FANTASTIC FOUR (2015) BREAKDOWN! WTF Really Happened With This Movie?

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Fox attempted to reboot the Fantastic Four with a 2015 film starring Miles Teller, Michael B Jordan, Kate Mara, and Jamie Bell, directed by Josh Trank, with a film that famously flopped. Erik Voss breaks down this movie scene by scene to explain what really happened here, a full plot recap, details and Easter Eggs you missed, scenes that redeem the film, and lessons Marvel Studios learned ahead of the MCU Fantastic Four reboot in 2025.
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Written by: Erik Voss, Gina Ippolito
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[@NewRockstars]

Is there anything from this film you'd like to see return in the MCU Multiverse? Michael B Jordan Johnny Storm? Miles Teller in a Council of Reeds? An uber-violent Doom?

[@ginofrancejr555]

None of it should return

[@crushcity3034]

Teller in a small/tiny role in the council would be the only thing

[@josephpleimann6600]

Teller returns as The Maker

[@patrickhennessee3987]

No, thank you.

[@deriqueparker2124]

Are you going to review 29:13 the Dare Devil films?

[@enoch6499]

Johnny storm "9/11" it is crazy 💀

[@seanalexandermedia]

No fr 28:42 I’m I’m like wtf

[@arianagrandefromfortnite]

fr fr 28:39 I'm like wtf

[@dorianbotley33]

EXACTLY!! Is 9/11 a verb to be used as a joke now??!

[@Nandoswitharando]

⁠@@dorianbotley339/11 has been used as a joke since Gilbert Gottfried made a 9/11 joke a few weeks after it happened.

[@bappo3622]

@@dorianbotley33yes it is…its funny

[@MattMaple2]

I NEVER thought I'd hear anyone talk about this movie ever again, yet here we are.

[@thestank3]

people talk about this movie all the time

[@chickenlittle2206]

It's as if Pandora never closed that box.

[@rickyjosuevent]

And he is only talking about because he HAS to.

[@joy2thefrickinworld]

Here we all are listening to it 😅

[@Murdstone12]

Bound to happen

[@joshkeeton9616]

The funniest movie review I’ve read was about this movie. “Don’t watch it. Not even out of curiosity”

[@fett713akamandodragon5]

LOL!

[@bellatrixm98schannel99]

I used to LOVE the 2000s fantastic fours and remember when I saw this… I was left shocked and lost for all the words with this movie! Truly crazy to see just much it failed!

[@vampirascoffin870]

💯

[@thepubknight6144]

Hollywood and fans were obsessed with every superhero movie had to be "Dark" and "Gritty" around this time

[@SirsasthNigam.]

Which could have worked if not for Inhumans level writing

[@maelguiraud3568]

​@@thepubknight6144 dark knight trilogy influence

[@Zombiesnyder13]

I never liked the 2005s movie The action was limited and the story went nowhere Avi Arad made it just as an excuse for him to sell toys

[@ddes9447]

The body horror elements when they first get their powers was by far and away the most interesting thing about the film. The sudden "1 year later" and them suddenly having control without any journey or progress shown to the audience killed the film imo

[@CaptainGCN]

Gotta agree here. While I don't think Trank was right for the kind of story I *wanted* the F4 to be, I do think that if they wanted to make *this* film better then they needed to double down on the body horror elements. The film is never more effective to me than freshly powered Reed practically melting his way through the air ducts to try and rescue his friend.

[@jardex2275]

Agree. There are some powers that would be absolutely painful to gain as your body slowly adapts to them. Skin burning, extra limbs breaking through your skin, etc. Even if they quickly adapt to it, the initial transformation can be graphic in the right moment.

[@Nytellem]

Everything about this film killed it.

[@sreenivaskamath4243]

​@@tiannaconstantine9606showing an arc were they in time, learn to endure that pain and then begin to accept and appreciate their condition is an idea with great potential.

[@drnanard9605]

Yeah, the first half, while not great, was at least interesting. I like the idea of a grim take on these characters. Also, The Thing was always a tragic character. But after that time skip, it's like we were in an entirely different movie, and it was so bad.

