Twenty-five years ago, on July 14, 2000, ‘X-Men‘ burst onto the big screen, kicking off a superhero revolution. Directed by Bryan Singer, it traded comic-book spandex for sleek leather and introduced us to a world where mutants fought for acceptance. Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, Patrick Stewart’s Professor X, and Ian McKellen’s Magneto became icons, setting the stage for a sprawling, sometimes messy, but always heartfelt franchise. As we celebrate this milestone, let’s rank all 14 X-Men films, from the game-changing originals to the irreverent Deadpool spinoffs, with fun facts and fresh insights. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual viewer, join me on this mutant-filled ride!
14. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
Director: Gavin Hood | Rotten Tomatoes: 37% | Box Office: $373M
Let’s start with the low point. ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine‘ tried to unpack Logan’s backstory but stumbled hard. The film’s heart is in the right place, with Hugh Jackman’s charisma carrying a convoluted tale of his rivalry with Sabretooth (Liev Schreiber) and the Weapon X program. But it’s infamous for botching Deadpool—sewing Ryan Reynolds’ ‘Merc with the Mouth’ shut! A leaked, unfinished cut didn’t help its reputation, and the overstuffed plot feels like a comic book fever dream gone wrong.
Recent Reviews: Critics on X call it a ‘disappointment’ that ‘flattens’ Wolverine’s mystique by overexplaining his past. Fans still wince at the CGI claws and Gambit’s (Taylor Kitsch) brief, accent-less cameo.
Fun Fact: The film’s production was so chaotic that it had 11 writers, including David Benioff, and suffered from a writers’ strike. Ryan Reynolds improvised most of his lines as Deadpool before the character was altered in post-production.
13. The New Mutants (2020)
Director: Josh Boone | Rotten Tomatoes: 36% | Box Office: $49M
This horror-tinged spinoff aimed to reinvent the X-Men as a teen thriller, following young mutants like Magik (Anya Taylor-Joy) trapped in a creepy facility. It’s ambitious but feels disconnected from the franchise, with a thin plot and production delays that dulled its edge. Fans appreciate the cast but lament its lack of X-Men spirit.
Recent Reviews: Reviews note its ‘quiet’ approach but call it forgettable, while X posts lament its wasted potential, especially after years of reshoots.
Fun Fact: Originally planned as a trilogy, ‘The New Mutants’ was delayed by Disney’s acquisition of Fox, and its horror elements were toned down to fit a PG-13 rating.
12. Dark Phoenix (2019)
Director: Simon Kinberg | Rotten Tomatoes: 22% | Box Office: $252M
The second attempt at the ‘Dark Phoenix Saga’ sees Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) consumed by a cosmic force. Despite a talented cast, including James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, it feels rushed and small-scale for such an epic story. The alien villains (led by a bland Jessica Chastain) and production woes didn’t help.
Recent Reviews: Critics call it a ‘forgettable shrug,’ and fans on X agree, citing a weak script and lackluster CGI as reasons it’s a disappointing finale.
Fun Fact: The film’s climax was reshot to avoid similarities with another superhero movie, and the alien race was changed from Skrulls to D’Bari to fit MCU plans.
11. X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
Director: Bryan Singer | Rotten Tomatoes: 47% | Box Office: $543M
![X-Men: Apocalypse | Teaser Trailer [HD] | 20th Century FOX](https://geekvibesnation.com/wp-content/cache/flying-press/621ef8699908c4372f7a7963a1055a4b.jpg)
Oscar Isaac as the ancient mutant Apocalypse should’ve been a slam dunk, but the film overreaches with a bloated cast and generic world-ending stakes. The Quicksilver (Evan Peters) slow-motion scene is a highlight, but the story lacks the emotional depth of earlier entries.
Recent Reviews: Reviews call it a ‘guilty pleasure’ for its weirdness, but fans on X criticize its reliance on CGI over character development.
Fun Fact: Isaac spent hours in prosthetics to play Apocalypse, only to have his performance muted by heavy makeup and a script that gave him little to do.
10. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
Director: Brett Ratner | Rotten Tomatoes: 57% | Box Office: $459M
The original trilogy’s finale tackles the ‘Dark Phoenix Saga’ and a mutant cure, but it’s a chaotic mess. Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) kills off major characters, and the plot juggles too many threads. Still, moments like Kitty Pryde (Elliot Page) and Beast (Kelsey Grammer) shine.
Recent Reviews: Fans praise its action but call it ‘overstuffed,’ while recent X posts defend its bold swings despite the flaws.
Fun Fact: Director Brett Ratner was a last-minute replacement after Matthew Vaughn and Bryan Singer left, leading to a rushed production.
9. The Wolverine (2013)
Director: James Mangold | Rotten Tomatoes: 71% | Box Office: $414M
Logan’s Japan-set adventure strips him of his healing factor, offering a fresh take on the character. Hugh Jackman shines, but the third act veers into generic action with a clunky Silver Samurai. It’s a solid solo outing but lacks the depth of later spinoffs.
Recent Reviews: Critics call it a ‘character-driven story’ undermined by a ‘bizarre corporate conspiracy,’ reflecting mixed fan sentiment on X.
Fun Fact: The film’s bullet train fight was shot using a real train in Japan, with CGI enhancing the high-speed chaos.
8. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Director: Shawn Levy | Rotten Tomatoes: 78% | Box Office: $1.3B+
The MCU’s first X-Men film is a multiversal romp with Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine teaming up to save Wade’s timeline. It’s a cameo-filled blast with raucous humor, but its reliance on Marvel lore and weaker story depth keep it from the top tier.
