Genre: Action/Superhero/Sci-Fi
Director: Gareth Edwards
Writer: Mark Newton
Based on Marvel Comics characters
Cast: John Krasinski, Sarah Gadon, Jack Reynor, Jason Segel, Orlando Bloom, Aksel Hennie, Robert Patrick
Plot: From the roof of the Baxter Building in New York City, Reed Richards (John Krasinski) watches as the tentacles from Galactus' space ship crash down an begin ripping up at the Earth around the United Nations Headquarters. The Baxter Building begins to be ripped apart from Galactus' ship. Reed rushes through the building and into one of the labs where Sue Storm (Sarah Gadon) is working, she is oblivious to the commotion outside the building. Reed grabs her by the hand and leads her out of the building. They stand outside and look up at Galactus' gargantuan ship as its tentacles rip apart the earth around it. Johnny Storm (Jack Reynor) is driving his car when the commotion starts tearing apart the streets, causing him to crash his car. Ben Grimm (Jason Segel) happens to see Storm's car turned over and having caught fire. Grimm manages to pull an unconscious Johnny out of the car and drags him to safety not long before the car explodes.
Following the attack from the alien Galactus, the US government announces that they will work with Latverian tech billionaire Victor Von Doom (Orlando Bloom) to develop technology to better protect the country, and the rest of the world, from threats beyond our planet. Admiral Westbrook (Robert Patrick) is assigned to oversee the joint project alongside Von Doom. Reed, Sue and her brother Johnny are hired as part of the think tank to develop intergalactic defense technology. Reed is able to get his best friend Ben a job as his "research assistant". At the introductory meeting, Von Doom and Westbrook address the group of scientists they have assembled. Westbrook tells everyone that Earth should not have to rely on benevolent silver aliens to protect them from other-worldly threats. Von Doom then takes over the microphone, telling the group that they were specifically assembled to devise methods that would make such creatures obsolete.
Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben are in their work room setting up their things when Von Doom enters. He gives Reed a pat on the back and says it's been a while. Johnny is confused, and Sue tells him that Reed and Victor went to college together. Von Doom tells the team that their particular project is one that he has been dreaming of for decades. Their goal is to devies a method of harnessing inter-dimensional energy from the Negative Zone, a parallel dimension ot their own. Von Doom tells them that a large portion of the work on the project has already been done, by him, but that the method of transferring matter from the Negative Zone back to their own dimension is untested and needs some fine tuning. Von Doom then leaves the room. Ben comments that Von Doom certainly thinks highly of himself. Reed says that's just what happened when you're a member of European royalty who was branded a genius at a young age.
As the project reaches toward fruition, the plan becomes for the team to travel to the Negative Zone to set up a beacon that will siphon energy from the Negative Zone and send it to Earth via a conduit. Sue confides to Reed that she isn't sure it's worth the risks for them to all travel to a new dimension for the greater glory of Victor Von Doom. Reed tells her that the transport shuttle is completely safe. Reed then confesses that he is excited about being the first human to travel to a different dimension. He tells her that he has the kind of butterflies in his stomach that Neil Armstrong must have felt before he stepped foot on the moon. Sue and Reed are about to kiss when they are interrupted by Johnny and Ben.
Reed, Sue, Ben and Johnny load up into the dimensional shuttle as Admiral Westbrook and Victor Von Doom watch on. As they strap themselves into their seats, Johnny asks what Ben is even on the mission for. He is piloting the shuttle and Reed and Sue are the brains behind the mission, but he's at a loss for the purpose of Ben tagging along. Ben tells Johnny not to worry about that and to just consider him to be a bit of extra security. Johnny starts up the shuttle. It begins to hover above the ground as the ceiling retracts. Johnny pilots the shuttle out of the hangar and punches the accelerator. The shuttle bursts forward and soon disappears into a blinding blue light. Admiral Westbrook tells Von Doom that this plan of his better have good results or he can kiss any future government contracts goodbye. Von Doom tells Westbrook not to worry, he's a genius after all.
The dimensional shuttle suddenly finds itself flying through bright green gaseous clouds. Johnny turns on the shuttle's radar in order to find solid ground to land the shuttle on. Reed quickly unstraps himself and puts on a blue EMU spacesuit. Sue sends a message to mission control announcing their successful landing in the Negative Zone. He announces that he's going on to the surface. The rest of the team don't want to be left out and suit up as well. Johnny and Ben start setting up the dimensional beacon, while Reed and Sue explore the alternate dimension and take a series of soil samples. Ben and Sue find themselves at the edge of a cliff overlooking a large canyon. Reed tells Sue that if they weren't both wearing obnoxious and bulky EMU suits that he would kiss her.
