X-Men movies ranked
Fox's X-Men franchise isn't without it faults and continuity errors, but as a whole, they helped shape what superhero movies are today. Without this franchise, we may still regard comic book movies as those terribly campy movies of the 1990s like Batman and Robin or the 1990 Captain America. So, without further ado, here's my personal ranking of the X-Men movies, ranked best to worst!
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- DirectorJames MangoldStarsHugh JackmanPatrick StewartDafne KeenIn a future where mutants are nearly extinct, an elderly and weary Logan leads a quiet life. But when Laura, a mutant child pursued by scientists, comes to him for help, he must get her to safety.
- DirectorBryan SingerStarsPatrick StewartHugh JackmanHalle BerryWhen anti-mutant Colonel William Stryker kidnaps Professor X and attacks his school, the X-Men must ally with their archenemy Magneto to stop him.
- DirectorBryan SingerStarsPatrick StewartIan McKellenHugh JackmanThe X-Men send Wolverine to the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants.
- DirectorMatthew VaughnStarsJames McAvoyMichael FassbenderJennifer LawrenceIn the 1960s, superpowered humans Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr work together to find others like them, but Erik's vengeful pursuit of an ambitious mutant who ruined his life causes a schism to divide them.
- DirectorBryan SingerStarsPatrick StewartHugh JackmanIan McKellenIn a world where mutants (evolved super-powered humans) exist and are discriminated against, two groups form for an inevitable clash: the supremacist Brotherhood, and the pacifist X-Men.
- DirectorJames MangoldStarsHugh JackmanWill Yun LeeTao OkamotoWolverine comes to Japan to meet an old friend whose life he saved years ago, and gets embroiled in a conspiracy involving yakuza and mutants.
- DirectorBryan SingerStarsJames McAvoyMichael FassbenderJennifer LawrenceIn the 1980s, the X-Men must defeat an ancient all-powerful mutant, En Sabah Nur, who intends to thrive by bringing destruction to the world.
- DirectorTim MillerStarsRyan ReynoldsMorena BaccarinT.J. MillerA wisecracking mercenary gets experimented on and becomes immortal yet hideously scarred, and sets out to track down the man who ruined his looks.
- DirectorBrett RatnerStarsPatrick StewartHugh JackmanHalle BerryThe human government develops a cure for mutations, and Jean Grey becomes a darker uncontrollable persona called the Phoenix who allies with Magneto, causing escalation into an all-out battle for the X-Men.I can at least understand people's dislike of Origins, but this, I really don't get.
Okay, it has issues, but this is butchered like crazy. It has more emphasis on the action than the previous movies, and it tried to fit in more than they should have. They seem to try and introduce dozens of promising characters at a time, without really knowing what to do with them, and they never seem to get much development.
I guess Angel would be a prime example of that. He's introduced right in the beginning of the movie and seems kind of promising. He has a couple more scenes to build him up, before he decides to join the X-Men, and then I think you see him again really briefly for like a couple of seconds.
Again, though, there is a lot to admire with this movie. Kelsey Grammar is excellent as Beast and most of the performances were great.
I'd say one of the issues I have with Origins is that it didn't feel like an X-Men movie. I can see that putting a lot of people off, but with this, at least it did feel like one.
And, yes - there is more emphasis on action, but there still is a strong message about prejudice, and I think the whole plot with this mutant 'cure' was pretty awesome. It poses an interesting dilemma - What would you do? Would you use this 'cure' in order to conform, or would you stand up and fight against it? It's a compelling issue that goes well with the original X-Men trilogy.
So, to sum it all up, I'd say this is like the Return of the Jedi of the original X-Men trilogy. It isn't as good as 1 and 2, but still a petty awesome movie! - DirectorGavin HoodStarsHugh JackmanLiev SchreiberRyan ReynoldsThe early years of James Logan, featuring his rivalry with his brother Victor Creed, his service in the special forces team Weapon X, and his experimentation into the metal-lined mutant Wolverine.I don't imagine that it's a surprise where this ranks on my list. X-Men Origins is often regarded as the worst X-Men movie. It's despised and often called one of the worst superhero movies of all time, and if I'm being honest, that's maybe a little too unfair. Yes, it doesn't hold a candle to any of the other, more superior movies in the franchise, but trust me, there are so many awful superhero movies that would make my 'Worst' list before this one.
To be honest, there isn't one X-Men movie I don't at least think is alright. And that pretty much sums up my thoughts on this movie - alright.
The performances are mostly fine. Obviously Hugh Jackman shines as the lead, but that goes without saying. Liev Schreiber makes a compelling Sabretooth, and even Will.I.am is decent too.
Overall, the acting is good, the action is at least enjoyable, and we do at least have one of the best mutants as our main protagonist.
What really is lacking is a proper origin story worthy of such a character. We don't learn any more about Wolverine than we did in the previous movies, and the whole message of prejudice that the other movies handle so well is lacking here too.
Obviously, Deadpool's portrayal is what angers people most about this movie, and yes, I see why. But for the casual movie goer who doesn't really know the character, which was me when I first saw it, it probably won't bother you. Regardless, why they completely messed up his character will always be a mystery to me.
Overall, this movie is just okay. It probably doens't deserve all the hate it gets, but compared to every other movie in the franchise, it's pretty weak