[@patrickmel8728]

R.I.P Josh Trank's career

[@savvi3128]

Hmm Chronicle was so good and entertaining. There are some directors who thrive in indie films with their creativity, where burden of soulless corporate suits is minimal. He should have stick to making more low budget entertaining films with nice stories.

[@mckinniesmovies3598]

Because of his movie Fant4stic? Or will he posted about the studio?

[@700Kyrie]

@@mckinniesmovies3598more so the F4 then the tweet people normally do through the trades

[@krakenkid6037]

@@mckinniesmovies3598the movie

[@WolfClaw666YT]

i guess you could say it tranked

[@abelpantoja7134]

The Zack Snyder era of superhero movies was such a trip back in those days. Everything was so dark and gritty that it was lifeless and souless

[@nickdorenkamp959]

So DC movies in the 2010s.

[@thepubknight6144]

And the moronic "Antihero" narratives everyone wanted good guys to be Yet complained about Superman being "broody" Gee Superman fans who tried to tell these people that's a bad idea that these same people called "Out of touch" were proven right?

[@slowodanx]

@@thepubknight6144 12 year old wannabe edgelords who worship andrew tate should never be taken seriously or seen human anyway.

[@SirsasthNigam.]

every DCEU film has higher rating than this Burning Trashcan

[@bobbysworld281995]

Competition never even started, Competition only breeded the thorns

[@KennyDarlingOfficial]

Did you just use 911 as a verb? LOL

[@emosam07]

Yes, he did lmao

[@badnoodlez]

that's been a thing for a while lol

[@captainskidz488]

The whole movie 9/11’nd itself

[@CJBoy2010]

The way George meant it to be

[@hokage1997]

according to southpark it takes 22.3 years for a tragedy to become a joke. 2001 was 22.3 years ago

[@emilygray6786]

I was surprised that Marvel Comics allowed a Punisher comic to be released where the cast of this Fantastic Four got killed in an explosion. That's...quite the choice.

[@bextomoose]

Well to be fair they let Michael B. Jordan live 🙏

[@Mr.Lubbox-Lobsterlegz1]

Fantastic four die all the time wdym?

[@TheCrazyfighter19]

​@@Mr.Lubbox-Lobsterlegz1 no pretty sure it was the actual cast

[@yghostest]

@@Mr.Lubbox-Lobsterlegz1 they don't, but it wasn't the FF anyway, just the actors from fant4stic

[@jonathans.8537]

Watched this movie with my dad and brother after forcing them to watch with me despite seeing the RT score…biggest regret of my life 💀

[@mx9226]

I keep forgetting this movie exists.

[@SpaceGhost2733]

That’s a good thing

[@nickdorenkamp959]

And you will

[@malik6091]

As you should

[@KhilitSavla25]

As it was written...

[@patrickhennessee3987]

For the best.

[@alexis_vulquinnXIX]

I feel like the director for this movie was delusional in saying that the original film would've had good reviews.. He literally wanted to connect a Fantastic Four movie with his own movie, the studio disapproved and he did it anyway. SoB doesn't care about the source materia at all

[@rionxoddo]

It sounded like a cool idea at first, but since you phrased it like that I do see that it was pretty egotistical of him to do.

[@Blacklightning201]

Ngl I would’ve rather see a horror movie of FF then what we ended up

[@sreenivaskamath4243]

​@@Blacklightning201an FF movie with horror elementa would work, if say some movie with a villain like Annihilus, if executed properly.

[@zahnngweetao9980]

This is how I feel about the stuff a lot of creators for the MCU have said recently, where they don't care about the source material.

[@colehopkins]

Interesting note about Stan Lee refusing to cameo. Based on Stan Lee's own claims, he was never asked to cameo, and never consulted before the movie went forward. According to Trank, he DID consult Stan Lee on his early script and Stan Lee liked it. Multiple other videos I've seen as I've been digging seem to blame Fox for the interference, but also rarely mention the apparent anger issues Trank had on set outside of frustration over studio interference. Getting the clear, true story on this one is weirdly difficult. Wouldn't mind watching a deep-dive documentary sometime.

