Trank and writer Jeremy Slater clashed over the tone of the film. 

In short, while Slater favored a more traditional origin story for the Fantastic Four, as depicted in the comics, Trank preferred what he described as a ‘modern superheroes’ film genre.’ 

This discord led to a change in writers—with Slater replaced, allowing Trank to continue with his vision. 

However, another tumultuous phase in production ensued when 20th Century Fox ordered major reshoots without Trank’s oversight. 

Both Trank and Toby Kebbell (who played Doctor Doom) later expressed dissatisfaction with the final product, blaming studio interference for the film’s failures.

This production disaster significantly contributed to the film’s poor reception and box office performance.

What do you guys think? In your opinion, why have the fantastic four movies failed so far? Share your thoughts!