Just watched The New Mutants and decided to Rank All the X-Men Movies based on how Rewatchable they are
Having gone back to revisit my favourite bunch of mutants in action, there were clearly some X-Men movies that were just much more enjoyable than others, with some even being downright painful to rewatch. These painful-to-rewatch ones really made me rethink if I ever want to waste another (approximate) two hours of my life again. Not particularly, I am thinking. That was probably what spurred me to write this post where I rank all the X-Men movies so that next time I know which ones I can just toss out of my 'X-Men movie rewatch' marathon.
Disclaimer: I have not read any of the X-Men comics so my views are really based on just the movies themselves with no foundation built upon from the comics.
And another thing, I didn't add in the Deadpool movies just because I find them of a very different feel to these 11 other movies that I have ranked. Doesn't seem entirely fair to rank them together. This is a list for only movies that take themselves seriously (Don't get me wrong I absolutely LOVED Deadpool).
Further Disclaimer:
The following WILL DEFINITELY HAVE some SPOILERS so DON'T READ beyond this point if you don't wish to be spoilt!
Now if you are ready for my very subjective opinion of how the X-Men movies rank from the worst in the series to the best, read on...
11. X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)
In general, I just don't like remakes in a series very much (think Never say Never again in the Bond series) and if the remake is worse than its predecessor, that makes it much more worse! Dark Phoenix, unfortunately, checks both of these boxes and more, in a very bad way.
There was just little heart in this one. I didn't feel much whether it was when Jean Grey was crying and emotional or when Mystique died. Just nothing. The characters all look lethargic and like they were just going through the motion. And what was with Jessica Chastain's character going around with a confused and lost expression throughout.
And seriously, Sophie Turner as Jean Grey just don't cut it. I was missing Famke Janssen badly in this one, the way she managed to look so intense and menacing in The Last Stand. Was praying fervently for Wolverine to come charging in with his teeth and claws bearing but I guess not since he has retired from the act after Logan. What a pity.
The only good thing I can say for this film is its final action sequences when Magneto and Hank went to kill Jean and the fight on the train but every X-Men movie have one good fight or another so this is hardly anything to shout out about. Plus this only happens near the end of the movie so you will have to actually endure almost the whole movie to get to that part. And honestly, after watching more than half the movie without caring much, you probably can't summon much enthusiasm for these scenes anyway.
Which is why Dark Phoenix lies at the 11th position as absolutely one of the X-Men movies that is too tedious to rewatch again.
10. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
For me, The Last Stand is definitely a better movie than Dark Phoenix. There was a lot more heart to it and the characters seem to genuinely enjoy being a part of the movie. Nonetheless, it is the only movie that required an entire reboot as well as a time travel plot (in Days of Future Past) to undo its many mistakes.
The Last Stand is guilty of being a coherent mess covering more plots than it should have within its runtime - the Dark Phoenix and mutant cure storylines. While handling these two rather considerable plots, it still found time to introduce some new characters like the Beast and Angel and to tackle Rogue's relationship foes while carelessly killing off some main characters here and there.
It is really beyond comprehension how they could have killed off two important characters within the whole series in the blink of an eye. It was like - Ok that happened... Cyclops actually died! And then we have moved on. Next, Professor X went on to die unceremoniously in just another blink of the eye. At least he got a funeral. Poor Cyclops.
Oh and let's not forget the abruptness of other story arcs like how Mystique was cured of her mutant-ness and then went to take revenge on Magneto. Or how Rogue decided to take the cure on her own will and was cured of her own mutant-ness before going back to Bobby. I mean it would have been nice to just stay a little longer on these character developments rather than having it shift away to the next thing to come. Things were just happening too quickly to characters as though they were objects.
Well at least not everything was bad. The scene at the start (after the opening credits) where Wolverine and Storm were leading the students through a class simulation was entertaining!
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| This, while the class was getting killed out there. Don't you just love Wolverine! |
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| A very important concern during an attack, to be sure. |
The Last Stand, at least tried to be entertaining.
