Summary
- The Fox Marvel movie universe spanned 20 years, from X-Men (2000) to The New Mutants (2020), ushering in the modern superhero age.
- Following the X-Men movies in release order can get complicated due to prequels and reboots spanning multiple time jumps and timelines.
- The best viewing order for X-Men movies might be to watch each sub-series within the broader X-Men continuity together instead of in chronological order.
The The X-Men movies have highs and lows, but there's little doubt that the franchise was instrumental in ushering in the modern age of superhero movies.
The thirteen X-Men movies contain multiple time jumps, showing footage from 1944 to 2029. The number of prequels and reboots this timeline includes can make it difficult to follow the continuity of the Fox X-Men movies. There's no avoiding the series' many internal contradictions and inconsistencies (particularly with Wolverine's X-Men movie timeline), but understanding which movie falls where can help deliver the best possible X-Men viewing experience.
X-Men: Ranking Every Villain In The Original Trilogy
X-Men, X2, and X-Men: The Last Stand make up one of the earliest superhero blockbuster trilogies, with such iconic villains as Ian McKellen's Magneto.
How To Watch X-Men Movies In Release Order
X-Men Movies In Release Order |
|---|
X-Men (2000) |
X2: X-Men United (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) |
Dark Phoenix (2019) |
The New Mutants (2020) |
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) |
The X-Men movie release order starts out simple enough with a number of direct sequels and a prequel. However, things do get a bit muddied as the X-Men prequel series and Wolverine solo movies begin to intertwine. Deadpool continues the trend of the franchise timeline jumping around, and, by the time Logan, Deadpool 2, Dark Phoenix, and The New Mutants released between 2017 and 2020, the X-Men franchise is covering several different decades simultaneously.
Every X-Men movie so far does take place within the same continuity.
However, even though the Wolverine and X-Men prequel movies don't make much sense with the timeline established in the original movies, every X-Men movie so far does take place within the same continuity. This is perhaps most difficult to reconcile with Deadpool 2, which offers very different takes on previously established characters Colossus and Juggernaut.
How To Watch X-Men Movies In Chronological Order
X-Men Movies In Chronological Order |
|---|
X-Men: First Class |
X-Men: Days of Future Past |
X-Men Origins: Wolverine |
X-Men: Apocalypse |
Dark Phoenix |
X-Men |
X2: X-Men United |
X-Men: The Last Stand |
The Wolverine |
Deadpool |
Deadpool 2 |
The New Mutants |
Deadpool & Wolverine |
Logan |
Following the franchise in chronological order does offer a different viewing experience as it opens with early years and origins before continuing into massive battles between armies of mutants. The first half of the list shows the formation of the X-Men up until their final battle in X-Men: The Last Stand. After that, it's heavily focused on the characters of Wolverine and Deadpool, and doesn't necessarily move forward with the overall group. Despite being put into chronological order, the timeline of these movies is still very difficult to follow.
The New Mutants doesn't really affect the franchise's overall timeline. It focuses on its own story outside the X-Men, which is very similar to how the two Deadpool films are in this universe. Those three movies can be watched at any point without spoiling the remaining movies, though some Deadpool references may be far harder to parse without the context of the previous movies that came before it in the X-Men movie release order.
While Deadpool & Wolverine is the last movie released in the Fox X-Men universe, it is interestingly set largely before Logan, though the plot does travel forward in time to explore the ramifications of Logan's ending, which is shown to be destroying the entire timeline. This may make a chronological viewing a more complicated overall experience as a result, since Deadpool & Wolverine is clearly intended to be watched with an understanding of what happens in Logan, even if timeline-wise Logan is still the most far-flung in the future due to its 2029 setting.
How Deadpool & Wolverine Changes The X-Men Movie Viewing Order
Deadpool & Wolverine makes the Deadpool series a more integral part of the overall X-Men series by bookending the franchise with the movie, despite it coming years after the last Fox X-Men release, and notably debuting as part of the MCU. Deadpool & Wolverine is rife with references to and cameos from the X-Men movie series, and shows the aftermath of Wolverine's fate in Logan - which is confirmed to be absolutely final - on the X-Men timeline, albeit in a complicated manner since much of the events of the movie appear to be set well beforehand.
Deadpool & Wolverine also acts as a Logan sequel by featuring Daphne Keen's Laura - also known as X-23 - some time after the events of the prior movie, with it strongly suggested that this is either a very similar variant of the character, or outright the same character from that chapter of the X-Men timeline. Deadpool & Wolverine's ending leaves the door open for Laura to appear again in future releases, drastically changing how the ending of Logan appears, and allowing Marvel to potentially build upon the story further, even if this is in a more abstract fashion.
