The known details of The Fantastic Four: First Steps comes the knowledge that the latest batch of looks for The Fantastic Four are soon to hit theater screens worldwide.
For the most part, The Fantastic Four's costumes are typically more of a cohesive set of uniforms rather than a series of individualized outfits that show off each hero's unique identity. They've gone through many different looks in the original Marvel Comics, with the standalone Fantastic Four movies being just as varied in their portrayal of the team's official costumes. Further cameos in multiverse-hopping Marvel Cinematic Universe films have only expanded the gulf in quality of the team's overall wardrobe.
9 Jamie Bell's The Thing
Fantastic Four (2015)
The most recent take on The Fantastic Four went in quite a different direction with its superhero costumes, individualizing each member's outfit to a far greater degree than ever. Sadly, Jamie Bell's The Thing was given no such tailoring, forced to lumber about without wearing any clothes at all. Apparently not even able to find a pair of XXXL size pants to accent his massive, rocky body, The Thing's appearance in 2015's Fantastic Four is downright pitiful.
Fantastic Four
- Release Date
- August 5, 2015
- Runtime
- 100 minutes
- Director
- Josh Trank
Cast
Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic
Johnny Storm / The Human Torch
WHERE TO WATCH
Fantastic Four is a 2015 superhero film centered on four young outsiders who gain startling abilities after teleporting to a treacherous universe. As their lives are transformed, the team must harness their new powers to protect Earth from a former friend who becomes their adversary.
Beyond his lack of any clothes at all, what sends Jamie Bell's The Thing to the bottom of The Fantastic Four's barrel is his awkward design compared to the comic-accurate 2005 version. His tough protrusions are awkward and asymmetrical, giving him a wobbly quality that seems as if it'll all come collapsing down at any second. That's not even to mention his unfortunate lack of any private areas to be worth covering, which raises some concerning questions regarding Benjamin Grimm's transformation.
8 Kate Mara's The Invisible Woman
Fantastic Four (2015)
In an odd decision, Director Josh Trank went in an almost body horror movie direction with his Fantastic Four, emphasizing the grotesque nature of the team's transformations. This emphasis was complemented by some very individualized costumes that were meant to function in tandem with their unique new skills. Unfortunately, in the case of Kate Mara's Sue Storm, invisibility doesn't give much to work with in this regard.
10 Best Fantastic Four Movie Quotes Before Their MCU Debut
The Fantastic Four have had three major adaptations before the MCU debuted the team, with some iconic lines of dialogue despite mixed reviews.
The end result is a painfully basic dark bodysuit that has no special relationship with The Invisible Woman's powers, the setting of 2015's Fantastic Four far too grounded to allow for any science fiction materials that could become translucent with her. The closest thing The Invisible Woman's suit gets to any functionality is the ability to roll up her sleeves, which at least allows her to fool villains with a pair of invisible forearms. The fact that she also wears gloves in this outfit makes even that redundant.
7 Miles Teller's Mr. Fantastic
Fantastic Four (2015)
Finally, 2015's Fantastic Four arrives at a character that its odd, individualistic approach to dressing the titular team's somewhat works for. Miles Teller's suit as Mr. Fantastic is made up of bundles of elastic cables, telescoping ts, and expansive sheets of fabric that conceivably could allow him to stretch his limbs without losing any coverage. This solution makes for a realistic way that Mr. Fantastic's suit could morph alongside him without having to introduce any specialty materials that don't exist in the real world.
Fantastic Four (2015) Key Facts Breakdown |
|
Budget |
$120 million |
Box Office |
$167 million |
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score |
9% |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
18% |
As great as a commitment to realism is, Mr. Fantastic's aesthetic in Fantastic Four isn't helped by it. For the most part, Miles Teller just ends up looking like he was the unfortunate victim of some kind of rock climbing or bungee jumping mishap, his movements hilariously traced by dangling cables and cords. At least the costume is memorable, which is more than can be said for The Invisible Woman's.
6 Michael B. Jordan's Human Torch
Fantastic Four (2015)
By far the biggest winner wardrobe-wise of 2015's Fantastic Four is Michael B. Jordan's The Human Torch. Before he became one of the best MCU villains as Erik Killmonger, Michael B. Jordan was easily one of the best parts of the most recent Fantastic Four film. Here, his costume consists of a bodysuit covered in armor s that also double as radiators, protecting the world around him from the intense heat he emits as the Human Torch.
Even if it is technically practical, Michael B. Jordan's Human Torch suit in Fantastic Four is the only one that actually looks like something out of a comic book.
Even if it is technically practical, Michael B. Jordan's Human Torch suit in Fantastic Four is the only one that actually looks like something out of a comic book. The four small radiator pipes that align on his chest to cheekily form a nod to the classic "4" insignia that's usually on the group's suits is a nice touch as well. Still, compared to other cinematic variations, The Human Torch's suit only scratches the surface of the fashionable comic book look.
5 John Krasinski's Mr. Fantastic
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
For a long time, John Krasinski was one of the running fan cast choices for Reed Richards in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While he ultimately lost the role to Pedro Pascal, Krasinski was at least given his dues as a brief cameo, serving as an alternate dimension's version of Mr. Fantastic in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Here, Richards serves as a core member of the Illuminati, a secretive superhero group that extends its clutches far further into society than the Avengers ever did.
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Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness
- Release Date
- May 6, 2022
- Runtime
- 126 minutes
- Director
- Sam Raimi
Cast
Doctor Stephen Strange
Xochitl GomezAmerica Chavez
WHERE TO WATCH
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness follows Doctor Strange as he navigates diverse and perilous alternate realities in the Multiverse with the aid of mystical allies. Directed by Sam Raimi, this installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe introduces a mysterious new adversary.