9. The New Mutants (2020)
I will just say it. The New Mutants is not a very good X-Men movie. But...
What it does have going for it is how different it tries to be from the usual formula. At a time when the franchise is churning out duds like the Dark Phoenix and Apocalypse, The New Mutants appear rather fresh in comparison.
And the best part is how they introduced several never-seen-before but actually damn AWESOME mutants like Mirage and Magik. I would never have known such mutants/powers existed (like I said I don't read the comics). At least in the last film they got round to showing them.
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| Magik! |
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| Demon Bear conjured up by Mirage. Sure, the CGI is in your face but the power is what I am talking about! |
In fact, all five mutants or six, if we include Doctor Reyes were interesting choices and made for a fun watch. Even though the whole setting was simple and rather gloomy, there was an air of mystery that enveloped the film and keeps one guessing until around midway through the film. And then the final action sequence takes over to engage the viewers.
Though The New Mutants ended with less of a bang than expected, it wasn't too bad of a watch. And all the casts did do a good job, better I would say than most of the cast in Dark Phoenix.
8. X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
I personally enjoyed the introduction of the movie a lot. It sure gave me a little of 'The Mummy' vibe and I absolutely adore that movie! But that's where my enjoyment of the movie began to experience a downward spiral. At a runtime of about two and a half hours, X-Men: Apocalypse felt like a tedious drag except for one or two portions of the movie.
The most memorable sequence would have to be Quicksilver's rescue of the inhabitants of Xavier's school from the burning inferno it was rapidly becoming and it is because of this sequence that Apocalypse rank slightly better than The New Mutants.
That two and a half minutes sequence comes somewhere in the middle of the movie and just in time really, to revive the movie watcher's interest that was almost waning by that time. But alas, what comes after just disappoints again.
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| Quicksilver rescuing students from the inferno |
And am I the only one or does Jennifer Lawrence's Mystique annoys anyone else with her constant world-weary voice and expressions that forces me to find the strength to resist fast forwarding the movie whenever she is on screen. That took great willpower to be sure.
Yet I have to say the biggest disappointment of all is probably the villain, Apocalypse/En Sabah Nur. He was cringey, there is just no other word for it. Not sure if he was supposed to be some super villain or what in the comics but I will take a William Stryker or Magneto as the bad guys any day. His dialogues and tone of voice was just plain embarrassing. Surely they could come up with a better villain to pit the X-Men against to at least make him just a little less cringey.
7. The Wolverine (2013)
The Wolverine has always felt like one of the most redundant movies in the whole X-Men series to me. It seems the only reason for the movie was so Wolverine could learn to get over the guilt of Jean Grey's death and for that we had to watch something that don't quite tie in with the rest of the series.
But hell, I will watch anything with Hugh Jackman's Wolverine in it plus The Wolverine wasn't really too bad of a movie. It has its fair share of action and emotion as we follow Logan from Canada to Japan, where he saves an heiress, battle ninjas, nearly dies before finally learning to put the past to rest.
Oh and in one particularly amusing scene, Wolverine very reluctantly gets a proper scrub down by two Japanese ladies. Yup, I believe that sums up his adventures in Japan.
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| Wolverine getting a thorough scrub down |
There were several action sequences that were quite thrilling to watch like the funeral invasion by Yakuza gangsters and the subsequent street chase or the bullet train sequence but ultimately you don't remember much of anything once the end credits roll. In fact, very little of this movie stays with you once it is over but the ride is enjoyable while it lasts.
I do have to say that Yukio, playing the role of Wolverine's bodyguard was quite cool. Would have loved to see her reprise the role in some other movie. But like I said, this movie comes out of nowhere and then it never gets taken up again.
6. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
I know this movie gets a lot of shit but really, it is NOT that bad!
Sure, it's not one of the better X-Men movies but it is not horrible either. It always gets hate because of what the movie did to Wade Wilson aka Deadpool's character - sewing his mouth shut and all. I agree that was a rather questionable move but it did allow Deadpool to get his own set of movies. So let's try to give X-Men Origins some breathing space and look at its merits without bias.
