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Key Points

Michael Chiklis stands by the 2005 and 2007 Fantastic Four films, calling them underrated and misunderstood by critics. He points out that audiences embraced the movies despite negative reviews. Chiklis also shares his excitement for the new Fantastic Four reboot and praises Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s casting. Known for his role as The Thing, Chiklis reflects on his time in the superhero franchise fondly.

Key Points: Michael Chiklis Says Fantastic Four Films Were Underrated

  • Chiklis believes critics unfairly dismissed the Fantastic Four films
  • He highlights strong audience love for the movies
  • Praises Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s casting as The Thing
  • Reflects on his own experience playing Ben Grimm
2 min read

Michael Chiklis says his 'Fantastic Four' films were very underrated

Michael Chiklis defends the 2005 and 2007 Fantastic Four movies, calling them underrated and beloved by audiences despite harsh critics.

"They really maligned our films, and they were very underrated considering... The audience very loved them. – Michael Chiklis"

Washington DC, August 13

Actor Michael Chiklis, who played Ben Grimm / The Thing in 'Fantastic Four' (2005) and 'Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer' (2007), shared that the films were "very underrated" and he believes that critics at the time "got it wrong", according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"There were a lot of people, I think, critically who got it wrong," he said of the 2005 film and its 2007 follow-up Rise of the Silver Surfer.

"They really maligned our films, and they were very underrated considering... The audience very loved them. It was one of those cases where critics weren't great to those films, but the audience was, and that still remains," Chiklis said.

However, he acknowledged the appreciation shown by the audience as opposed to critics, adding, "And now all these years later, people are sort of acknowledging like, hey, these films are family-friendly, fun movies... They got a lot right. They may be imperfect, but they're really good movies," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Alongside Chiklis, Fantastic Four starred Ioan Gruffudd as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Jessica Alba as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman and Chris Evans as Johnny Storm/Human Torch. Marvel revamped the characters for the 2025 film, which saw Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn star as the team.

About the new movie and Moss-Bachrach, who plays Ben/the Thing in the modern adaptation, Chiklis said, "I had a great experience doing them, and I just... I hope that it kills. And it seems like it's doing really well. And by the way, I really like Ebon Moss-Bachrach. He's a terrific actor, so I'm really looking forward to see what he does with... the Thing," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Michael Chiklis is best known for his roles as the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Detective Vic Mackey on the FX police drama The Shield (2002-2008), for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2002, and as Ben Grimm / The Thing in Fantastic Four (2005) and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007).

Other notable television roles of his include bald Commissioner Tony Scali on The Commish (1991-1996), bald Dell Toledo in American Horror Story: Freak Show (2014-2015), and Nathaniel Barnes in Gotham (2015-2017).

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As an Indian fan, I think the 2005 version had that perfect mix of action and family values which resonated with our culture. The new one looks good too, but nothing beats the nostalgia of the original cast!
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Aditya G
While I enjoyed them as a kid, rewatching now shows some cringe moments. But Chiklis was perfect as The Thing - his voice and mannerisms were spot on. Hope the new version keeps that emotional core.
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Priya S
Jessica Alba as Sue Storm was my first Hollywood crush! 😍 These movies had so much heart compared to today's CGI-fests. Simple story but great entertainment for whole family - exactly what Indian audiences love.
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Michael C
Respectfully disagree - the films were quite cheesy even for their time. But Chiklis' gracious attitude towards the new cast shows what a class act he is. Looking forward to Pedro Pascal's version!
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Kavya N
These movies were super popular in India! We had Fantastic Four posters everywhere in the 2000s. The family dynamic was so relatable to us. Hope the new one keeps that essence while upgrading the visuals.

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