There is arguably no film saga as uneven or rewarding as theX-Mensaga. Starting in the 2000s as the first of the new boom of superhero movies in the new millennium, the film series spawned an original trilogy, a spin-off trilogy, and four prequels, all with varying degrees of commercial and critical success. The movies center on mutants, human beings with unique abilities ostracized by a society that hates and misunderstands them.
Although the original trilogy is quite good, the prequel tetralogy is more mixed. It’s split down the middle, with two incredible movies widely considered among the all-time best entries in the superhero genre and two notorious trainwrecks, so bad they outright buried the Fox universe at a time when it was already struggling to stay afloat.What follows is a ranking of the fourX-Menprequelsbased on their overall quality and how impactful they have become in the genre. They might not be the most consistent of superhero properties, but no one can deny theX-Menprequels are one-of-a-kind, for better and worse.
4’Dark Phoenix' (2019)
Directed by Simon Kinberg
Ah,Dark Phoenix, a movie so bad it makes a previously bad movie look better in comparison. The plot sees the X-Men deal with the rising powers of one of their own. As Jean Grey’s (Sophie Turner) mighty abilities grow out of control, further encouraged by a mysterious alienin the form ofJessica Chastain, the X-Men are split down the middle: some want to try and reason with her, while others seek to stop her by any means necessary.
At first glance,Dark Phoenixhad everything to succeed: a great cast of A-listers clearly committed to the material — why else would they be there, in movie number four, no less? — and one of the all-time great comic book storylines to adapt. Plus, the movies had alreadybotchedThe Dark Phoenix Sagaonce; they couldn’t possibly do it again, right? Wrong.Dark Phoenixisbad, lazy, uninspired, and often terribly silly, a complete bastardization of a classic comic book story in favor of the cheapest thrills possible. It takes the most basic plot elements and translates them into the big screen with as much enthusiasm as a slug crawling through the ground.Dark Phoenixwastes a great premise, a talented cast, and a unique chance to conclude their series on a high note. Worst of all, it’s boring, the cardinal sin a comic book movie can commit.
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3’X-Men: Apocalypse' (2016)
Directed by Bryan Singer
Following a peak in the series,X-Men: Apocalypsesunk to new depths not seen sinceX-Men Origins: Wolverine. The plot sees the ancient mutant En Saba Nur (Oscar Isaac) return to once again try and reshape the world under a “survival of the fittest” approach. Aided by his four horsemen, including a broken Magneto (Michael Fassbender), Apocalypse launches a worldwide attack, and it’s up to the X-Men to stop him from destroying the world.
X-Men: Apocalypsedoes everything from a “bigger is better” approach, and the result is disappointing.
X-Men: Apocalypseisan overblown mess of epic proportions. The plot is as formulaic as they come, withOscar Isaacs' wasted Apocalypsespitting out the most by-the-number lines one could possibly imagine. The new cast, especially Turner as Jean Grey,Tye Sheridanas Cyclops, and Oscar nomineeKodi Smit-McPheeas Nightcrawler, do some very heavy lifting here, but their youthful commitment can’t elevate this movie past its limitations.X-Men: Apocalypsedoes everything from a “bigger is better” approach, and the result is disappointing. It takes everything that works from previous movies, from Peter’s (Evan Peters) hyper-speed rescues to Mystique’s (Jennifer Lawrence) anti-hero side, and makes them louder and more elaborate but not any better. It has some bold ideas, butthe execution is lacking.
X-Men: Apocalypse
2’X-Men: First Class' (2011)
Directed by Matthew Vaughn
Fan-favorite directorMatthew Vaughntook the difficult task of revitalizing theX-Menfranchise and did so by injecting with some ’60s mojo.X-Men: First Classfollows a young Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) as he assembles a team of young mutants, including a vengeful Magneto, to fight the Hellfire Club, led by the powerful and dangerous mutant Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon).
With a healthy dose of style, flair, and homoeroticism,X-Men: First Classwas the jolt of electricity the franchise neededto come back to life. The film is the very definition of cool, with each sequence dripping with stylish energy and a clear regard for the source material. At the core,First Classis a tale of a broken friendship, with the now-iconic Charles-Erik relationship taking center stage. McAvoy and Fassbender are incredible together, sharing more chemistry than the average couple in a rom-com and injecting the film with a heavy dose of warmth and heat. With an excellent supporting cast, a brilliant villain brought to life by a scenery-chewing Kevin Bacon, and a clever approach to the mutant-human drama,X-Men: First Classis probablythe most purely rewatchableX-Menmovie, an enjoyable ride that never gets old.
X-Men: First Class
1’X-Men: Days of Future Past' (2014)
X-Men: Days of Future Pastis probably the single best adaptation of a classic comic book story in theX-Menseries. The plot starts in a future where mutants have been hunted to near-extinction by the Sentinels, shapeshifting robots that can adapt to different mutant abilities. In a desperate attempt to prevent such a bleak life, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) travels back in time to stop Mystique from killing the creator of the Sentinels, scientist Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage). To do so, he recruits the young Charles and Erik, both broken versions of the man they once were.
Critically acclaimedand beloved by audiences,X-Men: Days of Future Pastis an impressive effort thatexcels as a superhero movie, a sci-fi adventure, and a family drama. The film juggles multiple characters and makes it seem effortless, granting each story enough room to breathe while still keeping a tight and tense pace, leading to a riveting third act that still feels remarkably emotional. Dinklage is excellent as the antagonist, while Lawrence delivers what is probably the best version of Mystique in live-action. Jackman is as entertaining as ever, and McAvoy and Fassbender once again make Charles and Erik compelling and tragic.Days of Future Pastincludes what is possibly the best scene in theX-Menseries — the now-iconic “Time in a Bottle” sequence — and keeps things moving quickly with a generous dose of ’70s boogie.Superhero movies don’t get any better than this.