Krasinski's Mr. Fantastic suit is a high-production value piece, not shying away from the bright blue hues and classic "4" logo of the comics, unlike the previous mainline Fantastic Four movie. Where the costume fails is in its needless addition of criss-crossing lines, layers of similar colors, and 135-degree angles the MCU has become notorious for with its costume design. Great-looking at a distance, upon closer scrutiny, Krasinski's suit is indicative of a busy design philosophy that has arguably ruined too many MCU costumes already.
4 The Standard 2005 Suits (Reed, Sue, and Johnny)
Fantastic Four (2005)
Going into more iconic territory, the simple, clean suits of the original 2005 Fantastic Four are hard to top. Owing to the team's sense of a cohesive identity as a singular unit, these interchangable costumes are hard to complain about. A version of this same exact suit is worn by Chris Evans' Johnny Storm, Jessica Alba's The Invisible Woman, and Ioan Gruffudd's Reed Richards.
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Fantastic Four
- Release Date
- June 29, 2005
- Runtime
- 106 minutes
- Director
- Tim Story
Cast
Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic
Sue Storm / Invisible Woman
WHERE TO WATCH
Fantastic Four follows four astronauts who gain extraordinary abilities after a space mission goes awry. Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm transform into superheroes tasked with combating Dr. Doom’s malevolent schemes, marking their debut in facing global threats with newly acquired powers.
These clean costumes incorporate a simple "4" emblem into a blue bodysuit with black accents, culminating in a sharp-looking black chevron centered on the wearer's chest. The only small issue these suits have is their awkward touch of sex appeal, with the clinging fabric leaving little to the imagination.
Fantastic Four (2005) grossed $333 million at the worldwide box office.
This is especially noticeable in Jessica Alba's case, with the neckline of her suit inching downwards in certain shots for no good reason. Considering the conditions of the set of Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer that almost caused Jessica Alba to quit acting, in hindsight, these suits are a bit of a guilty pleasure.
3 Chris Evans' Post-Apocalyptic Outfit
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
One of the most unexpected cameos in Deadpool & Wolverine occurs when Chris Evans, thought at first to be Captain America, hollers "Flame On!", revealing himself to be the same Johnny Storm he once played years earlier, now trapped in the MCU's Void. Upon re-examination, it becomes obvious that his costume is a variation of the classic uniformed suits first put forth in 2005's Fantastic Four. It's a shame he winds up losing these new threads, not to mention his skin, at the devious telekinetic hands of Cassandra Nova.
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Deadpool & Wolverine
- Release Date
- July 26, 2024
- Runtime
- 127 Minutes
- Director
- Shawn Levy
Cast
Deadpool
Wolverine
WHERE TO WATCH
A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
This version of the Human Torch's outfit works well for what it is. A loosely-draped shawl on top of the basic blue uniform helps disguise Chris Evans enough for the fake-out gag to land, and the bundles of pouches, practical boots, and other utilitarian accouterments make sense for the post-apocalyptic world of The Void. While it may be far from a traditional look for The Fantastic Four's resident hothead, it serves the purpose it was meant for excellently.
2 The Fantastic Four: First Steps Suits
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
As of the time of writing, only a few brief glimpses have been shown off of the new suits for the The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The suits were first shown off in a piece of holiday art featuring The Fantastic Four in illustrated form, though the final product seems to have made a few key alterations from the teaser image. At D23, a live-action look at The Fantastic Four's costumes was finally revealed, with Joseph Quinn's Human Torch front-and-center in a gorgeous new costume.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
- July 25, 2025
- Runtime
- 130 Minutes
- Director
- Matt Shakman
- Writers
- Jeff Kaplan, Josh Friedman, Ian Springer, Eric Pearson, Stan Lee
- Producers
- Jamie Christopher, Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito, Tim Lewis
Cast
Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic
Vanessa KirbySue Storm / The Invisible Woman
Johnny Storm / Human Torch
Ebon Moss-BachrachBen Grimm / The Thing
The Fantastic Four: First Steps depicts Marvel's First Family navigating their roles as heroes amidst a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world. As they defend Earth from Galactus and the enigmatic Silver Surfer, they must also uphold the strength of their family bond.
Evoking the period piece nature of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, these costumes appear to be a throwback to the group's pulpy 80s sci-fi look from the comics. The uniforms seem to have more of a cable-knit sweater texture rather than the typical carbon-fiber superhero bodysuit look, and sport bold splashes of white that contrast with a paler, more sky blue base. Of course, the "4" insignia is not shy here, and the iconic elements of The Fantastic Four's white-and-blue suits seem to have been well-represented in their next film.
1 Michael Chiklis' The Thing
Fantastic Four (2005)
It's amazing to it just how good Michael Chiklis' makeup as The Thing in 2005's Fantastic Four has held up, even by modern standards. Compared to most Marvel Comics characters, The Thing has always had a bit of a cartoonish design, with his distinctive rocky brow ridge and four fingers on each hand. Yet the incredible practical effects of the 2005 film managed to transform Chiklis into a version of the character that looks like he stepped straight out of the pages of the source material without missing a beat.
The design behind Benjamin Grimm's body in the original film is a work of art
The design behind Benjamin Grimm's body in the original film is a work of art, sculpting cracks of tough orange stone that form recognizable human musculature without going too far in the number of individual rocks that make up his form. His actual clothes are a nice touch, too, with sleek blue and black pants that conform what clothes he does wear to the suits of his teammates. It'll be hard for the MCU's likely CGI Thing in The Fantastic Four: First Steps to ever outdo this triumph of makeup and costume design.
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