Fantastic Four (2015) is a superhero film directed by Josh Trank, which serves as a reboot of the Fantastic Four franchise. Released on August 7, 2015, the film features a cast including Miles Teller as Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), Kate Mara as Susan Storm (Invisible Woman), Michael B. Jordan as Johnny Storm (Human Torch), Jamie Bell as Ben Grimm (The Thing), and Toby Kebbell as Victor Von Doom (Doctor Doom). The narrative takes a darker and more contemporary approach, focusing on the origins of the team and their struggle with their newfound abilities.
The plot follows a group of gifted teenagers who, after building a transdimensional portal known as the Quantum Gate, gain superhuman abilities when an experiment goes awry. Reed Richards, along with his friends Johnny Storm, Ben Grimm, and Victor Von Doom, travels to an alternate dimension called Planet Zero. During this journey, they encounter a mysterious green substance that alters their genetic makeup upon returning to Earth. Each character acquires unique powers: Reed can stretch his body, Sue can become invisible and create force fields, Johnny can engulf himself in flames and fly, and Ben transforms into a super-strong rock-like creature. The story explores their adjustment to these changes while facing the consequences of their actions, particularly when Victor becomes an antagonist after being fused with technology from Planet Zero.
Upon its release, Fantastic Four received overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics and audiences alike. It holds a low rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is often cited as one of the worst superhero films ever made. Critics pointed out issues such as poor pacing, lackluster character development, and subpar visual effects. Many felt that the film did not do justice to the source material and criticized the tonal shifts throughout the narrative. The film's darker tone and focus on body horror elements were seen as missteps in capturing the essence of the original comic series.
Financially, Fantastic Four was a box office bomb, grossing approximately $167.9 million worldwide against a budget of $120 million. The disappointing performance led to the cancellation of plans for a sequel that was initially scheduled for 2017. Following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019, Marvel Studios regained the film rights to the Fantastic Four, paving the way for future adaptations within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Overall, Fantastic Four (2015) stands as a cautionary tale in superhero filmmaking, demonstrating how creative differences and studio interference can significantly impact a project's outcome. Despite its ambitions to modernize the franchise, it ultimately failed to resonate with fans or critics, leading to its legacy as a notable misfire in the genre.