Every X-Men Movie Ranked Worst to Best

 

Every X-Men Movie Ranked Worst to Best:

    The hype could not be any bigger for the event of the summer, Deadpool and Wolverine, a film that seems poised to not only give the Fox X-Men franchise the fitting end it deserves, but simultaneously resurrect the superhero genre to its former glory, while ushering in a new and exciting era for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Over the last few months, I have rewatched all the X-Men films leading up to the highly anticipated return of Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, and here is my ranking of each installment, from monumental disaster to borderline masterpiece and everything in between.

POTENTIAL SPOILERS BELOW!!!!

13. X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)

3/10

    Oh, where to begin with this absolute travesty of a finale. Sure, the X-Men have had some disappointing projects, but this is on a whole new level. It is painstakingly obvious that the merger between 20th Century Fox and Disney really kept Dark Phoenix from reaching its full potential, with shoddy CGI, a lazy Dark Phoenix storyline with a Jean Grey we are not invested in, and a cheap death of a major protagonist that feels completely out of left field. That said, the optimist in me would be remiss not to point out that, as always, the cast do a great job with what (little) they are given, and the fight sequence on board a train is admittedly thrilling. Other than that, however, this is not the Endgame for the X-Men franchise many of us were hoping for. 

12. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

4.5/10

    The years have been kind to X-Men Origins: Wolverine to some extent. When you look past the horrific character assassination of Deadpool, and even the third act as a whole, there are some elements of this movie that really work. The first act provides an interesting look at Logan's life over his formative years and the relationships and characters he encounters along the way. We also get some deeper backstory into his motivations and how he ended up at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. That said, while some aspects have aged well, there are others, such as cheap CGI and borderline Looney Tunes-level fight scenes that make this movie feel even more dated than it actually is.

11. The New Mutants (2020)

5/10

    Somehow the most frequently delayed entry in the series managed to finally come out during a worldwide shutdown, in only selective states. Whether its quiet release or multiple delays attributed to barely anyone talking about or seeing this installment is to blame, it certainly is not the monstrosity that some seem to believe it to be. It may not be as flashy as say, Days of Future Past, or reinvigorate the superhero genre as Logan or Deadpool, but its by-the-numbers approach to the horror genre still makes it feel unique among the other films on this list. It gets by with being the definition of just good enough. For the most part, it is competently made, the characters are decent enough, and while tonally it feels like it could be the pilot of a Freeform series, it still provides enough entertainment that I can't help but wish we could see this series continue down the line, potentially in main MCU continuity.

10. X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

7/10

    From here on out I find every entry on this list to be harmless fun, if not great entertainment, which describes X-Men: Apocalypse perfectly. McAvoy and Fassbender are great in their respective roles as Professor X and Magneto, and Oscar Isaac gives it his all as Apocalypse, even if as an antagonist he is not presented with much to do other than spout menacing speeches and glare ominously. The action is a full on mutant power extravaganza, especially as we enter the fast-paced third act, and the introduction of one of my favorite X-Men characters, Psylocke, definitely elevates the appeal this has for me. Overall, it might just be one of the most purely fun X-Men movies, even if some pacing issues and a menacing yet one dimensional villain keeps this from being higher on the list.

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

7/10

    The way that I basically describe the last of the original X-Men trilogy is in a tale of two halves. On the one hand, this is a great X-Men movie, with one of the most interesting scenarios involving whether or not a cure for mutants is morally ethical and if so, do mutants have anyting to be cured of? This combined with the political angle of mutants vs. humans and Erik and Charles' clash of ideologies coming to a head in some ways almost makes this the best of the trilogy. However, the other hand is that they should have never combined this with the Phoenix storyline. While it is done much better than the 2019 attempt (mostly because the audience was at least invested in this Jean Grey), it still feels like a tacked on and unnecessary storyline that detracts from the much more compelling cure storyline, and as such holds The Last Stand down from being potentially a top five X-Men flick.

