Best X-Men Movies (September 2025)

If you’re excited about the X-Men teaming up with the Avengers in the imminent Doomsday scenario, now might be a great opportunity to refresh your memory by watching some outstanding performances of the X-Men. Let me share some top-rated X-Men films with you.

Best X-Men movies as of 2025

Over the years, there’s been a constant battle for audience favor between the Avengers and the X-Men. While the Avengers movies have consistently outearned the X-Men in terms of global box office revenue, it’s important to acknowledge that the X-Men films significantly contributed to the expansion and growth of the superhero genre in the early 2000s.

Before the release of Spider-Man and Christopher Nolan’s groundbreaking Batman trilogy, which revolutionized comic book movies, it was the X-Men that set the stage for this new era. Additionally, we can’t forget to credit Blade for its significant role in shaping this genre. However, even with strong competition from these other films, the X-Men series still managed to gross over $100 million more at the box office.

Just like how opinions vary when it comes to creating a top list, our choices for the finest X-Men films are influenced by personal preferences. Inquire from several fans, and you’ll discover that their picks differ.

Logan (2017)

In nearly every list ranking X-Men films, Logan consistently holds the top spot. This character embodies a western hero archetype, a weary cowboy who retires to live peacefully until provoked into action. However, unlike what’s suggested in this narrative, the movie is somewhat inspired by the Old Man Logan comic.

25 years have passed since any mutants were known to have been born, and now, it seems like they’ve been wiped out from existence. Logan, a mutant himself, is living incognito, working as a chauffeur to make ends meet. However, his peaceful life takes a turn for the worse when some thugs try to rob him, resulting in gunfire. Unsurprisingly, the bullets fail to harm him, only triggering his adamantium claws. The ensuing action results in one of the bloodiest and most intense portrayals of Wolverine on screen yet.

In simpler terms, the story revolves around Logan (Hugh Jackman), an elderly Professor X (Patrick Stewart) with unpredictable seizures, and a young mutant girl named Laura (Dafne Keen). They journey together to reach a sanctuary for mutants called Eden, but they face pursuers – a ruthless band of mercenaries led by the cyborg Donald Pierce (Boyd Holbrook). The film, directed by James Mangold, is rated R due to its graphic violence and mature themes, breaking away from typical superhero genre norms.

X2: X-Men United (2003)

Roger Ebert deemed the film as “stupid yet enjoyable,” which is high praise given his perspective. After all, it’s a superhero action flick – exactly what we expected!

In a nod to one of the top early superhero sequels, X-Men United, the action builds upon the original X-Men film in numerous ways, escalating the tension significantly. One pivotal moment involves Nightcrawler, portrayed by Alan Cumming, attempting to assassinate a president who bears a striking resemblance to George W. Bush at the White House. This act triggers a series of events that intensify the danger for mutants, as the government now has stronger motives to suppress them due to the attempted attack.

Later on, a relentless military scientist, played by Brian Cox, unleashes an assault on Xavier’s school and captures Professor X. In response, the X-Men join forces with their longstanding adversary, Magneto (Ian McKellen), to thwart him.

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

In this retelling, I find myself immersed in a dystopian future from an X-Men comic storyline, subtly altered, known as Days of Future Past. Here, mutants are facing near extinction at the hands of machines called Sentinels, engineered by Dr. Bolivar Trask – portrayed by Peter Dinklage – in the 1970s. Trask, whose perspective I’ve come to know before his demise at the hands of Mystique, played by Jennifer Lawrence, viewed mutants as a grave danger to humanity and believed that creating robots designed to hunt and eliminate them was the best course of action. As these machines have grown increasingly effective over the years, they now pose a significant threat in the present day, forcing the X-Men into devising a strategy to alter the dismal trajectory of events.

Days of Future Past brings back many familiar faces for an exciting, snack-worthy superhero adventure. Although some parts of the storyline could be stronger, the entertaining aspects more than compensate.

X-Men: First Class (2011)

In “X-Men: First Class,” we witnessed a rejuvenation of the series, featuring Kevin Bacon portraying a villain – two elements contributing significantly to this film’s standing among top X-Men movies (though there are other factors that qualify it). The movie transports us back to the 1960s, where we meet young Charles Xavier, played by James McAvoy, and Erik Lehnsherr, portrayed by Michael Fassbender – characters who later become Professor X and Magneto. These two form a team of mutant superheroes with the aim of averting nuclear war during the Cold War era; however, their contrasting beliefs eventually strain their friendship.

Deadpool (2016)

The first Marvel-based movie to earn an R-rating: This refers more to Marvel comic characters being adapted into films, not the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, which was produced by 20th Century Fox. “Deadpool” breaks the mold of traditional superhero movies by featuring a boisterous, crude protagonist, Wade Wilson, portrayed by Ryan Reynolds. Originally a Special Forces operative, Wilson learns he has terminal cancer and is presented with a questionable cure by a mad scientist named Ajax, played by Ed Skrein.

As a devoted enthusiast, I’d rephrase that intriguing snippet like this: “To be honest, the test was designed to stimulate dormant genetic mutations – yes, even in poor Wade, who underwent some intense treatments at the hands of Ajax, leaving him scarred but gifted with astonishingly fast healing powers. With a group of friends by my side, I, Deadpool, embark on a mission to find Ajax and secure a cure for this unique condition.

In addition to the plot, Deadpool revolutionized our assumptions about superhero films by breaking new ground, unlike The Punisher (2004) which fell short dramatically. Distinguished by its adult content, including explicit sexual scenes and mature language, Deadpool is a hilarious, brutally violent film featuring numerous instances where it openly acknowledges the audience.

Deadpool transformed superhero movies in an unprecedented manner compared to The Punisher (2004), showcasing its unique blend of risqué elements, sharp dialogue, humor, violence, and frequent moments that address the audience directly.

How we picked the best X-Men movies

In compiling our list, we selected the top X-Men films by considering fan preferences, critical acclaim, and their impact on the series as a whole. While you might have your own favorites like X-Men (2000) or The Wolverine (2013), we believe our choices offer a well-rounded representation of the best X-Men movies.

2025-09-03 03:18