[@drnanard9605]

The way I see it, Trank may be an asshole, but I still believe his version had merit. It's not just his fault, and it's not just Fox's fault.

[@AtomicUki]

really didnt expect the line of Johnny storm 9/11s the pillar.

[@estevegomezpena]

I was not expecting a 9/11 reference while talking about Fant4stic, but well... Here we are 😁

[@vayacondios9184]

@28:39 “‘9/11’s’ through the pillars” is wild

[@vaderoflocksley7238]

Miles Teller is such a good actor, I'd love to see him return as The Maker

[@victornieves1794]

I was thinking the same thing. It’d be perfect too since Fant4astic was based on the Ultimate Fantastic Four.

[@darbytheturtle]

Having Reed be someone obsessed with the Stars over the Sciences I think is also a benefit of setting the film back in the 60's with the Apollo 11 mission happening in '69, going to the stars is what would fascinate someone then, whereas moving forward through time and the introduction to Superheroes in film and tv media grew the passion to explore what we have at our fingertips weakened to give way to a more imaginative Reed in this film.. as you said they were still kids in 2007, and when I was a kid in '07 I too wanted to be a super hero instead of an astronaut, but if you'd gone back to when my father was that age, he probably wanted something more akin to astronaut

[@MichaelSmith-dk1lc]

which all the more reason it makes a interesting story to put them in a world where an optimistic future is dead. putting them in the 60s kills that imo

[@SirsasthNigam.]

The Maker had so much potential 16:12 Why is this F4 movie? Why can't you just make a Chronicle spin off prequel instead of adapting a Marvel team you have no interest in ? *Seriously*

[@lukaspedraza5194]

Honestly, as a fan, I feel so bad for the cast and crew to have had to go through an unpleasant experience with this movie. Glad they’re all hopefully doing better now tho

[@lorynmcfadden9185]

"Johnny 9/11's" is diabolical

[@ramonnbridges1898]

Damn uh that 9/11 joke came out of nowhere….💀 caught me off guard lol

[@DavGonn]

I like how he's worried about The Thing killing 43 people but then says the 9/11 thing. 😂

[@reynaldomcwhiskey6689]

correction. this movie is called fan 4 stick 😆😆

[@noir-214]

4:24 "A Winnebago I know only one person who drives a winnebago....Lone star"

[@purplemonkey01]

With how this film treated the Fantastic 4, it should have never been produced ever. The Fantastic 4 isn't dark & their characters so unlike their comic's counterpart. They don't even feel like a family in this movie, they feel like a buncha co-workers stuck on a project they don't want to be a part of. Also their powers are an accident turned gift, not a horrid mutation like the movie shows.

[@MichaelSmith-dk1lc]

ben and sue only said one line and it's at the end of the movie. it's THAT bad

[@drnanard9605]

You're solely referring to the 60s Fantastic Four. The 80s were full of grittier stories. Also, The Thing was always treated as a tragic character. His "powers" are never treated as a gift, because unlike the other three, he can't turn it off. Even in the 60s his transformation was treated as a curse, as he would be rejected left and right, lose his job, unable to have a relationship.

[@Swift96]

Their origin story in this movie more closely resembles that of the Ultimate Fantastic Four comic books, rather than the classic FF series

[@thestank3]

that scene of Doom popping skulls is pretty bad ass

[@slowodanx]

if you are 12 year old.

[@thestank3]

@slowodanx well shit i might be 12

[@SirsasthNigam.]

if only it had Doom using magic to drag their souls to Hell or use them to empower himself

[@TheLooseJoints]

Honestly liked the first half of this movie but that last 40 min of the movie completely ruined it.

[@RhotenXxX]

It’s sad how 15M is considered a low budget for a movie.

[@asyaabel8847]

The ONE thing that I did like about this movie is that they showed how they got their powers and didn’t INSTANTLY know what to do with them.. They actually showed them having to develop their powers, I did appreciate that real world aspect of it

[@tornadochaser2457]

You appreciate everything though. When I left that snake in your shoe, and you thanked me for the "scaly surprise" once you discovered it, I knew there was no hope for you.