A large insect-like creature appears and begins attacking the shuttle. Ben runs inside the shuttle and unlocks a case, revealing a large rifle. Ben emerges from the shuttle with the rifle and fires on the creature repeatedly. While taking cover, Johnny asks Ben why he brought a gun to space. Ben reveals that is his job on the mission. The creature hurls a series of rocks at Ben, one of which cracks the helmet of his suit. Realizing he can breathe the air in the Negative Zone, Ben takes off his helmet so he can see and continues firing at the creature until it scurries away. Ben feels a weird sensation as his skin begins to slightly harden. Ben begins to panic, thinking something is inside of his suit. Reed and Sue return and see Ben struggle with his suit before fainting. Reed and Johnny rush over and quickly drag Ben back onto the shuttle. Once on the shuttle, Sue realizes that the attack has damaged the shuttle's communications systems, which will keep them from being able to contact mission control.
Back on Earth, Admiral Westbrook and Von Doom attempt to contact the dimensional shuttle unsuccessfully. They become frustrated about their inability to make radio contact with the four on the mission. Von Doom says that any number of things could be affecting the signal: dust clouds, cosmic interference, or the worst case scenario - something bad has happened to the four.
While Ben rests on the shuttle, Reed and Johnny set up a makeshift defense system using a series of motion sensors to alert them of any motion nearby so that they may get some sleep. The team finally feels comfortable enough to rest for a bit. The team all falls asleep. When they wake up, Reed, Sue and Johnny notice that Ben is no longer on the shuttle. They put on their suits and venture out of the shuttle in order to find him. They walk toward the canyon when see a figure off in the distance at the edge of the cliff and hurry toward him, but find a large orange rock-like creature. They are frightened until it speaks to them in Ben's voice. Reed is shocked, but assures Ben he'll try to find a way to restore his more human appearance.
Admiral Westbrook asks Von Doom what the contingency plan is for if the team isn't able to return to Earth. Von Doom says that they will still be able to harness the dimension's cosmic energy so long as the team manages to set up the energy beacon. If the team doesn't set up the beacon, the mission will be a complete and catastrophic failure. Westbrook comments that would not be in anyone's best interests.
When the four return to the shuttle, they find it further damaged. Reed looks over the damage and notices that the shuttle's battery has been destroyed. The others asks what that means for their trip home, and he tells them that without a power source, the chance of them getting home is practically zero. The team discusses potential plans to get back to Earth. Sue and Johnny propose trying to make a power source out of the beacon equipment, while Ben suggests setting up the beacon and then worrying about going home once they've completed their original mission. Johnny says forget that, as soon as the beacon is set up they are of little importance to the big wigs back home like Von Doom. Reed suggests they try to canvas the Negative Zone for a sort of power source they can use to power the shuttle. Before they leave on their search, Johnny and Ben set up the energy beacon.
While the team is out canvassing, they are attacked by a horde of the insectoid alien creatures. Johnny, Reed and Sue prepare to run away, but Ben in all his "Thing" glory grabs one of the creatures by the arms and begins swinging it at the other creatures, incapacitating them. Reed, Sue and Johnny are all impressed by Ben's show of strength. Johnny says he thought Ben just lost his looks, he didn't think Ben became a super powered thing. During the skirmish, the containment suits of Reed, Sue and Johnny are damaged. Johnny says he doesn't want to end up like Ben and begins patching up his suit. Reed and Sue do the same thing. After their fight with the creatures, Sue spots a tower off in the distance. They decide to walk toward it in hopes of it having something they can power their shuttle with.
When the four get closer to the tower, they spot dozens of the insectoid alien beings guarding the tower and try to sneak past them. One of the guards spots them and shoots a fiery blast at them, hitting Johnny, who becomes completely engulfed in flames. Sue is distraught at the sight, but Johnny tells her he doesn't feel a thing. He then instinctually throws a ball of fire at the guard, taking him out. As the team continues their trek to the tower, they are attacked by more guards. As an energy blast comes at her, an invisible force field suddenly surrounds Sue, blocking the attack. The alien continues attacking, causing the ground to out from beneath Reed. He reaches for a ledge. Reed seemingly continues falling, but then he notices that he is still holding onto the ledge, but his arm has stretched nearly 20 feet. Reed reaches up with his other arm, pulling himself up. Reed then punches one of the guards, who is over a dozen feet away. The team continues moving.
