Dive into a vortex of mutants, missions and mysteries with the X-Men saga, a universe where the heroes are as complex as their timeline. From the shock of 2000, when Bryan Singer launched what would become a cinematic phenomenon, to the dark and powerful denouement of "Logan", the X-Men have carved a winding path through time and space. But how do we untangle this complex web? Where does Wolverine first show his claws? When does the battle against Apocalypse take place in the great mutant chessboard? Our definitive guide, revelation of the best viewing order, takes you beyond the breathtaking fight scenes and interwoven stories, straight to the heart of the saga. Discover why Professor Xavier and his X-Men aren't just comic-book characters, but cultural icons who continue to define an era. Get ready, because you're about to meet your favorite heroes in an adventure where each film is a piece of the mutant puzzle!
The history of the X-Men saga
The X-Men saga comprises 13 films, including 4 spin-offs focusing on the characters of Wolverine and Deadpool. It is divided into two main periods: the original trilogy, set in the 2000s, and the prequel trilogy, set in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. There is also an alternate timeline, created by the film X-Men: Days of Future Past, which modifies the events of the previous films. Finally, there are two TV series, Legion and The Gifted, set in parallel universes. So there are plenty of ways to watch X-Men.
Cinema release order
The cinema release order is the easiest to follow. It lets you discover films and series in the order in which they were produced and released. So you can appreciate the evolution of special effects, casting and direction. It looks like this:
- X-Men (2000), directed by Bryan Singer
- X-Men 2 (2003), directed by Bryan Singer
- X-Men: The Final Confrontation (2006), directed by Brett Ratner
- X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), directed by Gavin Hood
- X-Men: The Beginning (2011), directed by Matthew Vaughn
- Wolverine: Immortal combat (2013), directed by James Mangold
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), directed by Bryan Singer
- Deadpool (2016), directed by Tim Miller
- X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), directed by Bryan Singer
- Logan (2017), directed by James Mangold
- Legion (2017-2019), series created by Noah Hawley
- The Gifted (2017-2019), series created by Matt Nix
- Deadpool 2 (2018), directed by David Leitch
- X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019), directed by Simon Kinberg
- The New Mutants (2020), directed by Josh Boone
The chronological order of the story
The chronological order of the story is the most logical to follow. It allows you to see the films and series in the order they take place in the X-Men timeline. This way, you can understand the characters' backstories, origins, motivations and relationships. You can also grasp the stakes and consequences of the events that occur in each film or series. The list of films and series in chronological order is as follows:
- X-Men: The Beginning, set in 1962
- X-Men: Days of Future Past, set in 1973 and 2023
- X-Men Origins: Wolverine, set between 1845 and 1981
- X-Men: Apocalypse, set in 1983
- X-Men: Dark Phoenix, set in 1992
- X- Men, set in 2005
- X- Men 2, set in 2006
- X-Men: The Final Confrontation, set in 2007
- Wolverine: Immortal combat, set in 2013
- Deadpool, set in 2016
- Deadpool 2, set in 2018
- Logan, set in 2029
- The New Mutants, set in 2020
- Legion (2017-2019), series set in a parallel universe, no exact date given
- The Gifted (2017-2019), series set in a parallel universe, no exact date given
Customized order
The personalized order is the most flexible to follow. It allows you to watch movies and series in the order you prefer, according to your tastes and desires. Here are a few examples of personalized orders:
- The order of trilogiesYou can watch the films in trilogies, i.e. the first three films, then the three prequel films, then the three Wolverine films, then the three Deadpool films.
- The order of the charactersyou can watch the films by character, i.e. all the Wolverine-centric films, then all the Deadpool-centric films, then all the Professor Xavier-centric films, and so on.
- The order of directorsYou can watch the films by director, i.e. all the films directed by Bryan Singer, then all the films directed by James Mangold, then all the films directed by Matthew Vaughn, and so on.
- Order of preferenceYou can watch movies by preference, i.e. your favorite movies first, then your least favorite, or vice versa.
- The order of noveltiesYou can watch films in order of newness, i.e. the most recent films first, followed by older ones, or vice versa.
Whatever order you choose, we advise you not to miss the post-generic scenes, which are present in most of the films. They'll give you clues as to what's going to happen next in the saga. But if you're really lost in this complex chronology, we've got a simple solution for you: watch Doctor Strange! This Marvel movie Cinematic Universe (MCU) will show you how to master time and space with magic. Maybe one day, it will even integrate the X-Men into its universe. After all, Disney has bought out 20 th Century Fox and announced the return of the mutants to the MCU. Who knows what the future holds? Perhaps we'll soon see Hugh Jackman reprise his role as Wolverine alongside actor Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man.
If you're interested in other films in the same genre, you can discover In what order should you watch the Star Wars movies?
