← Back to Directory
Fantastic Four
Movie

Fantastic Four

2005 • Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Woke Score
2
out of 10

Plot

Four astronauts have their lives changed forever, when they end up being hit by a cloud of cosmic radiation. Reed Richards now has the ability to stretch his body like elastic. Sue Storm (Alba) is now the invisible woman. Johnny Storm becomes the human touch and Ben Grimm becomes the 'Thing', a man made out of rock. But there is one problem. The journey's sponsor, Victor Von Doom has also been affected and with full power, is a dangerous force which needs to be stopped, before it's too late.

Overall Series Review

The 2005 'Fantastic Four' is a product of its time, focusing on a standard superhero origin story that emphasizes a found-family dynamic, the pain of transformation, and the struggle against a megalomaniacal villain. The narrative centers on merit, particularly Reed Richards's scientific genius and the team's ability to operate as a unit. Identity politics are minimal; the plot is driven by a scientific accident and a personal rivalry rather than systemic or social critiques. The film features colorblind casting, but it is not framed as a political statement or lecture. Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman, is presented as an accomplished chief genetic researcher, balancing the team's intellect with emotional depth. The movie's core message is about accepting one's difficult circumstances and uniting as a family to protect the public from a clear antagonist. The narrative respects traditional structures of family and civilization, and completely avoids any messaging on sexual ideology or anti-theism.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics2/10

The main cast’s races are either historically authentic or a result of colorblind casting, such as Jessica Alba as Sue Storm and Kerry Washington as Alicia Masters, without any political commentary, lecturing, or vilification of whiteness being tied to the characters or plot. The primary conflict is driven by the characters' individual choices, scientific merit (Reed Richards), and the personal rivalry with Doctor Doom.

Oikophobia1/10

The central conflict is the team protecting New York City, a major Western metropolis, from the internal threat of a corrupt, megalomaniacal Western businessman (Victor Von Doom) who uses Western technology. The film depicts core Western institutions, like private enterprise and emergency services, as needing protection. The narrative shows a gratitude for civilizational stability.

Feminism3/10

Sue Storm is established as a successful chief genetic researcher, which positions her as competent and intelligent alongside Reed Richards, the male genius. Reed is sometimes portrayed as socially inept or clueless outside his science, which is a minor emasculation trope, but his intelligence remains paramount. The film champions a traditional nuclear structure, referring to themselves as 'The First Family,' and contains no anti-natalist or anti-marriage messaging.

LGBTQ+1/10

The movie operates within a normative structure, centered on the developing heterosexual romantic relationships between Reed Richards and Sue Storm, and Ben Grimm and Alicia Masters. Sexuality is a private matter tied to the characters' personal relationships, and the film does not feature any overt LGBTQ+ characters or any lecturing on sexual or gender ideology.

Anti-Theism1/10

The film’s central conceit is a high-tech, science-based origin (cosmic rays) and a conflict driven by technology and personal greed. It is entirely secular and contains no anti-theistic messaging, hostility toward Christianity, or discussion of moral relativism; the morality is an objective good-vs-evil superhero plot built on self-sacrifice and heroism.