Recent Reviews: Reviews praise its ‘tons of fun’ but note it’s ‘bloated’ compared to earlier Deadpool films. Fans on X love the nostalgia but want clearer MCU mutant plans.
Fun Fact: Jackman finally wears Wolverine’s iconic yellow suit, a nod to the comics that fans waited 24 years to see!
7. Deadpool 2 (2018)
Director: David Leitch | Rotten Tomatoes: 84% | Box Office: $785M
Bigger and bloodier, ‘Deadpool 2’ amps up the action with Cable (Josh Brolin) and Domino (Zazie Beetz). It’s hilarious but loses some of the first film’s heart, leaning hard into meta-jokes. The X-Force team’s ill-fated mission is comedy gold.
Recent Reviews: Critics note it’s ‘crasser and funnier’ but less fresh, while X posts call it a ‘fun time’ despite its bloat.
Fun Fact: The film’s ‘Once Upon a Deadpool’ PG-13 cut added a framing device with Deadpool kidnapping Fred Savage, parodying ‘The Princess Bride’.
6. X-Men (2000)
Director: Bryan Singer | Rotten Tomatoes: 82% | Box Office: $296M
The one that started it all. ‘X-Men’ introduced mutants to a post-Matrix world, with grounded themes of prejudice and stellar casting. Jackman’s Wolverine and McKellen’s Magneto steal the show, though the third act feels dated. It’s a landmark for superhero films.
Recent Reviews: Fans praise its ‘sharp narrative focus’ but note outdated effects, while X posts celebrate its 25th anniversary with nostalgia.
Fun Fact: Russell Crowe turned down Wolverine, recommending Jackman, who was initially rejected for being ‘too tall’ at 6’2″ compared to the comic’s 5’3″ Logan.
5. Deadpool (2016)
Director: Tim Miller | Rotten Tomatoes: 83% | Box Office: $782M
Ryan Reynolds’ passion project redefined R-rated superhero films. ‘Deadpool’ is a foul-mouthed, fourth-wall-breaking riot with a surprisingly sweet romance between Wade and Vanessa (Morena Baccarin). Its lean story and irreverence make it endlessly rewatchable.
Recent Reviews: Critics call it the best Deadpool film for its ‘sincere stakes,’ and fans on X still quote its one-liners.
Fun Fact: The film’s $58M budget was tiny compared to other superhero films, forcing creative solutions like using practical effects for Colossus.
4. X-Men: First Class (2011)
Director: Matthew Vaughn | Rotten Tomatoes: 86% | Box Office: $353M
This 1960s-set prequel reinvigorated the franchise with James McAvoy’s Charles Xavier and Michael Fassbender’s Magneto. Their friendship-turned-rivalry is electric, and the retro aesthetic pops. It’s a near-perfect origin story, despite minor pacing issues.
Recent Reviews: Critics praise its ‘strong script’ and ‘stylish direction,’ while X fans rank it high for its emotional core.
Fun Fact: The film incorporates real historical events, like the Cuban Missile Crisis
3. X2: X-Men United (2003)
Director: Bryan Singer | Rotten Tomatoes: 85% | Box Office: $407M
‘X2: X-Men United’ is where the franchise found its stride. Nightcrawler’s (Alan Cumming) White House attack is iconic, and the team-up against William Stryker (Brian Cox) deepens the mutant metaphor. It’s tighter and bolder than the original, with emotional heft.
Recent Reviews: Critics call it ‘lighter, faster, and funnier,’ and fans still call the Nightcrawler scene a genre pinnacle.
Fun Fact: The scene where Magneto pulls iron from a guard’s blood was inspired by a real scientific concept about magnetic nanoparticles.
2. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
Director: Bryan Singer | Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | Box Office: $747M
This time-travel epic unites the original and prequel casts, with Wolverine traveling to the 1970s to stop a dystopian future. The Quicksilver slow-motion sequence is legendary, and Mystique’s (Jennifer Lawrence) arc adds depth. It’s ambitious and thrilling.
Recent Reviews: Critics call it a ‘visual feast,’ and X posts rank it among the best for its bold crossover.
Fun Fact: The ‘Rogue Cut’ home release adds 17 minutes, including a subplot with Anna Paquin’s Rogue, making it a fan-favorite alternate version.
1. Logan (2017)
Director: James Mangold | Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | Box Office: $619M
‘Logan’ is a masterpiece. Set in a gritty 2029, Hugh Jackman’s final (at the time) outing as Wolverine is a raw, emotional Western. Caring for an ailing Charles (Patrick Stewart) and a feral X-23 (Dafne Keen), Logan faces mortality in a brutal, heartfelt tale. It’s the franchise’s peak.
Recent Reviews: Critics hail it as a ‘meditation on superhero stories,’ and fans on X call it a tearjerker that transcends the genre.
Fun Fact: ‘Logan’ earned an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, a rare honor for a superhero film.
Final Thoughts
The X-Men franchise, born in 2000, didn’t just launch a series—it sparked a superhero renaissance. From the grounded drama of ‘X-Men’ to the irreverent chaos of ‘Deadpool’ and the poignant farewell of ‘Logan’, these films captured the mutant struggle with heart and spectacle. Sure, the timeline’s a mess, and not every film landed, but the best ones remind us why we love these outsiders. As the mutants join the MCU, here’s to 25 years of claws, telepathy, and standing up for those who don’t fit in. What’s your favorite X-Men film? Let’s keep the conversation going!
DC Fanboy! Superman is the greatest comic book character of all time. Favorite movies are Man of Steel, Goonies, Back To the Future
