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Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Theatrical poster
Directed by	Tim Story
Produced by	Marvel Enterprises
Written by	Comic Book: Stan Lee Jack Kirby Story: Mark Frost Screenplay: Don Payne
Starring	Ioan Gruffudd Jessica Alba Michael Chiklis Chris Evans Doug Jones Julian McMahon Kerry Washington Laurence Fishburne
Music by	John Ottman
Cinematography	Larry Blanford
Editing by	William Hoy Peter S. Elliot
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date(s)	June 15, 2007
Running time	89 min.
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$130 million[1]
Preceded by	Fantastic Four
Official website
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is a 2007 superhero film, and sequel to the 2005 film Fantastic Four. Both films are based on the comic book of the same name. The film was directed by Tim Story, who also directed the original. Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon and Kerry Washington reprised their roles from the first film. Doug Jones and Beau Garrett appear in the sequel as the Silver Surfer and Frankie Raye, respectively, along with Laurence Fishburne as the voice of the Silver Surfer. It was released June 15, 2007, in North America, and was released onto high-def Blu-ray Disc and DVD on October 2, 2007. It was rated PG by the MPAA for sequences of action violence, some mild language and innuendo.^[2] The actual on-screen title of the film is 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and this is how the film is listed by the Internet Movie Database.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Rating 5 Promotion 6 Reception 7 Home video 8 See also 9 Footnotes 10 References 11 External links

Set two years after the first film, Reed Richards and Sue Storm are preparing for their wedding. A silver object enters Earth's atmosphere, radiating cosmic energy that creates massive molecular fluctuations and causes deep craters at locations across the Earth, as well as several anomalies on the planet's surface (Suruga Bay in Japan turns to stone, The Pyramids in Egypt are covered by a snowstorm, and Los Angeles experiences a serious blackout). The US military, represented by General Hager, asks Reed to build a sensor to track the movements of the object. Reed rejects this request saying that he needs to focus on his wedding with Sue. However, he builds the sensor in secret and activates it just before the wedding.

As the wedding begins, Reed's sensor detects the phenomenon approaching New York City, causing a massive power blackout. The object destroys the sensor while the Fantastic Four protect the crowd from an out-of-control helicopter. The Human Torch pursues the object from New York City to Washington D.C., discovering that it is a humanoid, a "Silver Surfer". He confronts the Surfer, only to be dragged into the upper atmosphere. After his flame snuffs out, the Surfer drops him back towards Earth, but he reactivates his powers, survives the fall, and lands in Egypt. Reed's examination reveals that exposure to the Surfer has set Johnny's molecular structure in flux, allowing him to switch powers with his teammates through physical contact. Also, Sue Storm accidentally swaps powers with Johnny briefly. When she gets her powers back, her clothes are disintegrated and she is left butt naked on the pavement of NYC. Tracing the cosmic energy of the Surfer, Reed discovers that a series of planets the alien had visited before Earth have all been destroyed.

The Surfer's movements around the globe bring him past Latveria, where the cosmic energy affects Victor Von Doom, freeing him from two years as a metal statue. Doom, able to move again and returned to a disfigured human form, traces the Surfer to Greenland and makes him an offer to join forces. When the Surfer rebuffs him, Doom attacks. The Surfer returns fire, blasting Doom through the ice. The cosmic energy of the Surfer's blast heals Doom's body, reversing the changes seen in the first film. At this time the Fantastic Four travel to London to face the Surfer but one of the newly built craters leads to the London Eye falling. The Fantastic Four succeed in saving the situation but the Surfer flies away while Fantastic Four are occupied.

Meanwhile, Doom leverages his experience into a deal with the American military, who force the Fantastic Four to work with him. Deducing that the Surfer's board is the source of his power, the group develops a pulse generator that will separate him from it. While setting up the device in the Black Forest in Germany, Sue is confronted by the Surfer, during which he reveals he is only a servant to the destroyer of worlds. The military opens fire on the Surfer, distracting him, allowing the four to fire the pulse and separate the Surfer from his board.

The military imprisons the Surfer in Siberia and forbids the Fantastic Four from interacting with him, while they torture him for information. Sue uses her powers to sneak into his cell, where she learns more information from the Surfer. He tells her his master was known by the people of his world as Galactus, a massive cloud-like cosmic entity which must feed on life-bearing planets to survive, and that his board is a homing beacon which even now summons him to the planet.