[@dippin4dots]

Its kinda crazy that theres consistantly been a Fantastic 4 reboot movie every 10 years for 20 years. And all released on the fitting... 5th... year of every decade.

[@JimboHimself]

That was done on purpose to maintain the rights.

[@LitLounge]

Same thing with spiderman. No conspiracy just contacts

[@antoniodominguezjr4734]

How many movies are you counting?

[@xchxmpagnepxpix]

I actually remember going to see Chronicle (2012) in theaters. I really enjoyed it.

[@CaptainRedBull]

I want to see, at some point, The Thing meeting Korg and having him find out there’s an entire race of rock-people. He’s always so screwed up about his appearance so it could be a scene that seriously helps his self esteem. Not to mention Korg is hilarious & is great anywhere

[@tornadochaser2457]

Yeah, in the FF stories I've experienced, there's usually a long-running storyline of Mr. Fantastic promising to do his utmost to cure Ben (The Thing). Also, I always thought it was intelligent how Ben's prolonged exposure to the cosmic radiation in the 2000's series made him not be able to turn his powers on and off like the rest of his team.

[@SilkBuckets]

casual 9/11 reference is crazy

[@camzilla_does_music834]

Fun fact: I have never been able to finish this movie, every time I try to watch this movie, I always fall asleep at the same exact point

[@robertmason837]

I remember hearing that this movie was based on ultimate marvel comics run where Reed wanted to build a teleportation device.

[@jonalexander9312]

Hope you do a bonus where you cover the 90's Corman Fantastic Four.

[@limbolul]

josh trank would've thrived in this modern A24 world. if he just did more experimental indie movies that he enjoyed he could be huge rn

[@djharris5048]

i only have one word for this movie YIKES

[@marparmill]

Reed kinda looked like Jon bernthal when he reconfigured his face

[@BrianMills198686]

Johnna 9/11’s through the pillars, is an absolute WILD joke. 🤯. Like, I am not mad, but damn, savage!

[@jayjjey1400]

I think it could’ve worked if they brought the levetity slowly throughout the movie. Start off dark because it’s truly is horrifying when they get their powers. But then just start helping each other and become a family. It becomes a family movie until Doom comes back and then becomes a superhero movie at the end. So horror for act one, family movie second act, superhero movie act 3

[@omarelkordy99]

The dumbest thing is how sue and johnny not related just step brothers 😂😂

[@erenjaeger-qy3yq]

Foster sister

[@lethalprotector2078]

I loved chronicle, that's all I'm saying 😅

[@wolfpackjew]

You can see a mezuzah on the doorframe when Jimmy walks in...so an entire TWO pieces of backdrop Judaism!

[@leftofpunk]

The marketing of this movie was crazy as well. They had real scientists talking about how accurate portions of it was.

[@MichaelSmith-dk1lc]

reminds me how a ton of celebrities were praising the flash movie.

[@TomE.2unes]

I just noticed the beginning scene took place in Oyster Bay. I just happen to live in said town. I definitely have to look into this ....

[@rantalmore]

Chronicle was a great movie

[@yo-quese]

We survived ghostbusters 2016, we can leave this behind too.

[@cruzdelarosa8401]

I liked that one tho 😞

[@erenjaeger-qy3yq]

​@@cruzdelarosa8401That movie had good plot,good visuals,good villain,good side character(Hemsworth).but the execution and the main cast was the problem. It Didn't have to be a all female team ignoring the original

[@smilezdaquiet1970]

I remember going to see this at the movies and at the end no one clapped or anything, we just walked silently!🤔🤔🥴😩🤦🏿‍♂️🤷🏿‍♂️😂😂

[@ITSYEBOISteven]

can't remember the last time i was so early that the video is not in 1080p

[@talhirsh1371]

One more thing you get about Ben’s Jewish heritage is if you look on the door on the camera goes into the house on the door frame is a small thing called a mezuza. It holds the prayer of protection: comes from the story of Passover

[@patrickhennessee3987]

As many problems as this movie has, its biggest sin is its atrocious pacing. I think they were laboring under the delusion they’d get a sequel. Also, Doom is just so wrooooooong.

