It’s not comparable to that of the Marvel mutant comics, but the continuity of the X-Men movies has also become intricate over the years, including various prequels and spin-offs made after the initial trilogy (not forgetting time travel). In particular, Days of a Future Past (2014) has divided the timeline in two. Well before the Marvel Cinematic Universe was a reality, the first films dedicated to the X-Men were to give particular prestige and lymph to the genre then called “ cinecomic”.
Over the years, the tale of the most famous mutants of the superhero universe has expanded thanks to sequels, prequels and spin-offs, giving life to one of the most accomplished sagas of recent years. Composed of a total of twelve films, it is one of the most profitable franchises in history, thanks to a total collection of over 5 billion dollars. Read down below and find out how to watch X men movies in order.
X men movies in chronological order
X-Men: First Class (2011)
X-Men: First Class is actually the fifth X-Men movie released by Fox, but it’s the first on our list, because it’s the origin story of some of the most important characters in the X-Men cinematic universe. The story follows James McAvoy’s Charles Xavier and Michael Fassbender’s Erik Lehnsherr as they become Professor X and Magneto. It is mainly set in 1962, when the two put together a team of mutants to stop another mutant, the thug Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon), who wants to unleash a nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union.
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
Days of Future Past begins in the dystopian future of 2023 – when mutants are hunted and killed by indestructible robots known as Sentinels. Kitty Pryde (Elliott Page) uses their powers to send Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) in 1973 to stop the assassination of the Sentinel inventor, Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage), by the mutant Mystica (Jennifer Lawrence). We put this film at no. 2 on our list, given that the most important events for the timeline take place in the 1970s, while the events that happen in 2023 are all part of an avoided future.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
This movie is considered to be one of the worst superhero movies of all time. That said, let’s learn important things about Wolverine (Hugh Jackman). It traces Wolverine’s life, from his childhood in 1840 in Canada, before he and his brother Victor Creed (Liev Schreiber) are forced to flee. A brief montage reveals that the brothers, who are nearly indestructible, thanks to their healing factor mutation, have fought in every American war up to Vietnam – when they are recruited by William Stryker (Danny Huston) to join a known special task force. as Team X.
X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
Oscar Isaac plays the first mutant ever, Apocalypse, who awakens in 1983 after being buried in ancient Egypt. The arrival of Apocalypse causes disturbances that alert James McAvoy’s Charles Xavier of his presence, and soon the X-Men realize that the mutant being is bent on destroying the world as we know it, with the help of his team. of mutants, called The Four Horsemen.
Black Phoenix (2019)
This is the latest X-Men movie released by 20th Century Fox. The studio attempts to portray one of the most beloved X-Men comic storylines centered around Jean Gray. The X-Men – hailed as heroes around the world after their victory over Apocalypse eight years earlier – are sent into space to rescue a group of astronauts. But telepath Jean Gray (Sophie Turner) is struck by a mysterious energy force that greatly enhances her powers and also awakens traumatic memories that Xavier (McAvoy) has suppressed from her mind.
X-Men (2000)
The first film in the franchise is number 6 on our list. It stars Patrick Stewart as Professor X and Ian McKellan as Magneto. These old friends are on opposite sides of a Mutant Registration Act debate, which requires all mutants to reveal themselves and add their names to a government database. Magneto wants to turn world leaders into mutants using a machine, combined with the powers of a young mutant named Rogue (Anna Paquin), but unbeknownst to him, the machine kills anyone it transforms.
X2 (2003)
The mutant Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming) tries to assassinate the president of the United States, giving Colonel William Stryker (Bryan Cox) the opportunity to investigate Xavier’s school for his ties to the mutants. Stryker leads a team to capture Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and Cyclops (James Marsden) – it is later revealed that Stryker used his son’s mind control mutant abilities to try to force Professor X to kill all the mutants.
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
The Last Stand focuses on a cure for the mutant genome marketed by a company known as Worthington Labs. The cure creates an immediate division in the mutant population, causing Magneto (Ian McKellan) to recreate his Brotherhood of Mutants. Meanwhile, Jean Gray (Famke Jansen) suddenly returns to life, after her sacrifice at Alkali Lake in the previous film. When her behavior begins to worry Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Professor X (Patrick Stewart) reveals that her death unleashed a dangerous side of her personality known as the Phoenix.
The Wolverine (2013)
This film deals with the aftermath of Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) killing Jean Gray (Famke Jansen) at the end of The Last Stand. He has become a recluse in the woods and is discovered by Yukio (Rila Fukushima), a mutant with the power to predict anyone’s death. She asks Wolverine to go with her to Japan to meet Ichiro Yashida, CEO of Yashida Industries, whom Wolverine rescued during the Nagasaki atomic bomb.
Deadpool (2016)
Ryan Reynold technically debuted as Merc with a Mouth in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and for a normal hero, this would be considered a total reboot, but Deadpool is the furthest thing from normal. So, it’s still worth including it here. This film follows mercenary Wade Wilson (Reynolds) as he falls in love with Vanessa (Morena Baccarin). Shortly after they are engaged, Wade receives a terminal diagnosis of cancer, which leads him to enter an experimental program, in which he receives a serum that awakens his dormant mutant genes.
Deadpool 2 (2018)
The sequel to the surprise hit of the 2016 original sees Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) team up with Domino (Zazie Beetz), Colossus (Stefan Capicic), Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand) and Peter (Rob Delaney) to form X-Force . They try to stop Cable (Josh Brolin), a cyborg soldier of the future, from killing a young mutant named Russel Collins (Julian Dennison), who killed Cable’s family.
The new mutants (2020)
The New Mutants began production under 20th Century Fox, but then the rights to the X-Men were resold to Marvel. The film follows five teenage mutants who undergo treatment to “cure” them of their powers in a creepy old asylum. The New Mutants basically turns into a horror movie from this premise. The only problem is that the film is not very good. All of this meant that The New Mutants came out on demand during the pandemic and was quickly forgotten. However, the film features a number of young stars including Anya Taylor-Joy from The Queen’s Gambit and Maisie Williams from Game of Thrones.
Logan (2017)
Logan is Hugh Jackman’s last turn as Wolverine. In 2029, Logan lives as a limo driver in a dystopian version of El Paso. His mutant healing factor has started to wear off and the world hasn’t seen a mutant be born in 25 years. While Logan wants to continue his life in peace, caring for a 90-year-old Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), suffering from dementia, he is forced to protect a young girl, named Laura (Dafne Keen), with powers mysteriously similar to his own, while they travel to a refuge that may not even exist.
X men movies in release order
- X-Men (2000)
- X2 (2003)
- X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
- X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
- X-Men: First Class (2011)
- The Wolverine (2013)
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
- Deadpool (2016)
- X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
- Logan (2017)
- Deadpool 2 (2018)
- Black Phoenix (2019)
- The new mutants (2020)
