X-Men Movies Series List: A Comprehensive Guide for Fans
Hello, movie buffs! If you're here, you're probably as big a fan of the X-Men movies as we are. The X-Men film series has been a rollercoaster ride of action, drama, and superheroics since its inception in 2000. So, grab your favorite mutant-themed snack, and let's dive into our X-Men movies series list, shall we? Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and x men movies series list.
The Early Years: The Original Trilogy
X-Men (2000)
Kicking off our X-Men movies series list is the film that started it all. Directed by Bryan Singer, X-Men introduced us to the merry mutants of Marvel's mutant universe. We met Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and his School for Gifted Youngsters, where he trained young mutants like Cyclops (James Marsden), Storm (Halle Berry), and Rogue (Anna Paquin). The film also introduced us to the Brotherhood of Mutants, led by Magneto (Ian McKellen), who believed in mutant superiority.
X-Men was a massive success, grossing over $296 million worldwide. It paved the way for future superhero films and established the X-Men universe on the big screen.
X2: X-Men United (2003)
Two years later, Singer returned with X2: X-Men United, which picked up where the first film left off. This time, the mutants faced a greater threat: William Stryker (Brian Cox), a colonel who wanted to exterminate all mutants. The film saw the return of the original cast and introduced new characters like Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming) and Lady Deathstrike (Kelly Hu).
X2 was an even bigger hit than its predecessor, grossing over $407 million worldwide. It's often considered one of the best superhero films of all time.
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
Brett Ratner took the helm for the third installment, X-Men: The Last Stand. The film introduced the mutant cure, a serum that could suppress mutant abilities, and explored the ethical implications of such a discovery. It also saw the return of Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) and the introduction of new characters like Beast (Kelsey Grammer) and Juggernaut (Vinnie Jones).
The Last Stand was a financial success, grossing over $459 million worldwide. However, it was criticized for its departure from the source material and the handling of some characters.
The Reboot: First Class and Days of Future Past
X-Men: First Class (2011)
X-Men: First Class was a soft reboot of the series, set during the Cold War era. Directed by Matthew Vaughn, the film focused on the early years of Xavier (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender), exploring their friendship and the origins of their respective groups, the X-Men and the Brotherhood.
First Class was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $353 million worldwide. It also introduced new characters like Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence), Beast (Nicholas Hoult), and Havok (Lucas Till).
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
X-Men: Days of Future Past was a sequel to First Class and a direct sequel to X-Men: The Last Stand. The film saw the return of the original cast and the First Class cast, with a time-traveling story that saw the mutants trying to prevent a future where Sentinels, mutant-killing robots, ruled the world.
Days of Future Past was a massive success, grossing over $748 million worldwide. It also introduced new characters like Bishop (Omar Sy) and Blink (Bingbing Fan).
The Expansion: The Spin-offs
The Wolverine (2013)
Hugh Jackman's Wolverine got his own solo film in The Wolverine, directed by James Mangold. The film saw Logan traveling to Japan, where he faced off against the Silver Samurai (Will Yun Lee) and came to terms with his immortality.
The Wolverine was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $414 million worldwide. It also set the stage for Logan, Jackman's final outing as the character.
X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
X-Men: Apocalypse was the fourth film in the post-First Class timeline and the ninth film in the overall series. The film saw the return of the First Class cast and the introduction of Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac), the first mutant and the most powerful being on Earth. The film also saw the return of some classic X-Men characters, like Psylocke (Olivia Munn) and Storm (Alexandra Shipp).
Apocalypse was a commercial success, grossing over $543 million worldwide. However, it was criticized for its thin plot and over-reliance on CGI.
Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018)
Deadpool was a spin-off film centered around Wade Wilson, a mercenary with accelerated healing abilities and a twisted sense of humor. The film was a massive success, grossing over $785 million worldwide and spawning a sequel, Deadpool 2.
Deadpool 2 was an even bigger hit, grossing over $784 million worldwide. The film introduced new characters like Cable (Josh Brolin) and Domino (Zazie Beetz) and saw Deadpool forming his own team of X-Force.
The End: Dark Phoenix and Logan
X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)
X-Men: Dark Phoenix was the final film in the First Class timeline and the twelfth and final film in the main X-Men series. The film saw the return of the First Class cast and focused on Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) as she struggled with the power of the Phoenix Force.
Dark Phoenix was a critical and commercial disappointment, grossing just $252 million worldwide. However, it did provide a satisfying conclusion to the First Class timeline.
Logan (2017)
Logan was Hugh Jackman's final outing as Wolverine and a departure from the usual superhero fare. Directed by James Mangold, Logan was a dark, violent film that saw an aged and weary Logan caring for an ailing Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) while protecting a young mutant girl named Laura (Dafne Keen).
Logan was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $619 million worldwide. It was also a fitting send-off for Jackman's iconic character.
The Future: The MCU and Beyond
With the acquisition of 20th Century Fox by Disney, the X-Men and their cinematic universe have been absorbed into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While there's no official word on what's next for the mutants, there are plenty of rumors and speculation to keep fans excited.
Some potential X-Men films in the works include a new X-Force film, a solo film for Storm, and a Mutants film that will introduce the X-Men to the MCU. There are also rumors of a Fantastic Four film that will crossover with the X-Men, and a Doctor Strange film that will feature a mutant character.
Conclusion
And there you have it, folks! Our comprehensive X-Men movies series list. From the original trilogy to the First Class films to the spin-offs and beyond, the X-Men have had a long and storied history on the big screen. Whether you're a long-time fan or a newcomer to the mutant world, there's something for everyone in this epic series.
So, which X-Men film is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below. And until next time, keep your claws sharp and your powers ready.