Before Disney acquired the studio and the rights to the characters returned to Marvel, 20th Century Fox made a good go of an X-Men movie franchise. The series was certainly a mixed bag. The prequel era brought some of the worst comic book movies in recent memory, despite featuring a bunch of the best actors working today, but movies like Deadpool and Logan changed the game with their R ratings and subversions of audiences’ expectations.
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The original X-Men movie blazed the trail for superhero blockbusters at the turn of the century, proving that comic books could form the basis for a very profitable blockbuster franchise.
Updated on March 11, 2025 by Rhenn Taguiam: With the Fantastic Four about to hit theaters in their first entry in the MCU, and Professor X already appearing in Multiverse of Madness, fans of the X-Men might be excited to finally see Charles Xavier’s students and his beloved school in modern Marvel movies. However, for fans of the franchise, they might want to look into the X-Men’s offerings prior to their arrival in the MCU. With Deadpool & Wolverine finally saying goodbye to the FOXverse, just which X-Men films are must-watches and which ones are must-skips?
14
X-Men: Dark Phoenix
The Dark Phoenix Saga Proves To Be Quite A Difficult Story To Adapt
X-Men: Dark Phoenix
- Release Date
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June 5, 2019
With Jean Grey tapping into an “inner power” in X-Men: Apocalypse, it’s now hinted that the next film in the new X-Men saga involves the Phoenix Force – something X-Men: Dark Phoenix attempts to do. Adapting this much-beloved X-Men saga isn’t easy with restrictions from Marvel hanging around, which meant the X-Men Foxverse couldn’t use the original elements from the original Saga – no Shi-ar Empire, for starters, meant no real extraterrestrial threat to trigger Jean’s transformation into the host for the Phoenix Force.
Unfortunately, this also meant Dark Phoenix becomes another sequel attempt to salvage a fan-favorite arc without much of its major supporting details. As predicted, this resulted in quite a disappointing experience, with the established depths of Professor X and Magneto alongside the potential of the younger mutants wasted in a story that couldn’t find its footing.
13
The New Mutants
An Interesting Horror Take On The X-Men
The New Mutants
- Release Date
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August 26, 2020
Compared to the heroics of other X-Men films (and even the rather comically gruesome take of the Deadpool flicks), The New Mutants took “spinoff” to a whole other level by offering a psychological horror take on the IP. While the “new” mutants of The New Mutants are indeed youngsters with unique abilities, they’re taken to an empty hospital run by Dr. Cecilia Reyes where, instead of training to fight evildoers, they eventually fight for their lives while coming to terms with their powers.
Despite the potential of The New Mutants to deliver a fresh take on the X-Men experience in the advent of new live-action X-Men titles such as FX’s Legion and Fox’s The Gifted, this spinoff fails to deliver that “oomph” that fans needed to fully appreciate the arrival of these new characters. Character development and the need to deliver a balance of horror and storytelling continued to clash throughout the film, eventually leading to a failure to deliver a satisfying experience.
12
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
An Uneventful Prequel For A Fan-Favorite Character
Hugh Jackman gets his much-deserved solo X-Men film in the form of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which finally dwells into the nitty-gritty of his past as Logan. The film tackles not just his childhood, but his indoctrination into the Weapon X program, his horrific experience, and an ending that supposedly ties into the first X-Men film. Unfortunately, despite its promising premise, X-Men Origins: Wolverine grossly underdelivers – to the point that some fans even consider the film non-canon.
Despite its rather emotional beginning moments and action-packed sequences, the odd direction the film took strayed too far away from the acclaimed “X-Men formula.” Hugh Jackman’s acting is wasted in a bland story plastered with quite a lot of unnecessary Easter Eggs that technically didn’t follow through in the original trilogy.
11
X-Men: Apocalypse
Introducing Quite An Underwhelming Threat With A Cool Cast
X-Men: Apocalypse
- Release Date
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May 18, 2016
Threats to mankind become global in X-Men: Apocalypse when En Sabah Nur resurfaces in Egypt and begins to recruit his new Horsemen. And with Magneto becoming his Horseman of War, things become especially more troublesome to the growing Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Despite its grander premise and a more global threat in the form of En Sabah Nur, X-Men: Apocalypse once again plunges the new saga into the “Third Film Curse.” While Apocalypse finally marks the arrival of bigger players such as Scott Summers, Jean Grey, and even Nightcrawler, the lack of character development among Xavier’s star pupils leaves much to be desired in terms of larger-scale execution.
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It appears Apocalypse‘s woes stem from the fact that the stories of Professor X, Magneto, and Mystique have evolved into becoming the central plot point of this new saga, leaving little room to improve the rest of the cast and the potential of its 80s to 90s setting.
10
X-Men: The Last Stand
A Lackluster Ending For An Acclaimed Trilogy
X-Men: The Last Stand
- Release Date
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May 26, 2006
Film sagas often fall under the “Third Film Curse,” wherein the third part of its series is often regarded as its worst – and such became the case for X-Men: The Last Stand when it became the supposed ending for the X-Men franchise. Tensions are high as more politicians push the Mutant Registration Act, prompting Magneto to ramp up activities of the Brotherhood as a “safe haven.” With rumors of a “Mutant Cure” also attracting some Xavier students and with the team grieving the death of Jean Grey in X2, The Last Stand begins on a grim note.
