Let's be honest. Trying to figure out what are the x men movies in order is a total headache. It’s not like the MCU where everything mostly marches forward in a straight line. No, the X-Men franchise is a messy, beautiful disaster of time travel, soft reboots, and actors being replaced by younger versions of themselves while the older versions are still technically around.
If you just sit down and start watching, you’re going to get confused. Fast. One minute Patrick Stewart is the Professor, the next it’s James McAvoy, and then suddenly Hugh Jackman is back with a different haircut in 1973.
It’s a lot. But don't worry. I've spent way too much time obsessing over these timelines so you don't have to. Whether you want to see how the special effects evolved or you want to experience the story as if it were a linear history, here is the breakdown of how to handle the mutant mayhem.
The "I Just Want To Watch Them" Order (Release Date)
Honestly? This is usually the best way to go for your first time. Why? Because the filmmakers were building on what came before. Even when they go back in time, they expect you to know who Wolverine is or why Magneto is so angry.
If you watch them as they hit theaters, you get to experience the same "Aha!" moments we all did back in the day. Plus, you won't be confused by the meta-jokes in Deadpool if you haven't seen the movies he’s making fun of yet.
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X-Men (2000)
This is where it all started. It feels a bit dated now—those black leather suits were very "Matrix-era"—but the chemistry between Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, and Patrick Stewart is legendary.
X2: X-Men United (2003)
Many fans still think this is the best one. The opening scene with Nightcrawler in the White House? Still incredible.
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
This one is... controversial. It tried to do the Dark Phoenix saga and the "mutant cure" story at the same time and kinda tripped over its own feet. Still, it’s essential for the "Original Trilogy" closure.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
Most people try to forget this exists. It gave us a version of Deadpool with his mouth sewn shut (huge mistake) and some really dodgy CGI claws. But it's part of the history.
X-Men: First Class (2011)
A breath of fresh air. We go back to the 60s to see how Charles and Erik met. It’s stylish, fun, and James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender are perfect casting.
The Wolverine (2013)
Logan goes to Japan. It’s a more grounded, character-focused story that picks up after the trauma of The Last Stand.
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
The big one. This movie connects the old cast and the new cast using time travel. It also basically "fixed" the timeline by erasing the movies people didn't like. Smart move, Fox.
Deadpool (2016)
A hard R-rated comedy that broke the fourth wall. It barely connects to the main X-Men movies, but it's set in the same world. Sorta.
X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
Back to the 80s. Huge stakes, big villain, but it felt a bit "been there, done that" for some.
Logan (2017)
A masterpiece. It’s a gritty, violent western set in the future. If you only watch one movie on this list, make it this one. Just bring tissues.
Deadpool 2 (2018)
More jokes, more blood, and the introduction of Cable.
Dark Phoenix (2019)
The second attempt at the Phoenix story. It was the final "main" X-Men movie produced by Fox before Disney bought them.
The New Mutants (2020)
A horror-tinged spinoff that sat on a shelf for years. It’s a side story that doesn't impact the main plot much.
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
The big crossover that finally brings these characters into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) orbit. It’s a love letter to the Fox era and a wild ride through the multiverse.
The "Everything In Sequence" Order (Chronological)
If you’re a glutton for punishment and want to see the history of mutants from the beginning to the end, this is what are the x men movies in order chronologically. Just a heads up: Days of Future Past creates a split in the timeline, so things get weird halfway through.
- X-Men: First Class (Set mostly in 1962)
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (The 1973 sequences)
- X-Men Origins: Wolverine (Set mostly in 1979)
- X-Men: Apocalypse (Set in 1983)
- X-Men: Dark Phoenix (Set in 1992)
- X-Men (Set in the "near future" of 2000)
- X2: X-Men United (Set around 2003)
- X-Men: The Last Stand (Set around 2006)
- The Wolverine (Set in 2013)
- Deadpool (Set around 2016)
- Deadpool 2 (Set around 2018)
- The New Mutants (Set roughly in the present day)
- Deadpool & Wolverine (Set in 2024, but involves multiverse hopping)
- Logan (Set in the dark future of 2029)
The Timeline Problem
Wait, didn't I say Days of Future Past changed things? Yes. When Wolverine goes back to 1973, he prevents a disaster that led to the original trilogy (X-Men 1-3).
So, technically, everything after 1973 in the list above happens in an "alternate" version of the world. In the "new" timeline, the events of X-Men: The Last Stand never happened, which is why characters who died in that movie show up alive and well later on. It’s confusing, I know. Just roll with it.
Why The Order Actually Matters
You might think, "Who cares? They’re just superhero movies." But the X-Men films are actually a really interesting case study in how a franchise evolves.
When you watch them in order, you see the shift from the early 2000s "grounded" superhero style to the massive, colorful spectacles of today. You also see Hugh Jackman age—well, barely, the man is a vampire—over 24 years of playing the same character. That’s a cinematic record that we likely won't see again for a long time.
There’s also the emotional payoff. Watching Logan hits a hundred times harder if you’ve seen the journey Charles and Logan have been on since that first movie in 2000. If you jump straight to the end, it’s just a sad movie about an old man. If you've seen the whole saga, it’s the end of an era.
Common Misconceptions
- Is Deadpool in the X-Men? He’s a mutant, but he’s not an X-Man. He constantly tries to join (or mocks them for not letting him in), but he operates in his own corner of the universe.
- Do I need to watch the TV shows? Shows like Legion or The Gifted are great, but they don't really impact the movie timeline. You can safely skip them if you’re just looking for the cinematic experience.
- What about the MCU? For a long time, X-Men were separate. Thanks to Deadpool & Wolverine, that’s changing, but the Fox movies still stand as their own complete (if messy) story.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re ready to start your mutant marathon, start with the 2000 original X-Men. Don't overthink the timeline yet. Just enjoy the introductions of these characters.
Once you get through the original trilogy, keep a notepad handy for Days of Future Past because that's when the "logic" of the universe gets its first major rewrite. Most importantly, don't feel like you have to love every single one. Skip Origins: Wolverine if you find it too painful—you won't miss any vital plot points that aren't explained better elsewhere.
Grab some popcorn, settle in, and get ready for a lot of people screaming "LOGAN!" at the top of their lungs. It’s a wild ride.