Ranking All The “X-Men” & “Deadpool” Movies

With “Deadpool & Wolverine” officially bringing the “X-Men” into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, now is the perfect time to look back at the 24-year history of these merry mutants on the big screen. Beginning with “X-Men” in July 2000, this franchise has spanned 14 movies (including “Deadpool & Wolverine“), occupying a variety of genres and aesthetics. These characters can inhabit everything from silly, raunchy comedies to teen horror movies, bleak neo-Westerns, and everything in between. Even with that variety, though, the “X-Men” franchise is far from flawless. Ranking all 14 of these titles from worst to best, it becomes apparent that audiences have yet to see an actual outstanding mainline “X-Men” movie on par with “Spider-Man 2” or “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” in terms of overall quality. However, there’s still much to appreciate in the history of the X-Men on the silver screen, though that might be hard to remember as we dive into the first title in this ranking, the absolute nadir of mutant cinema…

14. Dark Phoenix
Was there ever going to be another movie at the bottom of this list? The second time was not the charm for adapting the “Dark Phoenix Saga” into a movie. “Dark Phoenix” was hampered by an oppressively bleak tone and a script too cowardly to let Sophie Turner’s Jean Grey get really wicked. Even “Dark Phoenix” bringing aliens into the “X-Men” movie mythos for the first time wasn’t enough to give this installment some extra creative juice. At least it had possibly the funniest (unintentionally so) F-word in the history of PG-13 movies!

13. X-Men: Apocalypse
If you watched “Inside Llewyn Davis” and wished that Oscar Isaac was blue, covered in suffocating makeup, and couldn’t exhibit any charisma, then “X-Men: Apocalypse” has you covered. Disposable new actors took on Cyclops and Jean Grey while an overstuffed ensemble cast left talented performers like Lana Condor and Kodi Smit-McPhee stranded. A barrage of CG images of the world falling apart did nothing to instill excitement. Oscar Isaac deserved better, and so did X-Men geeks.

12. X-Men: Origins – WolverineIt’s unbelievably stupid to have a version of Deadpool where his mouth is sewn up. Beyond comically idiotic differences from the comics, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is still a profoundly terrible film. Even a talented performer like Hugh Jackman exudes no personality in his screen time. Wolverine navigates all kinds of predictable turmoil that eventually turns him into this vicious, grumpy loner. Plenty of bad CGI and thoroughly forgettable mutant characters abound in the proceedings—no wonder subsequent “X-Men” movies have endlessly ridiculed this installment.

11. The New Mutants
Josh Boone’s directorial effort, technically about lesbians, “The New Mutants,” is intrinsically better than both “Dark Phoenix” and “X-Men: Apocalypse.” However, even Rahne Sinclair / Wolfsbane (Maisie Williams) and Danielle “Dani” Moonstar/Mirage (Blu Hunt) as a couple don’t come anywhere close to mitigating the endless flaws of “The New Mutants.” This inaugural horror mutant-centric feature is disturbingly light on genuinely unnerving scares. The most frightening thing here is the nonchalant racism against Moonstar. The lack of commitment to either distinctive scares or superhero mayhem leaves “The New Mutants” creatively inert. Not even the power of lesbians can solve that issue.

10. X-Men: The Last Stand
This one has Kelsey Grammer as Hank McCoy/Beast! That’s inspired casting, and hearing him say, “Oh my stars and garters,” is a lot of fun, besides witnessing how Frasier Crane blue himself, though “X-Men: The Last Stand” is a generic enterprise. Brett Ratner’s inability to direct action leaves the fight scenes lifeless. New characters like Angel (Ben Foster) get no real dimensions. Worst of all, trying to cram the “Dark Phoenix” storyline into a movie about a “mutant cure” leaves the narrative stuffed. So much happens in “The Last Stand,” but none of it leaves a mark.

9. X-MenMake no mistake: the opening sequence of the first “X-Men” is terrific. This prologue – set at Auschwitz – was a wake-up call to audiences and artists alike at the dawn of the 21st century of what comic book adaptations could look like in film. The boldness informing that kick-off, though, fades away by the end of “X-Men.” Inspired casting choices like Ian McKellan as Magneto aren’t enough to liven up a generic finale set at the Statue of Liberty and poorly directed fight scenes.

