The X-Men movies are among the most complicated superhero franchises because they do not follow one simple storyline from the first installment to the last. The series includes the original trilogy, prequels, standalone Wolverine movies, Deadpool, alternate timelines and films that largely stand on their own. The best order therefore depends on whether you want to watch the movies as they were released in theaters or according to the approximate chronology of the story.
For first-time viewers, the best way to watch the X-Men movies is in release order. This lets you experience the series as audiences originally did, without unnecessary confusion over its timelines. If you already know the movies, you can try watching them in chronological story order, but bear in mind that the X-Men franchise contains several inconsistencies and time jumps.
The best X-Men movie order for first-time viewers
If you are watching the X-Men movies for the first time, following their release dates makes the most sense. Although this is not always chronological in terms of the story, it works best for preserving surprises, following character development and gradually expanding the world. With this order, you will not feel as though a movie is explaining something you are not supposed to know yet.
X-Men movies in release order
- X-Men (2000)
- X2: X-Men United (2003)
- X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
- X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
- X-Men: First Class (2011)
- The Wolverine (2013)
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
- Deadpool (2016)
- X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
- Logan (2017)
- Deadpool 2 (2018)
- X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)
- The New Mutants (2020)
- Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
This is the clearest list for anyone who wants to see every live-action X-Men movie without constantly having to work out what year the story is taking place in. The series begins with the original X-Men movie from 2000, which introduced Wolverine, Professor X, Magneto, Rogue, Cyclops, Jean Grey and other familiar characters in the versions that would define the cinematic mutants for years. Prequels such as First Class came later, going back in time to explore younger versions of certain characters.
Why is the X-Men movie order so complicated?
The X-Men movies are not complicated because they are impossible to follow, but because the franchise changed direction several times over the years. First came the original trilogy, followed by a standalone Wolverine movie and then the prequel X-Men: First Class. Days of Future Past subsequently brought the original and younger casts together through time travel. This movie is why people often distinguish between the old and new X-Men timelines.
Another issue is that some movies are direct sequels, while others are more loosely connected. Logan feels like a self-contained story set in the future, The New Mutants has only a loose relationship with the main series, and Deadpool often makes fun of the entire continuity. As a result, there is no single, absolutely perfect viewing order that resolves every detail without minor contradictions.
X-Men movies by story: chronological order
Chronological order is best suited to viewers who already have a general idea of who everyone is and want to follow events according to when they occur in the story. Keep in mind, however, that some movies include prologues set in the past, jumps into the future or events from an alternate timeline. This order is therefore practical, but not perfectly precise.
Approximate chronological order of the X-Men movies
- X-Men: First Class (2011)
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
- X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
- X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
- X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)
- X-Men (2000)
- X2: X-Men United (2003)
- X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
- The Wolverine (2013)
- Deadpool (2016)
- Deadpool 2 (2018)
- The New Mutants (2020)
- Logan (2017)
- Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
This order begins with X-Men: First Class because it follows younger versions of Professor X and Magneto before the events of the original trilogy. Days of Future Past is a special case, however, because it connects the past with the future while significantly changing the franchise's subsequent direction. It can therefore be placed near the beginning of the chronological order, but it works better if you have already seen the older movies.
The original X-Men movie timeline
The original timeline is more straightforward and begins with the first trilogy. It introduces viewers to Professor X's school, the conflict between mutants and humans, and the difference between Xavier's and Magneto's visions for the future of mutantkind. This part of the franchise is also important because it establishes the core relationships between characters that later movies revisit.
Original timeline viewing order
- X-Men (2000)
- X2: X-Men United (2003)
- X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
- The Wolverine (2013)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine can also be placed within this timeline, but first-time viewers are better off keeping it in release order. It is Wolverine's origin story and explores his past, but it is also one of the installments in which fans frequently notice several inconsistencies with the other movies. If you simply want to understand the main series, the original trilogy and The Wolverine will give you a stronger foundation.
The newer timeline after Days of Future Past
The newer timeline takes shape mainly after X-Men: Days of Future Past. That movie uses time travel to connect the original cast with the younger versions of the characters from First Class. It is followed by Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix, which focus on a younger generation of X-Men in the altered timeline.
New timeline viewing order
- X-Men: First Class (2011)
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
- X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
- X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)
This branch is a good choice for viewers more interested in the younger Charles Xavier, Magneto, Mystique, Beast, Jean Grey, Cyclops and other characters played by the newer cast. First Class works very well as a fresh start for the franchise, but Days of Future Past has a greater impact if you have also seen the original movies. That is why release order remains the better option for a first viewing.