[@ZombieFarmboy666]

I really hope they are able to somehow have Peter Parker and Johnny Storm in a friendship in the MCU.

[@jerminator356]

This movie shows why you need to hire true fans of any IP if you want it to be successful

[@_bhaws9204]

Great cast and the first 30 minutes is actually solid, but right after that get their powers that's like where all the last minute reshoots come in and just goes downhill. We need a directors cut!

[@smacksavemarthaassociation5092]

Yes, I too enjoy watching children built teleportation machines. First thirty minutes was incredible for me.

[@ShinRyuuk]

And then the same year, BB-8 won the hearts of many, so... their Herbie would have likely worked

[@Timothy]

9/11’s through the pillars!? LOL

[@damienkakoschke3099]

Ummm, a teleportation accident, rather than solar rays in a space flight, was the origin of the FF in the Ultimate Universe in the comics. This movie in many ways took it's cues from the Ultimate Fantastic Four, rather than the Marvel Fantastic Four. At the time, in the press refered to this movie as the Fantastic Four as Body Horror, pretty accurate. Also, as much as I loved Chronicle, it did mean we would never need a live action version of AKIRA or Katsuhiro Otomo other manga, Domu.

[@mitsukami]

Fox: “What are 17 more Fantastic Four movies? 👊I can always start again👊👊. Make another film👊👊👊”.

[@NowItsDarkJim]

I am so glad you did this video, I was very close to rewatching this. Now I dont have to!

[@josecardonavlogs6509]

I remember purchasing this movie in a pawnshop for 1$

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Waste of money 😆

[@josecardonavlogs6509]

@@claymathewselevator8121 my life was forever changed

[@PassiveAgressive319]

I lost interest when 1. they went into Space drunk without Sue. 2. Reed escaping and going on the run Yeah, this film has no redeeming qualities.

[@Riley-ub2tf]

I subconsciously blocked this from my memory because I only remember one frame from the hallway

[@MegaEman123456]

“Johnny 9/11’s” goes crazy 💀

[@AcAlvin]

All I remember is that the thing cool diving scene is gone from the trailer.

[@Chubby_Runs]

I think this movie could’ve been pretty cool if they had gone all out on the body horror aspects of this adaptation, that stuff is actually pretty cool and I think it could definitely make for a cool different take on the group

[@josephcarlson9487]

Im an oddball with "superhuman pattern recognition,"and I really can't tell you how much I appreciated seeing this version of Sue Storm, I hope they keep that aspect a part of the character.

[@thepapakeeganshow6440]

People may disagree with me on this, BUT, I do like the fact that Ben Grimm got the the “clobberin’ time” from his abusive brother. The reason being is it makes it seem like he doesn’t LIKE violence and disassociates his violence through his acts being what his brother would do. It helps with the fact that The Thing wants to be seen as a human not some monster golem therefore his “monstrous behavior” is from the monster of his childhood. At least to me anyways :)

[@MichaelSmith-dk1lc]

of course! trank writes his character with complex motivations. everyone else is stupid

[@jackdalegoman2.066]

My head when I learned about the detail around 16:29, "Terrain seems a bit unstable" - Buzz Lightyear.

[@MuhammadIrfanbinIshak]

The first ever movie where I actually fall asleep in the cinema hall...hahaha....so funny...

[@marcaddow7326]

So called Dr Doom looked like a crash test dummy and the Earth Mover from Batman Beyond combined sheeesh. A mixed bag of a fantastic four movie overall. Can’t wait for the MCU version.

[@Sheathking]

Far and away, the worst thing about this movie was the thing that should have best - Doom. The casting, the character design, and the dialogue was an absolute betrayal of the comics and destroyed audience's faith in any studios ability to do Doom justice.

[@ceeceepg]

His murder montage was cool but that was about it.

[@NadeemShekh-uy9zn]

I would've loved to have seen jeremy slaters original version of fantastic four

[@owencoles2798]

It’s fun how a lot of cool fight scenes happen in hallways.