8. Deadpool 2 It’s “Deadpool” again. “Deadpool 2’s” unimaginative title speaks to how this follow-up is a perfunctory extension of the previous film. A few inspired gags – like the bleakly dark X-Force sequence – liven up the proceedings, as do fun supporting turns from Rob Delaney, Zazie Beetz, and Julian Dennison. However, you’ve already seen many of these jokes in superior settings. Deadpool can regenerate with ease, but even he couldn’t get over the blahs that permeate so many superhero movie sequels.

7. Deadpool
Years of persistence from Ryan Reynolds resulted in the release of “Deadpool” in February 2016. His dedication to this silly character is commendable, but it’s a shame all those years in development couldn’t inform a better movie. Granted, “Deadpool” has its share of amusing jokes, and some graphic violence registers as “joyfully demented” rather than gratuitous. However, too much of Deadpool’s first movie registers as narratively and visually perfunctory. This is a movie about fulfilling fan expectations rather than exciting comedic subversion.

6. Deadpool & WolverineUndoubtedly, “Deadpool & Wolverine” will work like gangbusters for fans of the franchise and the titular Merc with a Mouth. However, two hours of endless snarling and snark grows more than a bit tiresome by the end of the film’s runtime. Some undeniably fun cameos and impressively choreographed fight scenes can’t mitigate a wobbly screenplay and too many gags that just miss the mark. “Deadpool & Wolverine” provides temporary thrills in the moment but struggles to leave more of an impact.

5. The Wolverine
One of the few pop culture opinions shared by everyone the world over regards “The Wolverine’s” overall structure. Everyone who watches James Mangold’s inaugural “X-Men” movie enjoys the intimate first two-thirds…and then the finale arrives, in which Wolverine dukes it out with a CGI robot. That’s when everything crumbles, and “The Wolverine’s” more distinctive elements fall away. Until then, some meditative sequences and a more intimate scope served “The Wolverine” nicely. It’s a pity that those virtues couldn’t endure the entire movie.

4. X2
“X2” has one of the all-time greatest sequences in the entire “X-Men” franchise. It concerns Iceman “coming out” as a mutant to his parents, an exchange rooted in realistic details and dialogue pertaining to actual queer coming-out experiences. Like that Auschwitz prologue from “X-Men,” it’s a terrific scene showcasing how well mutants and reality can blend. Unfortunately, the rest of “X2” – save for that killer Nightcrawler/White House opening set piece – suffers from bland visuals and an underdeveloped ensemble cast. A drab underground military base functions as “X2’s” climactic backdrop, a dreary landscape for a movie that previously demonstrated some real imagination.

3. X-Men: Days Of Future Past
The big 2014 bonanza uniting two disparate “X-Men” timelines, “X-Men: Days of Future Past” has excellent individual moments, making solid use of the highly talented ensemble cast at the movie’s disposal. It’s also nifty that this big blockbuster spanning decades of history ultimately comes down to very intimate details, like whether or not one mutant will pull a trigger. Unfortunately, it’s held back by some underwhelming character beats – like Magneto’s abrupt shift to the dark side – and Wolverine’s (ultimately) thematically superfluous role.

2. X-Men: First Class
Back in June 2011, “X-Men: First Class” really hit home like a crack of lightning. 13 years later, its shortcomings are more glaringly apparent, particularly since they now feel like precursors to the dreary subsequent filmography of director Matthew Vaughn. The obsession with spy movie aesthetics and over-reliance on digital effects in action sequences would come back to haunt movies like “Argylle.” However, “First Class” does have an enjoyably zippier atmosphere than any other “X-Men” installment. It also nicely leans into its period piece setting and gets so much mileage out of Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy’s riveting chemistry.

1. Logan
Even the best “X-Men” movie by a country mile isn’t devoid of shortcomings. “Logan” has some clumsy attempts at reinforcing its R-rating – such as its one predictable stab at nudity – and certain elements are a tad too derivative of superior movies. Overall, director James Mangold delivers a neo-Western that truly earns its bleak atmosphere. Hugh Jackman radiates years of grizzled weariness in his captivating lead performance, while Mangold’s precise sense of blocking is a welcome departure from, say, “Dark Phoenix”s” generic framing. Best of all, its biggest emotional beats hit incredibly hard, including a final funeral scene that gets a lot of pathos out of minimal dialogue. We’ve never gotten a genuinely great mainline “X-Men” movie, but “Logan” is this franchise’s one outright terrific motion picture.

What do you think of our list? What’s your favorite X-Men/Deadpool movie? Have you seen “Deadpool & Wolverine” yet? If so, what did you think? Which films do feel flew under the radar in the first half of the year more people should see? Please let us know in the comments section below or on Next Best Picture’s X account.

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