When they reach the top of the tower they meet the ruler of the insectoid creatures, who calls himself Annihilus. Annihilus reveals to the four that the Negative Zone is actually dying and will not be able to provide their planet the resources they want. He tells them to leave for their world now, or he will have his guards execute them. Reed says that they would love to be able to return to their home, but Annihilus' creatures damaged their shuttle. Annihilus shows little concern for their plight and shows them the Control Rod, which has a bright orange glow to it, saying it's the only resource of real value left in the land, and probably the only adequate power source to get them home. Sue pleads with Annihilus to allow them to use power from the Control Rod to return home and in return they will not activate the energy beacon. Annihilus is not interested in making a deal with them and attacks the Four. Thing steps in front of his friends. He grabs Annihilus by one of his wings, and rips it off. Reed uses his stretching to swipe the rod away from Annihilus. Reed passes the rod to Johnny, who runs away from Annihilus and jumps out a window. As Johnny plummets toward the ground, he bursts into flames and begins flying into the air. Sue tells Reed to come with her, and together they also jump from the window. Sue surrounds them with a force field, which also flies through the air. As Reed and Sue begin flying away in a force field bubble, Reed calls back for Ben to follow them. Ben lands a few extra punches in on Annihilis before jumping from the tower himself. The earth shakes as Ben hits the ground. He runs after his flying friends, commenting that it isn't fair that he's the only one not flying through the air. A furious Annihilus orders his entire army to chase after the trespassers and to return his Control Rod.
When they get back to the shuttle, Reed and Sue begin using the Control Rod to charge the shuttle's battery system. Johnny and Ben see Annihilus' horde approaching and exit the shuttle to fend them off. While Ben and Johnny are fighting off the insectoid creatures, Reed announces from the shuttle that they have restored the power. Back at mission control, the communcations come back online and Von Doom watches as Johnny and a rock-like creature are fighting off large bugs. He tries talking to the team to see what's going on, but they don't respond as they have their hands tied. As the shuttle begins hovering over the ground, Ben and Johnny jump onboard. Reed takes the dimmed Control Rod and tosses it out of the shuttle. Ben asks why he did that, and Reed says that they already siphoned all the power they could from it, so there was no point in keeping it. Plus, it is the reason why the horde has been attacking them. The team looks out the shuttle's windows and sees the horde stop and surround the depleted control rod. Johnny tells everyone to strap themselves in. Ben looks at his seat and realizes the seat belt is not going to fit him anymore, so he simply holds on tight. Johnny hits the accelerator, and once again the shuttle disappears into a bright light.
Back at mission control, Von Doom is excited that the beacon has been activated, but they stil haven't heard word from the team aside from the brief video feed he witnessed. The shuttle travels much faster and erratically from the power of the cosmic rod. The shuttle starts to break apart as it makes its way through the dimensional tunnel. The alarms on the shuttle begin blaring and Johnny announces that the shuttle is going to start falling apart. Sue closes her eyes and uses her new powers to create a field around the shuttle. The shuttle finally emerges from the dimensional tunnel and crash lands on the shores of Lake Placid. When the team gets out, they are confused and stunned, but happy to be back on Earth.
It doesn't take long for news crews to converge on the shuttle's crash site. Johnny is happy for the attention of the cameras. Ben hides on the shuttle, afraid that people will think he's some kind of monster based on his new appearance. Admiral Westbrook orders a helicopter to get to Lake Placid as soon as possible to pick up the four. Watching the media reports which dub the team the "Fantastic Four", Von Doom becomes jealous of the attention the team is receiving. He throws a remote at the television, destroying it. While Admiral Westbrook debriefs the team at a military base, Von Doom is hard at work readying the back-up dimensional shuttle for a trip to the Negative Zone. Von Doom boards the shuttle and it begins hovering above the ground. Von Doom hits the accelerator and the shuttle disappears in a flash of light.
Post-Credits Scene: Annihilus picks up the discarded Control Rod which slowly begins lighting up with a faint orange glow as he holds it in his hand.
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