Unfortunately, the film ends on a much darker note with its rather extended first half, thrilling second half, and rather rushed finale. Plotlines finally get resolved across the board, but seconds’ or minutes’ worth of exposure might not have been worth the while. And with production woes involving broken promises, among others, The Last Stand has become quite a dent in the X-Men films’ momentum.
9
The Wolverine
Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine Takes Japan Against Yakuza and Self-Guilt
The Wolverine
- Release Date
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July 26, 2013
Fans will immediately appreciate The Wolverine solely for the fact that it plucked Hugh Jackman out of the embarrassment that is Origins and places his iconic portrayal of Wolverine into a deservedly high-stakes experience with high-octane action. Set in modern Japan, Logan finds himself as a hermit in Japan as his memories of killing Jean Grey to save the world constantly plague him. An encounter with an old friend and a wild goose chase with the Yakuza results in an action-packed Wolverine story without the pressure of forcing a “too deep” story.
The Wolverine understands that Logan is a visceral character, and attached to his gruff personality is the expectation that things will go wrong rather quickly. The film capitalizes on this premise and executes a straightforward Wolverine story that worries less about drama and focuses on the action. While Hugh Jackman’s acting seems like Logan could benefit from a more dramatic tale, The Wolverine’s story opting for a more “gruff action” take still makes for a film that fulfills its purpose.
8
X-Men
A Welcome Start For Superhero Films and Hugh Jackman
X-Men
- Release Date
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July 13, 2000
Perhaps considered the film that proved Patrick Stewart will be known for being both Jean-Luc Picard of Star Trek fame as well as “the” best portrayal of Charles Xavier, X-Men jumpstarted the popularity of Marvel’s mutant family on the big screen. Heralded as the film that also introduced Hugh Jackman as the “best” representation of on-screen Wolverine, X-Men is a stellar film considering the limitations of production and storytelling for 2000s-era superhero films. Wolverine stumbles upon the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters with no idea why Magneto is chasing him, with the experience unknowingly indoctrinating the loner Logan into a school where mutants are in need of protection from prosecution while the X-Men are trained to save lives.
Despite being the film that “started it all,” X-Men at the time had yet to tap into fan familiarity as part of its core presentation. This meant that viewers suffered through much-needed exposition and introduction of the X-Men, unlike modern superhero films, in which exposition often occurs as the plot moves forward. Nevertheless, X-Men is quite an exciting introduction to the team at the time, making it a worthwhile watch if fans are in a Marvel film marathon and would want to see the beginnings of a fan-favorite film franchise.
7
Deadpool
A Welcome Comedic Addition To The X-Men Franchise
Deadpool
- Release Date
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February 9, 2016
After his rather unremarkable first appearance in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the Merc With A Mouth returns with a vengeance in a “proper” solo spinoff. Headlined by Ryan Reynolds himself, Deadpool is a masterclass in offering a straightforward action flick that doesn’t take itself too seriously – resulting in an experience that fans can rewatch without the stresses of having to deep-dive into X-Men lore. This is reminiscent of most Deadpool stories, where the appeal has less to do with his interactions with Marvel Comics and more with Deadpool having his own shenanigans.
Its framing as a “proper” origin story for the character is set up as a revenge action story, but Reynolds’ portrayal of Deadpool makes the film feel altogether just a gruesome action comedy. While lacking in the “depth” that is often associated with the X-Men films, Deadpool is a breath of fresh air that leaves fans wanting more out of the Merc’s adventures.
6
X2: X-Men United
A Worthwhile Sequel For An X-Men Film
X2: X-Men United
- Release Date
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April 27, 2003
One of the rare instances of a sequel done right, X2: X-Men United expands the X-Men film mythos for the first time with much-needed escalation of its leftover plot points. Logan is still struggling to find his memories. Jean has her powers beginning to go haywire with premonitions, and a mutant teleporter attacking the White House has escalated anti-mutant sentiment. While the X-Men already imprisoned Magneto, new threats arise in the form of Colonel William Stryker and Lady Deathstrike – both of which have ties to Wolverine’s past.
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This expansion of the X-Men’s story from a localized threat to a grander one makes X2 a deservedly appreciated sequel. The story offers equal exposure to both “senior” X-Men and its younger members, setting the latter up for a bigger role in the trilogy. Its unexpected ending can still leave fans aghast – perhaps especially with its rather odd follow-through in The Last Stand.
5
Deadpool 2
A Hilarious But Lore-Packed Sequel
Deadpool 2
- Release Date
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May 10, 2018
Fans who enjoyed the gory but goofy setup of the first Deadpool film will undoubtedly appreciate the attempt to add more depth to Wade’s character in Deadpool 2, complete with an ensemble cast that features yet another popular Deadpool partner-in-crime – Cable, as portrayed by Josh Brolin of Thanos fame, but this time as an antagonist. Deadpool 2 vastly improves upon the first film by sheer virtue of Easter Eggs and cameos alone, this time with the rag-tag team called the X-Force. In the comics, X-Force was one of Deadpool’s OG teams and was specifically tasked to handle black ops missions the X-Men couldn’t do in public.