Notably, this also makes watching Logan as the last movie in the order far harder if Deadpool & Wolverine is also in the viewing list, resulting in a chronological viewing being a yet more complicated experience in of legibility. That said, the Deadpool series not being as tied to the overall events of the X-Men timeline otherwise means that watching it after the rest of the roster does make sense, particularly now that the third Deadpool movie provides a great deal of closure for the overarching series.
The Best Viewing Order For X-Men Movies
It works particularly well to focus on viewing each sub-series in the broader X-Men continuity at once.
Ultimately, it comes down to preference, but the messy X-Men movie timeline means that there isn't as much to gain from a chronological viewing experience as there may be with other franchises. However, a third option may, in fact, be better than either approach. With multiple continuities that crossover but also work well as individual viewing experiences, it works particularly well to focus on viewing each sub-series in the broader X-Men continuity at once.
The ideal viewing order would thus be watching the X-Men original trilogy, then the prequel series, then the Wolverine movies, then the first two Deadpool movies, The New Mutants, and finally Deadpool & Wolverine. This also ensures the meta commentary on superhero movies made in the Deadpool series all makes sense - as things like the X-Men Origins: Wolverine references and Logan references in the second and third movie could otherwise prove more confusing.
While this breaks up the Deadpool sub-series, watching Deadpool & Wolverine as the final movie in the roster is arguably the best approach. The release does allude to huge swathes of the overall timeline, and is seemingly the final film set in the universe, making it a more significant finale to the overall viewing experience than The New Mutants may be.
The Deadpool & Wolverine end credits sequence - that goes back through the X-Men movies and provides some behind the scenes glimpses about their filming - is also inherently made to suit the instalment being the last in the viewing order. As such, it's the ideal ending to watching the X-Men movie catalog, even if the release is also an MCU movie in its own right at the same time.
The X-Men movies, including all spin-offs bar Deadpool & Wolverine, are all available to stream on Disney+.
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X-Men
- Release Date
- July 13, 2000
- Runtime
- 104 minutes
- Director
- Bryan Singer
Cast
Logan / Wolverine
Xavier
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYX-Men, released in 2000, introduces Wolverine and Rogue as they Professor Xavier's private academy for mutants. The resident superhero team, the X-Men, led by Xavier, confronts a terrorist organization of mutants with similar abilities, highlighting the ongoing conflict between humans and mutants.
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X2: X-Men United
- Release Date
- April 27, 2003
- Runtime
- 133 minutes
- Director
- Bryan Singer
Cast
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Logan / Wolverine
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Professor Charles Xavier
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYX2 is the second installment in the X-Men film series, where Professor Charles Xavier's team faces growing anti-mutant forces led by Col. William Stryker. In response, mutants Storm, Wolverine, and Jean Grey form an uneasy alliance with adversaries Magneto and Mystique to counter Stryker's plans to eradicate mutants.
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X-Men: The Last Stand
6/10- Release Date
- May 26, 2006
- Runtime
- 104 minutes
- Director
- Brett Ratner
Cast
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Logan / Wolverine
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Professor Charles Xavier
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYX-Men: The Last Stand is the third film in the X-Men series, featuring the conflict between mutants over a newly discovered cure for mutations. The film showcases the X-Men, led by Professor Charles Xavier, opposing the Brotherhood, led by Magneto, as tensions escalate within the mutant community.
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X-Men Origins: Wolverine
6/10- Release Date
- April 28, 2009
- Runtime
- 107 minutes
- Director
- Gavin Hood
Cast
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Logan / Wolverine
Liev SchreiberVictor Creed
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYX-Men Origins: Wolverine explores the backstory of the iconic mutant Wolverine, portrayed by Hugh Jackman. Released in 2009, the film delves into Logan's journey through the Weapon X program as he seeks revenge for his girlfriend's death while uncovering complex relationships with other mutants.
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X-Men: First Class
8/10- Release Date
- June 3, 2011
- Runtime
- 131 minutes
- Director
- Matthew Vaughn
Cast
James McAvoyCharles Xavier
Erik Lehnsherr
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYX-Men: First Class explores the origins of Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr, who later become Professor X and Magneto. Set during the early days of their friendship, the film depicts their collaborative efforts with other mutants to avert a significant global threat.
