Fantastic Four

A routine experimental flight changes the lives of four scientists when cosmic rays alter their bodies in unexpected ways. Reed Richards discovers he can stretch his limbs and body to incredible lengths and shapes. Sue Storm gains the ability to become invisible and project force fields. Johnny Storm finds he can create and control fire, while Ben Grimm is transformed into a hulking, rocklike figure with enormous strength. As they wrestle with the practical and personal consequences of their new conditions, they learn to cooperate as a team. When Victor von Doom, a former colleague, returns with dangerous technology and a volatile agenda, the group has to stop him before his plans threaten countless lives. Their moral choices are tested.

Released in 2005 and directed by Tim Story, Fantastic Four adapts Marvel Comics' first family created by Jack Kirby, with screenwriters Michael France and Mark Frost shaping a film that brings comicbook science fiction and family conflict to mainstream audiences.

The film performed strongly at the box office, attracting a broad audience and prompting Fox to greenlight a 2007 sequel. Its commercial results signaled that Marvel properties could draw mainstream moviegoers even before the modern MCU era took shape worldwide.

By putting Marvel's first family on the big screen, the movie reinforced the Fantastic Four's place in popular culture and spawned merchandising, video sales, and a follow-up film. It also increased the profiles of its cast, notably Jessica Alba and Chris Evans, who later had bigger roles in Hollywood cinema.

Critical reaction was mixed, reflected in a roughly 5.8/10 audience vote average. Reviewers and viewers tended to praise the cast chemistry and some visual effects, while criticizing the uneven tone and screenplay. Core themes include family bonds, ethical questions about scientific experimentation, and how ordinary people directly handle extraordinary change.