8. X-Men (2000)

7/10

    It admittedly feels weird putting the first film in such a monumental and game-changing franchise this low on the list. That said, it may also be a positive of just how far the series had gone since its 2000 attempt. This ranks right up there with Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Batman (1989) as one of the first comic book movies I ever saw, so there is a decent amount of nostalgia that is elicited. That said, while the film is a blast to watch  with its overall aesthetic, as well as iconic performances by Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, and Ian McKellen, this by far feels like the most dated installment on this list. The fight scenes as well as the third act feel a bit goofy and too over-the-top to really be taken seriously in our modern day influx of big-screen superheroes. Regardless, this was a key instrument in giving us both campy and fun superhero flicks that balance out their thrilling nature with more mature storylines.

7. The Wolverine: Unleashed Extended Edition (2013)

8/10

    In my humble opinion, this is by far the most underrated of the franchise. It is miles better than X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and while it does not reach the heights of Logan or even the remaining entries on this list, a movie that has a PTSD-stricken Wolverine taking on samurai and getting caught up in Japan's political turmoil, all while being stripped away of his healing abilities makes this such a fantastic adventure. I often say this movie had to walk so Logan could run, as it shows (especially in the vastly improved Extended Cut) that certain comic book movies can be more darker, violent, and thematically deep while still maintaining an audience. The only reason why this is not in the top five is because the second act has some pacing issues and the final act, while still a blast, feels like they tried to play it more safe and "comic book esque" than the rest of the film. However, the action was a franchise best for the time of its release, and as someone who is personally interested in Japanese culture, seeing it explored with such depth and care makes this an easy choice when in the mood for some Wolverine fun.

6. X2: X-Men United (2003)

8/10

    In short, this is definitely one of those sequels that takes everything that worked about its predecessor and elevates it to the next level, while alleviating much of what didn't. It tells an even deeper story, with more poignant and real-world exploration of ideas, and greatly improves the action, all while continuing each character on their journey progression in a logical and meaningful way. I am so glad Nightcrawler is done justice, with the opening scene alone showcasing him as one of the coolest characters in the team's roster. My only real grievances are that the third act could have shaved off about ten minutes, and I will never understand why Cyclops gets treated like nothing more than a simp for Jean Grey in the majority of these movies. Still, it is a terrific sequel, showcasing the formidable staying power this franchise had both with fans and the general audience alike.

5. X-Men: First Class (2011)

8.5/10

    Out of every chapter in the franchise, X-Men: First Class might just be the savior of the series, coming off the heels of the disappointing X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Serving as part reboot and part prequel, the story showcases younger versions of Charles and Erik, giving us backstory into their motivations and belief systems, and how these formative early years made them into Professor X and Magneto. It showcases the highs of the franchise while avoiding many of the lows, from a unique 60s setting that gives it an aura of Roger Moore Bond flicks, to being perhaps the most thought-provoking and philosophical of the big screen adaptations. Most importantly, McAvoy and Fassbender more than proved their worthiness of stepping in the shoes of Stewart and McKellen, demonstrating that lightning can really strike twice. Some of the younger X-Men members could have had more time devoted to them, but what First Class sets out to do it accomplishes with ease: giving us a rich backstory to two of Marvel's most iconic characters while setting a course for the future of the franchise.

4. Deadpool 2 (2018)

8.5/10

    Bigger may not always mean better, even in the case of Deadpool 2, but that doesn't mean that it can't be a highly entertaining ride regardless. Ryan Reynolds fully commits to his role as the Merc with a Mouth, giving us an anti-hero who once again expertly balances sarcastic and oftentimes crass humor, while being relatable and easy to cheer for. His interactions with Cable, the X-Force, Blind Al, and Colossus are all a blast to witness and are the source for loads of comical moments. The action is directed flawlessly by John Wick veteran David Leitch, and Juggernaut is finally done justice in the most over-the-top but excellent manner. From a storytelling perspective, we get to see Wade's arc from the first film come full circle here, going from vengeful antihero to preventing a vengeful teen from going down a similar path. The only reason why Deadpool 2 is not quite on par with the first is that the humor can fall flat a bit more than the original, but it is still one of the most adrenaline-fueled and high octane offerings on this list.