Doom, pursuing the power in the board, steals it from the compound, using a device to gain control of the board and its powers. This also leads to Doom killing General Hager. The Fantastic Four rescue the Surfer, and pursue Doom in the high flying Fantasticar through the Chinese mountains. Doom, however, is too strong for the Fantastic Four and they crash land in Shanghai. During the battle, Sue is mortally wounded. With the Surfer powerless, Johnny absorbs the combined powers of the entire team in order to battle the cosmic energy-empowered Doom. Johnny succeeds in breaking Doom's control over the Surfer's board, while Ben uses a nearby crane to knock Doom into the harbor where he is last seen sinking; however, Galactus has already arrived. The Surfer regains the control of his board, and his power is restored. He revives Sue and chooses to defend Earth by flying into Galactus and confronting him. The conflict results in a massive blast of energy, seemingly killing Galactus in the process.

The film ends with Reed and Sue marrying in Japan, in traditional Japanese wedding attire; they are again called back to action when Venice is threatened.

The credits cut back to a shot of the Silver Surfer's seemingly lifeless body floating through space. Just as he drifts off the edge of the screen his eyes open and his board races towards him.

Actor	Role
Ioan Gruffudd	Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic
Jessica Alba	Sue Storm / Invisible Woman
Chris Evans	Johnny Storm / Human Torch
Michael Chiklis	Ben Grimm / The Thing
Doug Jones	Norrin Radd / Silver Surfer
Laurence Fishburne	Voice of the Silver Surfer
Julian McMahon	Victor von Doom / Doctor Doom
Kerry Washington	Alicia Masters
Beau Garrett	Frankie Raye
Vanessa Minnillo	Julie Angel
Andre Braugher	General Hager
Stan Lee	Himself
Brian Posehn	Priest

With Fantastic Four grossing $330 million worldwide, 20th Century Fox hired director Tim Story and screenwriter Mark Frost in December 2005 to return for the superhero team's sequel.^[3] Screenwriters Frost and Don Payne were hired to write the screenplay.^[4] Payne has said the film is based upon Fantastic Four #48-50, in which Galactus also makes an appearance, as well as issues 57-60 in which Doom steals the Surfer's power. Payne has also said the film takes inspiration from the Ultimate Marvel limited series Ultimate Extinction.^[5] As of March 2, 2007, Galactus' design was not yet done,^[6] and by April 18 they were still unsure of whether he would speak.^[7]

The film includes the Fantasti-Car,^[8] a larger role for Kerry Washington's character Alicia Masters, and in June 2006, the Silver Surfer was announced to appear in the sequel as a "villain / hero".^[9] The Silver Surfer has been created by combining the performance of actor Doug Jones, a grey-silver suit designed by Jose Fernandez and created by FX shop Spectral Motion which has then been enhanced by a new computer-generated system designed by WETA. The sequel, whose working title was Fantastic Four 2, was officially titled Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer in August 2006 with filming beginning on August 28 in Vancouver and set for a release date of June 15, 2007.^[10] Michael Chiklis' prosthetics as The Thing were also redesigned to allow him to take it off in between takes.^[11]

In August 2006, actor Andre Braugher dropped out of an ER supporting role to be cast in Rise of the Silver Surfer.^[12] Braugher was cast as General Hager, whom director Story described as "an old acquaintance of Reed Richards and one of the major additions to the movie".^[13] In September, actor Doug Jones was confirmed to portray the Silver Surfer in addition to Julian McMahon reprising his role as Doctor Doom.^[14] The Baxter Building was also redesigned.^[5]

This is the only Marvel Film in which Stan Lee actually appears as himself; (he portrayed Willie Lumpkin in the first Fantastic Four film). In the film, he is denied entry to Reed and Sue's wedding for not being on the approved guest list, recreating events originally portrayed as happening to him and Jack Kirby on the last page of 1965's Fantastic Four Annual #3.

Rise of the Silver Surfer got a PG rating from the MPAA, the first Marvel Entertainment film since Howard the Duck to earn this rating. The first Fantastic Four film earned the higher rating of PG-13. Director Tim Story said in a 2007 interview, "Our cut of the film, when Fox told us that we may be able to get a PG rating, we changed nothing in the movie. We didn't change anything to get the PG, and it was great, because it's not as if we sacrificed anything to get a PG, it was just that "Hey, we can get a PG-rating and why not?" ... It was more of a coincidence than anything, it just worked out for the best".^[15]

The teaser trailer was initially exclusively attached to Night at the Museum. It was released to the general public online on December 26, 2006 on the film's official website. The theatrical trailer was scheduled to appear during the film Disturbia on April 13 but errors occurred and Tim Story announced that it would be released during the Spider-Man 3 film on May 4. However, the theatrical trailer was finally released online on April 30 on Apple Trailer's website.^[16] 20th Century Fox launched an outdoor advertising campaign at the end of February.^[17] The cast also made an appearance at the Coca Cola 600 Nextel Cup NASCAR race in Charlotte over Memorial Day weekend.

