Michael Chiklis on His ‘Fantastic Four’ Films: Underrated Gems Awakened by Fans, Not Critics

The actor who played Ben Grimm believes the 2005 and 2007 Fantastic Four films were misjudged, finding enduring appreciation among viewers even as critics remained skeptical.

Michael Chiklis, who portrayed Ben Grimm—better known as the Thing—in the 2005 Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel Rise of the Silver Surfer, still believes the films were misunderstood by critics. In a recent interview, Chiklis said, “They really maligned our films, and they were very underrated considering… They were very loved by the audience. Critics weren’t great to those films, but the audience was, and that still remains.”

According to Chiklis, the films’ appeal has only grown over time. “Now all these years later, people are 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,” he said.

Upon release, Fantastic Four was met with harsh reviews from many outlets, with some critics calling it dull and uneven. Still, audiences responded more positively, and the film went on to gross over $333 million worldwide on a budget of around $100 million. The sequel earned more than $301 million globally despite similarly mixed critical reception.

The original cast included Ioan Gruffudd as Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic, Jessica Alba as Sue Storm / Invisible Woman, Chris Evans as Johnny Storm / Human Torch, and Chiklis as Ben Grimm / the Thing.

Nearly two decades later, Marvel Studios has reintroduced the team in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn. Chiklis expressed his excitement for the new film and praised Moss-Bachrach, who now plays the Thing, saying, “He’s a terrific actor… I’m really looking forward to see what he does with the character.”

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