Ryan Reynolds once again proves he is equipped with sufficient charm to bring Deadpool back for a sequel, although fans do criticize some personality quirks attached to the character throughout the film’s events. Regardless of these perceived faults, Deadpool 2 capitalizes on its story’s potential to be equal parts serious and wacky, giving fans a glimpse of how a superhero comedy could work.
4
X-Men: First Class
A Welcome Nostalgia Ride Of An Origin Story
X-Men: First Class
- Release Date
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June 3, 2011
With the growing popularity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its modern setting, the Cold War setup of X-Men: First Class provides a distant yet familiar appeal to retelling the tale of the X-Men – especially the tragic fallout between Professor X and Magneto. A hopeful Charles, his ever-loyal adopted sister Raven, and newly-made vengeful friend Erik become key pieces to a chessboard that involves stopping total nuclear war at the hands of Sebastian Shaw. And unlike the Avengers where Earth’s Mightiest Heroes have already made a name for themselves, Charles has to assemble a ragtag team of mutants whose powers they can barely control.
Compared to its predecessors, First Class finally taps into confidence towards viewer familiarity to weave an emotionally charged reintroduction of the X-Men to the big screen. With The Last Stand leaving a bitter-sweet finale to the trilogy and Origins being quite the disappointing prequel, First Class is a well-deserved “restart” to a Fox IP that finally dwells less on heroics and more on the social struggles of being born with powers. The historical backdrop can make for interesting alternate history plot points, making the film even more compelling to rewatch.
3
X-Men: Days of Future Past
One Of The Most Riveting Franchise Crossovers In Cinema
X-Men: Days of Future Past
- Release Date
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May 15, 2014
Arguably one of the best films across both the original trilogy and the new saga, Days of Future Past transforms an acclaimed two-parter comics arc into a compelling time travel story that attempts to reconcile all X-Men films. Continuing after the events of the first film, a walking Charles Xavier and a non-Beastly Hank McCoy are visited by Logan from a post-apocalyptic future. As it turns out, the future of the original saga involves the activation of the Sentinel Program, resulting in the enslavement of mankind and a ragtag team of the OG Cast in a desperate last stand. Logan is subjected to a mind transfer to his body in the past, where he’s now in charge of convincing Charles and Hank to stop Raven from joining Magneto and assassinating Bolivar Trask – which inevitably results in the arrival of Sentinels.
This race against time transforms Days of Future Past into a sci-fi/spy-fi flick, with the arrival of new characters such as Quicksilver (and his iconic slo-mo moment) and awesome fight scenes in the future leaving viewers catching their breaths. Days of Future Past again makes use of alternate history to flesh out the overall X-Men Foxverse, making it an exhilarating ride that elevates the contained premise of First Class into space-time relevancy.
2
Deadpool & Wolverine
A Welcome Finale To The Foxverse
When Marvel finally got the rights to the X-Men back from Fox, Deadpool & Wolverine became the perfect send-off to the Foxverse. Beginning with a heartbroken Deadpool notified by the TVA of his universe’s impending destruction after his Wolverine – its Anchor Being – died in Logan, Deadpool decides to “snatch” another universe’s Wolverine in the hopes of saving his. This results in him dragging the “worst” Wolverine out there, and thus beginning their journey of saving Deadpool’s universe from new villains – and even giving a proper send-off to some more obscure Fox properties.
Despite being both a mix of hardcore violence and comedic jabs at both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Foxverse films, Deadpool & Wolverine manages to get the trappings of a crossover film in ways Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness weren’t able to accomplish. Granted, Deadpool & Wolverine has fewer “stakes” in terms of story compared to how No Way Home and Multiverse of Madness have direct ties to their protagonists’ respective sequels. However, Deadpool & Wolverine maintains its audience allure for not taking itself too seriously – a luxury Deadpool himself manages to provide given the nature of his IP.
1
Logan
A Touching Ending To A Fan-Favorite Character
Logan
- Release Date
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March 3, 2017
Being an adaptation of the Old Man Logan series where Wolverine died in the comics, fans are already expecting Logan to be a farewell to his character. Complete with a post-apocalyptic premise where no mutants have been born in 2029 and Logan suffers from Adamantium poisoning, it seems Wolverine’s time is slowly running out. Not to mention, Charles Xavier’s suffering from dementia has unfortunately killed many of the X-Men years prior, providing the perfect ingredients for a somber premise. And when Logan becomes the caretaker of a young girl named Laura, the film’s ingredients for tears become complete.
Unlike other X-Men films, Logan is one chilling ride that will keep fans asking for more but also hesitant to see Hugh Jackman’s character reach his end. Such is the acclaim of Logan that even Wolverine and Deadpool didn’t use this universe’s Logan to help the Merc With A Mouth with his shenanigans.
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