X-Men is an American superhero film series based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the

same name. 20th Century Fox[a] obtained the film rights to the team and other related characters in
1994 for $2.6 million. After numerous drafts, Bryan Singer was hired to direct the first film, released
in 2000, and its sequel, X2 (2003), while the third installment of the original trilogy, X-Men: The Last
Stand (2006), was directed by Brett Ratner.

After each film outgrossed its predecessor, further films were released set in the same shared
universe, with spin-offs including three Wolverine films (2009–2017), two Deadpool films (2016–
2018), and two television series titled Legion (2017–2019) and The Gifted (2017–2019). The 2011
prequel X-Men: First Class acted as a soft reboot of the original franchise, followed by its 2014
sequel X-Men: Days of Future Past establishing a new fictional timeline focusing on younger
iterations of existing characters, which continued into a full tetralogy by X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
and Dark Phoenix (2019). The series officially concluded after 20 years with the stand-alone The New
Mutants (2020).

The X-Men film series had varying reception between installments, but most received positive
reviews. Days of Future Past and Logan, in particular, are considered among the greatest superhero
films ever made, with each receiving Academy Award nominations for Best Visual Effects and Best
Adapted Screenplay respectively. Across thirteen films released, the X-Men film series is the tenth-
highest-grossing film series, having grossed over $6 billion worldwide.

After Disney acquired Fox in March 2019, Marvel Studios regained the film rights to the X-Men
characters, with the intention of integrating the characters into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As
such, the majority of films in various stages in development were cancelled, and the series officially
concluded as a result. However, Marvel Studios would later rework and develop one film, a
third Deadpool film, as Deadpool & Wolverine (2024); though not considered part of the franchise, it
served as a sequel to the Deadpool films and a retroactive conclusion for the series, while also
serving as a crossover between the series, MCU, and other Marvel films produced by Fox. A new X-
Men film, rebooting the franchise for the MCU, is currently in development.

X-Men original trilogy

[edit]

X-Men (2000)

[edit]

Main article: X-Men (film)

The film introduces Logan and Rogue into the conflict between Professor Xavier's X-Men and
the Brotherhood of Mutants, led by Magneto. Magneto intends to mutate world leaders at a United
Nations summit with a machine he has built to bring about acceptance of mutantkind, but he was
not aware that this forced mutation will result only in their deaths.

In 1994, 20th Century Fox and producer Lauren Shuler Donner bought the film rights to the X-Men.
[1]
Andrew Kevin Walker was hired to write, and James Cameron expressed interest in producing.
[2]
Eventually, Bryan Singer signed on to direct in July 1996. Although he was not a comic book fan,
Singer was fascinated by the analogies of prejudice and discrimination that X-Men offered.[1] John
Logan, Joss Whedon, Ed Solomon, Christopher McQuarrie, and David Hayter wrote the script, with
Hayter receiving sole credit.[1][3] Principal photography began in September 1999 in Toronto, Ontario,
Canada, and ended in March 2000.[4] The film was released on July 14, 2000.[5]
X2 (2003)

[edit]

Main article: X2 (film)

Colonel William Stryker brainwashes and questions the imprisoned Magneto about Professor Xavier's
mutant-locating machine, Cerebro. Stryker attacks the X-Mansion and brainwashes Xavier into
locating every mutant on the planet to kill them. The X-Men must team up with the Brotherhood to
prevent Stryker's worldwide genocide.

Hayter and Zak Penn were hired to write their own scripts for the sequel, which Singer would pick,
with an aim to release the film in December 2002.[6][7] Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris were hired
to re-write the script in February 2002, writing around 26 drafts and 150 on set.[8] Principal
photography began in June 2002 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and ended in November
2002. The film was released on May 2, 2003.[6]

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

[edit]

Main article: X-Men: The Last Stand

A pharmaceutical company has developed a "cure" that suppresses the mutant gene, provoking
controversy in the mutant community. Magneto declares war on the humans and retrieves his own
weapon: Phoenix, the resurrected former X-Men member Jean Grey. A final battle between the X-
Men and the Brotherhood ensues, and Wolverine must accept that to stop Grey, he will have to kill
her.

Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men story "Gifted", featuring a mutant cure, was suggested for the
primary story. Matthew Vaughn came on board as director in February 2005[9] but left due to the
rushed production schedule.[10] Brett Ratner was later hired as director in June.[11] Principal
photography began in August 2005 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and ended in January
2006.[12] The film was released on May 26, 2006.[13]