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The Wolverine
7/10- Release Date
- July 26, 2013
- Runtime
- 126 Minutes
- Director
- James Mangold
Cast
-
Logan / Wolverine
Hiroyuki SanadaShingen Harada / Lord Shingen
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYThe Wolverine: This film follows Logan, portrayed by Hugh Jackman, as he undertakes a transformative journey in Japan. Confronted by his most formidable adversaries, Wolverine is pushed to his physical, emotional, and mortal limits while navigating challenges that alter his life and identity forever.
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X-Men Days of Future Past
9/10- Release Date
- May 23, 2014
- Runtime
- 2h 12m
- Director
- Bryan Singer
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYBased on the epic Marvel comic event and following up after the events of X-Men: The Last Stand and The Wolverine, X-Men: Days of Future Past is an action superhero film that sees Logan sent back into the past to attempt to avert a cataclysmic disaster. In the future, the last surviving of the human and mutant races are facing the end of days as the Sentinel menace has nearly wiped everything out of existence. Out of options and out of time, Professor Charles Xavier and Eric Lehnsherr (aka Magneto) agree to send Logan back into the past to prevent the assassination of a man that leads to the end of the world.
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X-Men Apocalypse
6/10- Release Date
- May 27, 2016
- Runtime
- 144 Minutes
- Director
- Bryan Singer
- Writers
- Simon Kinberg
- Prequel(s)
- X-Men Days of Future Past
Cast
Kodi Smit-Mhee
The third installment of the X-Men prequel films, and the ninth film in the overall X-Men movie franchise, X-Men: Apocalypse once again sees Professor Xavier and Magneto on opposite sides of a catastrophic conflict. Having been raised from the dead, the ancient mutant Apocalypse wishes to wipe out all of humanity, and recruits four mutants including Magneto to help him in his quest, leading Xavier and his young team of X-Men to try and stop them. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender reprise their roles as Professor Xavier and Magneto, with a larger ensemble cast that includes Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Olivia Munn, and Oscar Isaac.
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Logan
8/10- Release Date
- March 3, 2017
- Runtime
- 137 Minutes
- Director
- James Mangold
Cast
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Logan / Wolverine / X-24
Laura Kinney / X-23
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYLogan is set in a near future where an aging Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman, takes care of a frail Professor Xavier, portrayed by Patrick Stewart, at a secluded location near the Mexican border. Their secluded existence is disrupted by the arrival of a young mutant, pursued by malevolent forces.
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X-Men: Dark Phoenix
3/10- Release Date
- June 5, 2019
- Runtime
- 114 minutes
- Director
- Simon Kinberg
Cast
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James McAvoyCharles Xavier / Professor X
Sophie TurnerJean Grey / Dark Phoenix
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYThe team faces internal and external challenges in X-Men: Dark Phoenix, as Jean Grey transforms after absorbing a cosmic force during a space rescue mission. This newfound power tests her stability, prompting the X-Men to confront both Jean's volatile state and alien forces seeking to exploit her abilities.
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New Mutants
4/10- Release Date
- August 28, 2020
- Runtime
- 94 minutes
- Director
- Josh Boone
- Writers
- Josh Boone, Knate Gwaltney
- Franchise(s)
- X-Men
Cast
Alice Braga
Henry Zaga
This X-Men spinoff marked the final installment before the franchise's moved to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Five young mutants, just discovering their abilities while held in a secret facility against their will, fight to escape their past sins and save themselves.
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Deadpool
8/10- Release Date
- February 9, 2016
- Runtime
- 108 Minutes
- Director
- Tim Miller
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYThe Merc With The Mouth gets his very own film in Deadpool, an action-adventure comedy movie starring Ryan Reynolds as the titular hero. When mercenary Wade Wilson discovers he has an aggressive type of cancer that threatens to cut his life short, he decides to take a shady offer from a businessman who promises to cure him. Tortured and left for dead, the treatment makes Wade immortal - and a little bit twisted - as he seeks out his tormentors for revenge.
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Deadpool 2
5/10- Release Date
- May 10, 2018
- Runtime
- 120 Minutes
- Director
- David Leitch
Cast
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYThe Merc With the Mouth returns in Deadpool 2, "the sequel to the first one." Wade Wilson finds himself alone and without purpose until he reluctantly agrees to the X-Men. Things take a turn for the strange when Wade finds himself in prison after trying to help a young mutant named Russell, and a time-traveling mutant cyborg arrives to slay Russell to save the future. Determined to save Russell and do the right thing, Wade creates a new team of heroes to fight back and save the world the only way Deadpool knows how - as ridiculously as possible.
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Deadpool & Wolverine
8/10- Release Date
- July 26, 2024
- Runtime
- 127 Minutes
- Director
- Shawn Levy
Cast
Deadpool-
Wolverine
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingRENTBUYA follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
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