When You Can Stream Fantastic Four: First Steps on Disney+

Aaron Fonseca
Aug 7
3 min read

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has explored many characters throughout its generational run, but the Fantastic Four were off-limits for Marvel Studios to use early on. For years, theFantastic Four film rights belonged to 20th Century Fox, where the studio made three films. The first Fantastic Four film, released in 2005, was financially successful enough to receive a follow-up in 2007. To hold onto the Fantastic Four film rights and revitalize the franchise, 20th Century Fox rebooted Marvel's First Family in 2015. The Josh Trank film received poor reviews and bombed at the box office, leaving the Fantastic Four franchise in limbo.

In 2019, Disney acquired 21st Century Fox, which granted Marvel Studios the Fantastic Fourfilm rights once more. With the Fantastic Four now back at Marvel Studios, the MCU could finally introduce the team and put its own spin on the property. Marvel Studios announced in July 2019 in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con that a Fantastic Four film was on the horizon. Spider-Man director Jon Watts was initially hired to bring the Fantastic Four to the MCU before Matt Shakman took over the project. The Fantastic Four: First Steps was released in July 2025 and opened to a solid first weekend at the box office, but the film will eventually join the Disney+ library in the coming months if you miss its theatrical window.

When Will The Fantastic Four: First Steps Be Available To Stream on Disney+?

The time between a film's release in theaters and its arrival on streaming varies from studio to studio. While Marvel Studios hasn't officially announced when subscribers can expect to seeThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, previous MCU releases provide a strong indication of when it will happen. For the most part, Disney+ will add Marvel Studios films to its streaming catalog around three months after their theatrical release.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the first film part of the MCU's Phase Six.
Marvel Studios films typically release on Disney+ three months after their theatrical debut.

For instance, Deadpool & Wolverine hit Disney+ 97 days after its July release in theaters last year, and Captain America: Brave New World joined the streaming service after 103 days. Based on this logic, Thunderbolts* will likely hit Disney+ sometime in August since it came out in May, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps will most likely be available at the end of October or in early November.

In the meantime, The Fantastic Four: First Steps remains in theaters on premium formats like IMAX and Dolby Cinema. The Fantastic Four: First Steps' digital release will be the earliest audiences can watch the movie at home, which will likely be in a few weeks. Meanwhile, physical copies for the latest MCU film on Blu-ray and DVD will likely release sometime in October.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Is by Far the Best of the Franchise

The Fantastic Four franchise had a poor track record in terms of quality when 20th Century Fox was in charge. Even before the Fox films, Constantin Film produced a Fantastic Fourmovie in the '90s, but it remained unreleased.

All of these past Fantastic Four failures built up the idea that Marvel's First Family was somehow cursed from ever receiving a faithful adaptation of the source material. When Marvel Studios took over the reins of the Fantastic Four franchise, it became a major priority to finally get the characters right.

"I think that there are no four characters that are more important for the history of Marvel. When Disney bought Fox, it was really an unexpected dream come true. It came at the perfect time, to help us launch into a new era.They are Marvel's First Family, and I really wanted to do them justice. There was still a bit of fear of being silly. In another time, some might consider the notion of somebody with a big, angular helmet walking through a city goofy. I consider it awesome." -- Kevin Feige on rebooting the Fantastic Four after previous failed attempts.

After several unsuccessful attempts, Marvel Studios redeemed the franchise with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which is easily the best and most respectful homage to the classic Stan Lee and Jack Kirby issues.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps honored the source material by setting the story in an alternative, retrofuturistic 1960s and featured the villain Galactus, who closely resembled his appearance in the comic books. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is also by far the best-reviewed film in the franchise, with an 86% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and the most financially successful so far, with its $218 million opening weekend worldwide.