The first merit surely has got to be that it is a great action movie! The sequences were fast, intense and yes kind of dumb but fun. Then we have the love/hate relationship between Wolverine and Sabretooth that was interesting to watch and kind of relatable. The movie also answers a lot of the questions about Wolverine's past like how he lost his memory etc., even including the journey of discovering adamantium.
But ultimately, the best part of the movie has got to be when Hugh Jackman emerged roaring from the water tank after having had adamantium fused with his skeleton. Literally the MOST MEMORABLE sequence in the WHOLE series! Just for that and Hugh Jackman's many charms, X-Men Origins moves up several ranks on this list.
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| Still from X-Men Origins of Wolverine after the adamantium procedure |
5. X-Men (2000)
This is the movie that kickstarted the whole X-Men series and it wasn't a bad film to begin the journey with especially when the movie opens with a narration on mutation followed by a young Eric Lehnsherr/Magneto's display of his power, albeit unintentionally in 1944 Nazi-occupied Poland.
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| The metal gate deformed by a young Eric Lehnsherr |
The movie wasted no time in establishing the mistrust between the mutants versus everyone else and in portraying how mutants are the outcast of society. It also quickly goes on to show the two different factions within the mutant community as led by Professor X and Magneto separately. In fact, you don't quite get much of a breather because things are happening very quickly one after the other.
Rogue and Wolverine gets a fair bit of introduction here and the movie follows the progress in their relationship from literal strangers to almost a kind of kinship formed from their shared trauma and experiences.
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| Rogue and Wolverine in a still from X-Men |
No one could deny that the first X-Men movie had a rather serious vibe throughout with fewer moments of levity compared to its successors but that doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the movie. There was even a nice kickass fight between Wolverine and Mystique which was one of my favourite moments in the film in addition to Rogue and Wolverine's first interaction in his vehicle.
As it stands, X-Men is very much rewatchable and gets my undying gratitude for introducing mutants to moviegoers.
4. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
To be honest, I had a hard time placing Days of Future Past because I love this movie and was so tempted to place it a little higher on this list! I mean it does have a lot of good things going for it.
Perhaps the best thing about this movie was that it brought together most of the characters from the older movies (the initial trilogy) and the newer cast members (from First Class). We get to see them all together, maybe not sharing the same screen space but nonetheless in the SAME FREAKING MOVIE. Talk about a stellar X-Men reunion.
That last scene which sees Wolverine walking through Xavier's school and seeing the previous characters like Anna Paquin's Rogue, Famke Janssen's Jean Grey and James Marsden's Cyclops was great for reminiscing. I just can't get over how they undid all the wrongs of The Last Stand in that final sequence. Kudos to that!
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| Wolverine with Jean and Cyclops in a still from Days of Future Past |
And then the scenes that were set in the future, where the remaining surviving mutants fought with the sentinels, were amazing especially in the final few minutes of the movie when the stakes skyrocketed and the fight scenes became really intense. Bringing in some new characters like Warpath, Sunspot and Blink made the whole fight scenes more interesting. I especially loved how they utilised Blink's abilities!
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| Blink, Warpath and the Sentinel in a still from Days of Future Past |
Another high point of the movie is, of course Quicksilver's sequence at the Pentagon when they broke Eric out of prison. Really, he gets the most entertaining parts in the series!
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| Still of Quicksilver's sequence |
I guess I really don't know why this movie is not rank higher except that it does falter a little in the middle. But only just a little. Plus the next three movies were just really that good...
3. X2: X-Men United (2003)
X2 is a great superhero movie. A great action movie. It is one hell of a rollercoaster ride! What's even more amazing is how X2 manages to interlace emotional moments in between all the amazing action sequences and to navigate complex relationships between characters.
One of the best action sequence happens right off at the start of the movie with the introduction of Kurt Wagner aka Nightcrawler as he zaps his way around the White House in an attempt to assassinate the President, all while operatic music carried on in the background. A great start to a film that never disappoints after.