3. X-Men: Days of Future Past: The Rogue Cut (2014)

9/10

    Just imagine if this was the final installment of the main X-Men films. No awful Dark Phoenix or even the congenial yet forgettable Apocalypse, and the final shot of the entire X-Men saga (save for Logan of course) is Wolverine righting the wrongs of The Last Stand and waking up to see Jean Grey alive and everything back to normal for all mutants. Okay, I'll stop now, but even though there was more to follow after that incredible final scene, I will always see this as the Avengers: Endgame of the Fox X-Men run. It brings both the rebooted era along with the early-2000s adaptation full circle in a heartfelt and meaningful way, and it is easily the most thematically layered and nuanced of the franchise, further exploring Mystique's motivations in a compelling manner. Seeing a futuristic, Terminator-like scenario play out where Sentinels are eradicating mutants is chilling and raises the stakes higher than ever. As for the foil, Bolivar Trask, he is a haunting metaphor for those with extreme genocidal beliefs who wish to silence or eradicate those who do not conform to their belief or mindset. While the nearly twenty minutes of additional scenes in The Rogue Cut may not necessarily feel like it had to be there, it is still the definitive version in my mind as it provides much more time in the post-apocalyptic future and contains an exciting Rogue-centered subplot. It feels like A Wonderful Life meets Back to the Future in all the best ways, and the only reason why this is not number one is really just because of how exceptional these top two are.

2. Logan (2017)

9.5/10

    Not going to lie, deciding the lineup for these last two (really three) movies were tough, and even now, I am not entirely convinced of their placing. Just because Logan is crowned with silver does not mean that it is any less of a masterpiece, and really it comes down to mere preference and the fact that something had to be second, hence the ranking. There is really nothing that can be said about this film that hasn't already been said a million times over, but the truth is it is all still just as true now as it was over seven years ago. This is without question Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart's best performance as the titular character, and  Dafne Keen does an outstanding job as X-23 as she conveys so much emotion without uttering a word for most of the runtime. James Mangold's maturity as a director is showcased with a gritty atmosphere, thrillingly brutal fight scenes, and is not afraid to take both established and new characters down dark paths in better service of the story. The incorporation of X-Men comics woven into the story was executed brilliantly, and feels like a modern day Clint Eastwood feature meets Terminator: Judgment Day. I could talk all day about this wonderful swan song for one of the most iconic movie characters of the 21st century, but I have saved the best for last.

 1. Deadpool (2016)

10/10

    The only reason why Deadpool ranks above Logan essentially comes down to the fact that whereas the latter is so depressing and emotionally gut-wrenching that it makes for more infrequent viewings, the former is so bombastic, fun, and just all-around perfect that there is literally no mood I am in to where I can not put this movie on and just get immersed in the wackiness of it all for two hours. Ryan Reynolds was truly born for the role of Wade Wilson, and captures the energy and tone of the character so well that it almost makes Deadpool feel like he was based off Ryan Reynolds, rather than the reverse. The action is just as brutal as one could hope from a Deadpool movie, and Reynold's dark, macabre sense of humor infused with the character was both game-changing and also hilarious. In fact, this may be funniest comic book movie ever made, and all the side characters are equally engaging as well, specifically the interactions between Wade and Cyclops, the latter of whom will probably always be the definitive live-action iteration of said character. That is all without mentioning the crude yet heart-tugging romance subplot, great revenge story, and the satirical deconstruction of both the X-Men and wider Marvel franchise as a whole, which makes this, in my opinion, the cream of the crop of the Fox X-Men universe.