Ranking Every X-Men Movie: Worst to Best (2000-2024)

Despite an endless stream of superhero franchises dominating our screens, June 2019 marked the culmination of one such series that began in 2000 with Bryan Singer’s X-Men film and concluded with Simon Kinberg’s Dark Phoenix. While The New Mutants, the latest installment in this franchise, maintains a canonical connection, we’re excluding it from this list for several reasons: firstly, it deviates from the main X-Men narrative; secondly, it has no links to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In this write-up, we’re going to guide you through all the X-Men films, arranged from least favorite to most loved. Each movie will come with a quick summary and our personal review, along with an explanation of its position on the list. Our goal here is to provide a comprehensive view of the creator behind this costly franchise, while also paying tribute to a series that, regrettably, has concluded – as Marvel and Kevin Feige’s future plans for mutants will undoubtedly be different.

13. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

The movie is Directed by: Gavin Hood, with a Screenplay written by David Benioff and Skip Woods. The music is composed by Harry Gregson-Williams. The main cast includes Hugh Jackman as Logan / Wolverine, Liev Schreiber as Victor Creed / Sabertooth, Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson / Deadpool, Danny Huston as William Stryker, and Taylor Kitsch as Remy LeBeau / Gambit.

Rating: 5/10
Explanation: Despite being intended as the start of a series of origin films for the franchise’s characters, “Wolverine” turned out to be an unneeded flop and the worst sequel in the franchise. While the brotherly relationship between Victor (played by Liev Schreiber) and Logan (Hugh Jackman) was well-portrayed, Jackman delivered another strong performance, the film ultimately became a predictable, adrenaline-fueled mess filled with silly plots and excess characters, making it feel like Rambo on a particularly bad trip.

12. The Wolverine (2013)

This film is directed by James Mangold, with a screenplay co-written by Mark Bomback and Scott Frank. The music for the movie was composed by Marco Beltrami, and the cast includes Hugh Jackman playing the role of both Logan (Wolverine), Tao Okamoto as Mariko Yashida, Svetlana Hodchenkova portraying Dr. Green (Viper), and Famke Janssen appearing as Jean Gray.

Assessment: The “Japanese Wolverine” receives a score of 5.5/10.

Explanation: Despite being as disappointing as the other film on the list, this movie manages to hold onto two positive aspects: the ambiance and its ties to the original storyline. If not for these factors, the portrayal of Logan as a bodyguard battling kindergarten-level villains (apparently including Megatron or some large metal ninja) would have been a total failure. However, another commendable performance by Jackman, particularly due to his character’s emotional turmoil amidst the atmospheric setting of Japan, just about keeps it from sinking completely.

11. Dark Phoenix (2019)

Directed by: Simon Kinberg

Screenplay: Written by Simon Kinberg

Music: Hans Zimmer

Starring: James McAvoy as Charles Xavier/Professor X, Michael Fassbender as Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto, Sophie Turner as Jean Gray/Phoenix, Jessica Chastain as Wolf, Jennifer Lawrence as Raven Darkhölme/Mystique, and Nicholas Hoult as Hank McCoy/Beast

This version maintains the original structure but uses more natural and easy-to-read language to convey the same information.

Rating: 7/10

Explanation: The film “Dark Phoenix” concluded the series with a disappointing finale. In this reinterpretation of an earlier tale, Kinberg and his team fell short in numerous areas, including character growth and plot development. They crafted a movie that was inconsistent with the style established in previous X-Men films and seemed uncertain about its direction. Although it wasn’t as bad as the last two movies on the list, “Dark Phoenix” is merely watchable, offering nothing particularly exceptional.

10. X2 (2003)

As for me, I was led by the skilled direction of Bryan Singer. The words that brought this story to life were penned by Michael Dougherty, Dan Harris, and David Hayter. The moving score that accompanied our adventure was crafted by John Ottman. And finally, I had the privilege of working alongside Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier / Professor X, Ian McKellen as Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto, Hugh Jackman as Logan / Wolverine, Famke Janssen as Jean Gray, James Marsden as Scott Summers / Cyclops, Halle Berry as Ororo Munroe / Storm, Rebecca Romijin-Stamos as Raven Darkhölme / Mystique, and Brian Cox as William Stryker.

7/10

Starting from the ninth movie, none of the X-Men films can be considered bad. However, despite similar ratings, they are ranked. We’re looking at the second sequel in this series, which, while it may not be as strong as other good X-Men movies, still offers notable qualities compared to the last three. Featuring a powerful cast and impressive performances by the lead actors – Stewart, McKellen, and Jackman – X2 might seem less exceptional today (compared to its initial impact) due to its similarities with the first film and slightly fewer original ideas.