In late May 2007, 20th Century Fox struck a deal with the Franklin Mint to promote the movie by altering 40,000 US quarters and releasing them into circulation. All of the altered quarters were minted in 2005 and honor the state of California as part of the 50 State Quarters program created by the US Mint. The altered quarters feature the Silver Surfer on the reverse along with a URL to the movie's official website. Once the US Mint became aware of the promotion, it notified the studio and the Franklin Mint that it was breaking the law by turning government-issued currency into private advertising. The federal mint did not indicate whether a penalty would be effected.^[18]

On its opening weekend, the film was the #1 movie at the U.S. box office, grossing US$58 million^[19], $2 million more than its predecessor.^[20] By its second weekend, the film suffered a 66% drop and a 54% drop in its third weekend.^[19] The film grossed $288.3 million worldwide, including a $131.9 million domestic gross as of November 30, 2007.^[21] The budget was $130 million.^[22]

As of September 9, 2007 on the review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, 36% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 150 reviews (54 "fresh", 96 "rotten").^[23] On Metacritic, the film had an average score of 65 out of 100, based on 45 reviews.^[24] On Yahoo! Movies the film is rated B- by critics, based on 14 reviews.^[25]

The New York Times critic Manohla Dargis called the movie an "amalgam of recycled ideas, dead air, dumb quips, casual sexism and pseudoscientific mumbo jumbo",^[26] while Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal said the film was "more fun than in the original" but "fails to sustain its modest running time of 87 minutes."^[27] James Berardinelli of ReelViews.com called the film "so lackluster it makes Spider-Man 3 feel like a masterpiece by comparison".^[28] Frank Lovece of Film Journal International decried the tone, saying, "Imagine the similarly adolescent/collegiate classic Catcher in the Rye adapted into an Adam Sandler vehicle. The young, goofy Adam Sandler." Lovece also said "When a movie's best sequences are computer-animated, that says something".^[29] Kevin Maher of The Times said the film is "everything you’d expect from a movie that began in the pages of a 1960s comic book – garish, giddy, emotionally simplistic, boldly idiotic and mercifully short".^[30]

Fantastic Four: Rise of The Silver Surfer was nominated at the 2007 MTV Movie Awards for the "Best Summer Movie You Haven't Seen Yet" award, losing to Transformers.

The film was released on October 2, 2007 on both high-definition Blu-ray Disc and standard DVD.

• Fantastic Four film series
• Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (video game)
• Fantastic Four (2005 film)

• Official site
• Superhero Hype: FF
• Trailers in Quicktime
• F4Moviearacde.com
• Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer at MetaCritic

• Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer at the Internet Movie Database
• Fantastic Four: Ride of the Silver Surfer at Rotten Tomatoes
• Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer video interview with Chris Evans on stv.tv/movies
• Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer video interview with Jessica Alba and Ioan Gruffudd on stv.tv/movies
• Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer Production Notes

Preceded by Ocean's Thirteen

Box office number-one films of 2007 (USA) June 17, 2007

Succeeded by Evan Almighty

v • d • e Fantastic Four
Characters	Mister Fantastic · The Invisible Woman · The Human Torch · The Thing
Titles	Main continuity: Fantastic Four · Four · The Thing Other continuities: Ultimate Fantastic Four · Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four · Marvel 1602: Fantastick Four
Television	Fantastic Four (1967) · Fantastic Four (1978) · Fantastic Four (1994) · Fantastic Four (2006) · Other appearances
Movies	The Fantastic Four (1994) · Fantastic Four (2005) · Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)
Related	Locations · Video games

v • d • e Marvel Comics films
Live action	Single films	Howard the Duck (1986) • The Punisher (1989) • Captain America (1991) • The Fantastic Four (1994) • Hulk (2003) • The Punisher (2004) • Man-Thing (2005) • Ghost Rider (2007) • Iron Man (2008) • The Incredible Hulk (2008) • Punisher: War Zone (2008) • Thor (TBA)
	Series	Blade: Blade (1998) • Blade II (2002) • Blade: Trinity (2004) Daredevil: Daredevil (2003) • Elektra (2005) Fantastic Four: Fantastic Four (2005) • Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) Spider-Man: Spider-Man (2002) • Spider-Man 2 (2004) • Spider-Man 3 (2007) X-Men: X-Men (2000) • X2 (2003) • X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) • X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) • Magneto (2009)
Animated	Single films	The Invincible Iron Man (2007) • Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme (2007)
	Series	Ultimate Avengers: Ultimate Avengers (2006) • Ultimate Avengers 2 (2006) • Next Avengers (2008)