[@cezreycor]

911s through the pillars lmao

[@Tim.Stotelmeyer.2984]

This film was done this way out of spite by Fox. They needed to do an FF film to keep the license and they wanted to make sure Marvel did not benefit in any way.

[@robdilauro4344]

Chet Hanks?! SAY LESS, there is no defending this movie lol

[@majicogarcia8417]

Does anybody remember the interview with this FF cast and then the interviewer started talking about Kate Mara's feet? lmao 😂😂😂

[@donavinrodriguez6288]

This is one of the worst CBM’s I’ve have ever watched but there’s only 1 positive I could legitimately give this movie and that’s Reg E. Cathey performance as Franklin Storm (RIP)

[@Zordlistair]

"disqualifies his science project for being magic" that is ironic on so many levels

[@cottoncoffin]

LMAOOOO that first one on the list GOT ME GOOD 😂😂😂

[@TrllyStreams]

I wholeheartedly disagree with the idea that the first two FF films are bad

[@CalSolar]

will fox daredevil and elektra be next?

[@user-qf8bj9ix9p]

Did y'all hear the 9-11 joke at 28:40? WTF

[@darkfire06]

Ok, so i thought i was the only one who thought the victor hallway scene was the only reason to watch this😂😂

[@arturzerodoze_7713]

Love to see you talk about Chronicle, cause is actually my favorite movie EVER, my sweet TOP 1!!!!

[@believeinmatter]

I actually saw this movie in the theatre, and I remember being legitimately confused by how bad it was, and it’s almost 2 hours long 🤦‍♂️

[@strozombie.01]

This F4 film was supposed to be set in an alternate universe parallel to Fox's X-Men film universe.

[@AlexSShole]

@NewRockstars I was actually on set for a night on this film. I was trying to be an extra but was not accepted. To say the least, I had a wild night. From broken security to grip mutiny and myself finding clues to what movie was being shot. It was filmed under the name the street. I have photos for proof. You guys may be interested in my story.

[@TitularHeroine]

It sounds interesting

[@curtleydavids3330]

01:26 Those scenes were shot in the parking lot of my hometown mall, Zevenwacht Mall, in Kuils River, in South Africa 😊 🇿🇦

[@ericmiller93]

I loved Chronicle so much. This was such a let down.

[@briandouglasahern7067]

I saw this movie with a friend. After what seemed like ages (it wasn't. It hadn't even been a full hour into the picture), I leaned over to him and whispered, "Is it just me, or is this a very LONG 90 minutes?" He shook his head, whispering back, "It's not just you."

[@RyanHaney55]

I liked the Fantastic Four movies in the 2000s. I saw them both on opening day. Eventually, I bought them on DVD. I didn't even watch Fant4stic until it was on Netflix(I think). I was worried that they would change too much from the comics when I saw the casting choices. It would have more sense to hire Tessa Thompson or another upcoming sister. I hope the MCU takes its time and really develops Doctor Doom correctly.

[@swimfreakcmb]

I remember the feeling of walking out of the theater of the fantastic four.. I was young enough to where I wasn't critical of movies, most certainly not super hero movies. I loved all of them. But I remember walking out of that theater with my brother (no knowledge of the drama surrounding production or peoples reviews), and saying to him "that was one of the worst movies i've ever seen".

[@RayMcElroy50]

Making a franchise movie nowadays is suicide Especially for newcomers that see it as a way to catapult their career

[@SirsasthNigam.]

5-No matter how ethnically , racially , sexually or any way diverse cast you have , If your film or series has Inhumans - level writing , It just won’t work just like Wish and Madame Web The IMAX presentation of the first two episodes grossed $3.5 million worldwide.[120] "Nobody is going to root for a cast of characters who stand for discrimination, eugenics, and racism." with 5 out of 8 episodes having zero plot and zero character development -Inhumans review How did MCU went from Homecoming and GOTG2 to Inhumans in 2017?

[@ascenciopictures]

The first superhero movie I've ever seen where the climax made me say "that was it???".

[@stubbysidwell]

A very "No Child Left Behind" era teacher.