Other action scenes that delight include the attack on Xavier's school by Stryker and his team as well as Wolverine's fight with his very worthy opponent, Lady Deathstrike.
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| Lady Deathstrike defeated |
And amongst all these great action you will find small witty and comedic moments that further endears one to the film like when Professor X chastised Logan for smoking within Cerebro and threatened to make him "spend the rest of his days under the belief that he is a six year old girl" and have Jean braid his hair or when Pyro tries to drive Cyclop's car and Logan pushes him out of the way with a "maybe next time" or even when the police asked Wolverine to "Put the knives down" to which he obviously replies that he can't.
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| Another moment of levity when Bobby parent's cat licks Wolverine's adamantium claw |
2. Logan (2017)
Wow and just wow... There is literally just Wolverine and Professor X from the previous movies and a new young character, Laura/X-23. But this movie showed us that you don't need all that many characters to make a great X-Men film. And Logan is a GREAT X-Men movie!
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| An innocent looking Laura (in a still from Logan) but no less dangerous |
Hugh Jackman's Wolverine is one of the reasons why I (and I'm sure many others) love the X-Men series so much and so to have another movie focusing on Wolverine was a treat. That the movie was heartwarming, heartbreaking and just so full of heart was an absolute bonus!
No one would deny that Logan is a generally serious and dark film but it did have moments of levity that all the more endears one to the film such as the silly banter between Wolverine and Charles Xavier or Logan's attempt at parenting Laura. Caliban was another character that added a nice touch to the entire movie.
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| Caliban in a still from Logan |
The other kids (Laura's pals) looking for a brighter future were also a delight to watch and get acquainted with even though it was only for a short span of the movie. Would have loved to see the story arc carrying on with these kids as the next bunch of mutants rather than continuing on from the Apocalypse storyline to Dark Phoenix or even creating an entirely new The New Mutants movie.
The only reason Logan doesn't claim top spot on this list is because the ending was literally too heartbreaking for me. I chose that spot for a lighter fare. Alright, alright. I know it is a pretty dumb reason to deny it the top spot but for now my heart just can't take the death of my favourite mutant.
1. X-Men: First Class (2011)
X-Men: First Class was really a revelation. Equal parts sad, funny and action-packed, it is the movie that claims top spot on my list! Because it is just that good!
First Class is sort of like an origin story delving more deeply into the past of characters like Charles Xavier/Professor X, Erin Lehnsherr/Magneto and Raven/Mystique and showcases their complex relationship with one another. In doing so, First Class is like that portal which gives us a glimpse into the history of these characters, allowing us to understand the complex dynamics between them.
But unlike the other Wolverine origin movie, this was done much much better! The relationships were well fleshed out, the story was focused and flowed well plus it was entertaining. I didn't even realise that the movie was close to the end until it was upon me.
Other relevant plot points that First Class answer are the subsequent fallout between Charles and Eric, the origins of Cerebro, how the mutants were first sought and recruited, how Magneto got his helmet, how Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters was established and many more. A truly perfect way to reboot the series after the first trilogy.
I especially loved the scenes where Charles and Erin went out to recruit themselves some mutants.
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| They encountered Wolverine who was, as you can see, being his usual self |
The training sessions to help them learn to control and better use their powers were also a delight to watch! This scene where Eric provided Banshee with a little extra help always tickles my funny bone.
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| A still from X-Men: First Class |
The characters in First Class appear so fresh and engaging especially James McAvoy as Charles and Michael Fassbender as Eric. It was interesting to see the flirty side of a young Charles, whom we have only ever seen in a serious and wise light as well as the the 'good' side of Eric, who was portrayed as the bad guy in the first trilogy. I ended up rooting for them equally even when they began fighting against each other.
Ultimately First Class was the movie I enjoyed watching (and rewatching) the most in the entire series and is my personal favourite!
**Do you agree with my ranking of the X-Men movies? Are my top three the same as yours? Maybe it's time for that X-Men movie marathon!
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