9. X-Men (2000)

Director: Bryan Singer
Writer of the Screenplay: David Hayter
Music Composed By: Michael Kamen
Starring: Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier / Professor X, Ian McKellen as Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto, Hugh Jackman as Logan / Wolverine, Famke Janssen as Jean Gray, James Marsden as Scott Summers / Cyclops, Halle Berry as Ororo Munroe / Storm, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos as Raven Darkhölme / Mystique

Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Explanation: The original X-Men film was once a groundbreaking masterpiece in the superhero genre, breaking new boundaries. While visually reminiscent of The Matrix, X-Men successfully carved out its own unique identity as an artistically independent movie and a deeply personal project by Bryan Singer. With a stellar cast, this 20-year-old series was brilliantly launched by Singer. However, despite being a truly remarkable and pioneering work, X-Men eventually fell short in comparison to the higher artistic and narrative might of subsequent films.

8. X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

Directed by: Bryan Singer
Writing Credit: Simon Kinberg
Music Score: John Ottman
Main Actors: James McAvoy as Charles Xavier/Professor X, Michael Fassbender as Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto, Sophie Turner as Jean Gray/Phoenix, Jessica Chastain as Wolf, Jennifer Lawrence as Raven Darkhölme/Mystique, Nicholas Hoult as Hank McCoy/Beast, Olivia Munn as Psylocke, Oscar Isaac as En Sabah Nur/Apocalypse

As a die-hard film enthusiast, I’d rate X-Men: Apocalypse a solid 7.5/10. Despite receiving its fair share of criticism, this movie, in my opinion, is somewhat undervalued. It seems to have been more hampered by a shortage of creative ideas and overreliance on visual effects than by its narrative itself.

The titular character, En Sabah Nur, or Apocalypse, was an exceptionally captivating villain, while performances from James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and other mutants were top-notch. The film also boasted a great atmosphere and style, although it must be said that it doesn’t quite match the innovation of earlier X-Men installments. All in all, X-Men: Apocalypse is certainly deserving of its place on the middle rung of the list.

7. Deadpool 2 (2018)

Directed by: David Leitch

Screenplay credits: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Ryan Reynolds

Music composed by: Tyler Bates

Starring: Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool, Morena Baccarin as Vanessa, Julian Dennison as Russell Collins / Firefist, Zazie Beetz as Domino, and Josh Brolin as Cable.

Rating: 8/10

Explanation: The second Deadpool film was equally entertaining, humorous, and eccentric as the first one. Ryan Reynolds did a fantastic job once again, and the story was even more intriguing than the initial installment. However, it seemed to lack the freshness that made the original so special. It’s not to say Deadpool 2 is bad; on the contrary, there’s nothing wrong with it. Yet, it didn’t manage to surpass its predecessor, which is why it receives this rating.

6. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

Led by: Brett Ratner

Screenplay credits: Simon Kinberg and Zak Penn

Music score by: John Powell

Starring: Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier/Professor X, Ian McKellen as Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto, Hugh Jackman as Logan/Wolverine, Famke Janssen as Jean Gray/Phoenix, James Marsden as Scott Summers/Cyclops, Halle Berry as Ororo Munroe/Storm, and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos as Raven Darkhölme/Mystique.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Explanation: A somewhat contentious choice on this list, I consider The Last Stand an excellent and grand finale for the initial X-Men trilogy. Maintaining the playful vibe of Singer’s films, which were akin to the spirit of ’90s youth, The Last Stand offered another creative take on the story of the unhinged Jean Grey and the intense confrontation among mutants, significantly impacting various relationships. Though not always flawlessly executed, the film’s somber tone, coupled with its groundbreaking nature (bringing together all heroes before Avengers and Justice League!), adds to its merit. Furthermore – X-Men took a bold step by killing off its main character, a rarity in Hollywood films, and the additional points are deserved for the well-executed manner of doing so. This marked the conclusion of the first era of X-Men movies, and it served as a more fulfilling and fitting ending to a standalone story than Dark Phoenix was previously mentioned.

5. Deadpool (2016)

This film is directed by Tim Miller. The screenplay was written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. The music for the movie is composed by Tom Holkenborg. The cast includes Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson / Deadpool, Morena Baccarin as Vanessa, and Ed Skrein as Francis Freeman / Ajax.

Rating: 8.3/10
Most of us were familiar with Deadpool’s character and his antics, but what took us by surprise was the amount of chaos we saw on screen and the leniency of Hollywood censorship. We hadn’t anticipated that. Yet, Ryan Reynolds delivered an exceptional performance in this film, creating a movie that was not only funny and explicit, but somehow managed to be a form of art. In essence, it was a groundbreaking and astonishingly surprising film. Deadpool certainly earns its place among the best productions in this series.

4. ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ (2024)

The Film is Directed by: Shawn Levy

The Screenplay is written by: Rhett Reese, Shawn Levy, Ryan Reynolds, Paul Wernick, and Zeb Wells

Music Composed by: Rob Simonsen

Starring: Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson / Deadpool, Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, Emma Corrin as Cassandra Nova

Rating: 8.7/10

‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ is an extraordinary film that stands out among others. With Fox characters now transitioning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it seems fitting to give them a memorable tribute, and who better than Deadpool, the chatty mercenary, to do just that for two hours? However, on a more thoughtful point, ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ has a wafer-thin narrative, and it often leans heavily on cliches. Yet, it delivers what truly matters – an entertaining experience tailored for the fans.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but rave about ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’. The comic-true-to-life costumes, pulse-pounding action sequences, and mind-boggling set decorations that tip their hats to iconic comic-book tales make this movie a visual feast. And let’s not forget the wildest cameos ever seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe!

While it may not be the most intellectually stimulating film, ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ nails fan service to perfection, setting the stage for an exciting future for this franchise.

3. X-Men: First Class (2011)

I had the privilege of watching a film, skillfully directed by the talented Matthew Vaughn. The screenplay was masterfully penned by Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz, Jane Goldman, and the director himself, Matthew Vaughn. The enchanting music was composed by Henry Jackman. In this captivating production, James McAvoy portrayed Charles Xavier / Professor X, while Michael Fassbender breathed life into Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto. Jennifer Lawrence brought Mystique to vivid life, and Sebastian Shaw was brilliantly played by Kevin Bacon. Nicholas Hoult took on the role of Hank McCoy / Beast. This incredible ensemble truly made the film a remarkable experience.

Rating: 9/10

Explanation: After “The Last Stand,” the X-Men franchise felt stale and in need of a revamp. That’s where “First Class” came in, perfectly rejuvenating the series by setting it during the Cold War era. This allowed us to delve into the origins of the X-Men and understand their true identities. With its inventive storyline, compelling narrative, and a chilling antagonist portrayed by Kevin Bacon as Sebastian Shaw, “First Class” was not just a significant leap for the X-Men, but also one of the finest productions in the entire series.

2. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Director: Bryan Singer
Screenwriter: Simon Kinberg
Music Composer: John Ottman
Main Actors: James McAvoy, Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier / Professor X, Michael Fassbender and Ian McKellen as Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto, Peter Dinklage as Bolivar Trask, Jennifer Lawrence as Raven Darkhölme / Mystique, Anna Paquin, Hugh Jackman as Logan / Wolverine, Shawn Ashmore as Bobby Harris / Iceman

Rating: 9.5 / 10

After much deliberation, I chose Days of Future Past as my second favorite film, narrowly edging out First Class. It’s not necessarily better from an artistic standpoint compared to its predecessor, but it stands out for being the most action-packed, intricate, and daring X-Men movie ever made. Unlike any other film in the series, it successfully created a palpable sense of danger and tension that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. The narrative was so compelling that I truly felt as though the world as we know it was at stake, necessitating the unity of the past and future, regardless of the parties involved. Additionally, the poignant performances by Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart (excluding Logan), and another remarkable portrayal by Hugh Jackman, solidified Days of Future Past as the quintessence of the X-Men series’ core values and a true, narrative masterpiece.

1. Logan (2017)

This movie is directed by the talented James Mangold. The screenplay for this film was written collaboratively by Scott Frank, James Mangold, and Michael Green. The music was composed by Marco Beltrami. The main characters in this story are portrayed by Hugh Jackman as Logan/Wolverine, Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier/Professor X, Dafne Keen as Laura/X-23, and Richard E. Grant as Dr. Zander Rice.

Rating: 10/10

Nolan’s trilogy and Wonder Woman were both impressive, but Logan stands out uniquely. Logan encapsulates not just Jackman’s career, but also the complexity and creativity that the X-Men franchise embodied more effectively than any other cinematic universe. Unlike the MCU, DCEU, or other series, the X-Men dared to push their limits this far, while others merely stretched their dimensions without breaking them. This remarkable performance by Hugh Jackman deserves an Oscar as much as Heath Ledger’s Joker did, and the story of rebuilding a damaged future on the remnants of Professor X’s soothing presence is a deep, dark, and emotional tale. It’s not just the best X-Men film, but one of the finest comic book adaptations ever made.

2025-05-05 21:16