Where do the Wolverine movies fit?
Wolverine has his own mini-trilogy within the X-Men franchise, and it can also be watched on its own. X-Men Origins: Wolverine explores his past, The Wolverine follows the events of The Last Stand, and Logan is a darker, more self-contained story set in the future. Although all three movies center on the same character, they differ considerably in both tone and quality.
Wolverine movies in order
- X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
- The Wolverine (2013)
- Logan (2017)
It is best to save Logan until later, even though you can understand it without detailed knowledge of the entire franchise. It works best as a farewell to Hugh Jackman's cinematic Wolverine because viewers already understand his weariness, his past and his complicated relationship with the mutant world. Watching it too early diminishes some of its emotional impact.
Where does Deadpool fit?
Deadpool belongs to the world of the X-Men movies, but he plays by his own rules. His films include references to the X-Men, appearances by certain mutant characters and, later, a more substantial connection through Deadpool & Wolverine. It is also a much more comedic and violent branch of the franchise, so it does not feel the same as the main team-based X-Men movies.
Deadpool movies in order
- Deadpool (2016)
- Deadpool 2 (2018)
- Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Deadpool & Wolverine is best watched after Deadpool 2 and Logan. Although the movie deals with the multiverse and does not require a precise understanding of every detail, many of its jokes and references make more sense if you have seen the earlier Wolverine movies. It also serves as a kind of bridge between the earlier era of X-Men films and the newer Marvel world.
Can you skip any X-Men movies?
For the complete experience, skip nothing and follow release order. If you only want to understand the main story without watching every spin-off, however, you can choose a shorter marathon. In that case, focus mainly on the movies that introduce characters, alter the timeline or play a major role in Wolverine's and Deadpool's stories.
Shortened order for a quick X-Men marathon
- X-Men (2000)
- X2: X-Men United (2003)
- X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
- X-Men: First Class (2011)
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
- Deadpool (2016)
- Logan (2017)
- Deadpool 2 (2018)
- Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
This order is not comprehensive, but it covers the franchise's most important elements. You will see the original team, the pivotal change to the timeline, Wolverine's most significant moments and the Deadpool branch. If this leaves you wanting more from the world of the X-Men, you can fill in the gaps with Apocalypse, Dark Phoenix, The Wolverine, Origins and The New Mutants.
Where should you start if you do not want to worry about chronology?
The simplest answer is to start with 2000's X-Men. It offers a natural introduction to the mutant world because viewers discover it alongside Wolverine and Rogue. The movie also establishes the central conflict that returns in different forms throughout the franchise.
For a more modern starting point, you can begin with X-Men: First Class. It feels fresher, features a younger cast and works better as the beginning of the prequel story. Even so, release order remains the safer option because the later movies often assume that you know the original characters and their older versions.
Video: X-Men: Days of Future Past as the franchise's turning point
X-Men: Days of Future Past is one of the most important installments in the entire franchise because it brings together the original and younger casts and changes the subsequent direction of the movie timeline.
Video: Deadpool & Wolverine and the return of the cinematic mutants
Deadpool & Wolverine continues the Deadpool branch, brings Hugh Jackman back as Wolverine and features references to the older X-Men movies as well as the wider Marvel multiverse.
The most practical final recommendation
If you are wondering what order to watch the X-Men movies in, the best answer is: watch them by release date the first time, then chronologically on a second viewing if you wish. Release order is less confusing, preserves the movie reveals more effectively and shows how the franchise developed naturally from the original trilogy through to Deadpool & Wolverine. Chronological order is mainly interesting for fans who want to explore the timelines, but it may complicate the experience during a first marathon.
The X-Men franchise is not a perfectly polished cinematic puzzle, but that is part of its charm. Some installments are classic team-based comic book movies, others are personal Wolverine stories, while others offer Deadpool comedy or experiments with younger characters. By following release order, you will get the clearest sense of how the X-Men became one of the best-known superhero movie franchises.
Sources
- Marvel – Marvel Movies | Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
https://www.marvel.com/movies - 20th Century Studios – X-Men
https://www.20thcenturystudios.com/movies/x-men - Encyclopaedia Britannica – X-Men | Origin, Creators, Characters, Movies, & Facts
https://www.britannica.com/topic/X-Men - GamesRadar+ – How to watch the X-Men movies in order
https://www.gamesradar.com/how-to-watch-x-men-movies-in-order/
Robert
I’m interested in technology and history, especially true crime stories. For three years I ran a fact-based portal about modern history, and for a year I co-built a blogging platform where I published dozens of analytical articles. I founded offpitch so that quality content wouldn’t be hidden behind a paywall.
