The Spider-Man movie franchises have, given the infinite possibilities of the multiverse. Some aspects of the Fox movies are unlikely to port over to the MCU, though, and those include some of the most unexpected things to happen in the X-Men movie franchise.
The X-Men moviea, including its many spinoffs, is full of shocking deaths and unexpected plot turns. It also had a number of curious and sometimes bizarre choices in adaptation, particularly with major characters such as Deadpool, whose first appearance in the franchise made for one of its most unexpected and arguably lowest moments.
Magik Acts Like A Jerk
The New Mutants is essentially the end of the Fox movie franchise, though it's connected to the X-Men movies only loosely. One of the most unexpected events in the movie and the entire series is the decision to render Illyana Rasputin, Magik, as an insensitive jerk.
Magik is one of the most powerful magicians in the Marvel Universe and while she's a little rough around the edges due to her extended and hellish stay in the Limbo dimension, she's not the prejudiced jerk she's introduced as in the movie. It's a woeful use of the character and an utter waste of Anya Taylor-Joy, a fantastic actress who could return to the MCU in another role.
Logan Dies
Wolverine's death might have been expected given that Logan was billed as his final movie, but his heroic and tragic sacrifice in the movie was completely unexpected. The idea of an older, weaker Logan overcome by his injuries was only one of the most surprising things in the story.
His death was incredibly moving, as was X-13's tribute. As she leaves his grave, she turns the makeshift wooden tombstone on its side into the shape of an X, creating one of the most touching and iconic images in the entire series.
Jean Grey Kills Cyclops
Comic book fans know Cyclops and Jean Grey's relationship is one of the most iconic in the Marvel Universe. That's why it was so surprising that Jean Grey killed him in X-Men: The Last Stand. Cyclops was not only a major character but arguably the only one who could get through to her.
Through all of Jean Grey's battles with the Phoenix Force in Marvel Comics, she leaned heavily on her trust and love in Cyclops to bring her back from the brink. She never killed him in the comics or even came close, despite being possessed by the Phoenix Force.
Jean Grey Kills Mystique
Equally shocking was Jean Grey's murder of Mystique in X-Men: Dark Phoenix. Mystique's death was shocking for a number of reasons. One, she had become a major character in the later X-Men movies thanks to the fantastic performance by Jennifer Lawrence.
The death was also unexpected because it infinitely raised the stakes for Jean Grey, pushing her well over the edge of redemption very early in her arc as the Phoenix. This left very little room for the character to grow or change afterward.
The Dark Phoenix Saga Never Works
X-Men: Dark Phoenix may not be as bad as people say it is, but the sequel is representative of one of the most unexpected aspects of the entire X-Men series. The Dark Phoenix Saga, arguably the most important X-Men story from the comics, never worked on film.
Despite tries in the 2019 movie and X-Men: The Last Stand, the breadth and complexity of the comic book storyline has never translated, leaving fans disappointed. The MCU may try again with Jean Grey and the Phoenix, but it's likely to be very far off in the future.
Magneto Injures Professor X
The core relationship in X-Men comics is the polar divide between Magneto and Professor X. Though philosophically opposed, they maintain a healthy respect for one another. That's why it was so unexpected for Magneto to be the one to injure Professor X in X-Men: First Class.
The 2011 movie completely rewrites the comic book circumstances of the original X-Men team and Professor X's paralysis. In the movie, Magneto permanently injures him by deflecting bullets fired by Moira MacTaggert.
Quicksilver Takes His First Run
Comic book fans know Quicksilver is one of the fastest superheroes in Marvel Comics, and his first super-run in X-Men: Days Of Futures Past was an ecstatic and unexpected treat. Time virtually stops during Quicksilver's gleeful run at the Pentagon, making for one of the most inventive sequences in the series.
The scene was a highlight thanks to the humor in Evan Peters arranging objects and people in the chaos of the scene, and the perfect use of Jim Croce's classic song Time in a Bottle.
Logan's Clone Kills Professor X
Professor X had died before in the X-Men movies, but his death in Logan was completely unexpected due to its quiet brutality. Weak and bed-ridden, Charles Xavier wakes to discover who appears to be Logan standing over him. Logan then stabs him in the chest.
The killer turns out to be Logan's younger clone, but the cold brutality of the scene lingers long after the act is over. The older Logan can do nothing to save his mentor and friend, leading to a sober ending for both.
Most Of X-Force Dies
On the other end of the spectrum is the shocking and hilarious death of virtually the entire X-Force team in Deadpool 2. Comic book fans know X-Force is one of the most significant mutant teams in the Marvel Universe, so their rapid and violent deaths come out of nowhere.
Many of the team die in quick succession as they parachute out of a plane, including major comic characters like Shatterstar. The only survivor is Peter, a non-superpowered volunteer who just showed up at the office.
Deadpool Does't Work (At First)
Deadpool became one of the best and funniest aspects of the X-Men movies, and will soon the MCU, but in the beginning, he didn't work at all. One of the most unexpected things to happen in the X-Men movies is the decision to introduce a very different Deadpool than the comics.
Ryan Reynolds' first take on the character in X-Men Origins: Wolverine was unsuccessful, abandoning the character's trademark look and powers for something unique to the movie. It didn't work at all, but he made things right by embodying the classic version of the iconic character in his solo movies.
