Let’s be real for a second. Trying to figure out all of the X-Men movies in order is a total nightmare. It’s not like the MCU where everything fits together like a nice, clean Lego set. No, the X-Men franchise is more like a bowl of spaghetti that someone dropped on the floor and then tried to fix with time travel.
You’ve got two different versions of Professor X. You’ve got a timeline that resets halfway through. You’ve even got a guy with katanas whose mouth was sewn shut, only for everyone to collectively agree that never happened.
Whether you’re a newcomer or a die-hard fan looking for a rewatch before the next big MCU mutant debut, you need a roadmap. Honestly, there are two main ways to do this: the way they came out in theaters (Release Order) or the way the story "actually" happens (Chronological Order).
Pick your poison.
The Chaos of Release Order
If you want to experience the franchise the way we all did—growing up with Hugh Jackman and slowly watching the budget and the continuity spiral—this is your best bet.
The Original Trilogy (2000–2006)
It all started in 2000. X-Men wasn't just a movie; it was the proof of concept that superheroes could be taken seriously. Then X2: X-Men United hit in 2003 and, frankly, it’s still one of the best comic book movies ever made. The opening Nightcrawler scene? Iconic. But then came X-Men: The Last Stand in 2006. It tried to do too much, killed off major characters too fast, and left a sour taste in everyone's mouth.
The Wolverine and Prequel Era (2009–2014)
Fox decided to go backward. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) gave us the backstory nobody really asked for, including that weird, silent Deadpool. Then X-Men: First Class (2011) saved the franchise by casting James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender. It was stylish, 60s-themed, and actually good.
The Wolverine (2013) took Logan to Japan for a solo adventure that felt way more grounded. But the real heavy hitter was X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014). This movie is basically the "Undo" button for the entire franchise. It used time travel to bridge the old cast and the new cast while effectively erasing the movies people hated.
The Experimental and Finale Era (2016–2024)
Then things got weird—in a good way. Deadpool (2016) broke the fourth wall and the box office. X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) went back to being a big, messy ensemble. Logan (2017) changed the game again by being a gritty, R-rated Western that felt more like an Oscar contender than a popcorn flick.
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After that, we got Deadpool 2 (2018), the second attempt at the Phoenix story with Dark Phoenix (2019), and the horror-adjacent The New Mutants (2020). Finally, Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) officially brought the Fox era into the Marvel Cinematic Universe fold.
All of the X-Men Movies in Order: The Chronological Timeline
If you want to watch the story from the 1940s to the far future, buckle up. This is where your brain might start to hurt because of the Days of Future Past reset.
1. X-Men: First Class (Set in 1962)
This is the true beginning. We see Charles and Erik before they were enemies. It’s the height of the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis is looming, and mutants are just starting to step out of the shadows.
2. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (Set mostly in 1979)
Technically, this starts in 1845 with a young Logan, but the meat of the story is in the late 70s. You see how he got his adamantium claws. You see the tragedy. You also see a version of Deadpool that we all try to forget exists.
3. X-Men (Set in the early 2000s)
The "present day" of the original timeline. Magneto wants to turn world leaders into mutants; Rogue is the MacGuffin. It’s simple, effective storytelling.
4. X2: X-Men United (Set shortly after X-Men)
William Stryker attacks the school. Mutants and the Brotherhood have to team up. It’s tight, tense, and builds the world beautifully.
5. X-Men: The Last Stand (Set in 2006)
The "Cure" is discovered. Jean Grey returns as the Phoenix. It’s a mess, but chronologically, it’s the end of the original team’s first major arc.
6. The Wolverine (Set in 2013)
Logan is a hermit in the woods, grieving Jean. He goes to Japan. It’s a solid character study that leads directly into the post-credits scene setting up the next film.
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7. X-Men: Days of Future Past (Set in 1973 and 2023)
This is the pivot point. In the "bad" future of 2023, Sentinels have killed almost everyone. Logan goes back to 1973 to stop it. By doing so, he creates a new timeline.
8. X-Men: Apocalypse (Set in 1983 - New Timeline)
Because history changed, the 80s look different. A god-like mutant wakes up and tries to reset the world. This is where we meet the younger versions of Cyclops, Storm, and Jean.
9. Dark Phoenix (Set in 1992 - New Timeline)
The team goes to space. Jean gets hit by a cosmic force. It’s another attempt at the Phoenix Saga, set a decade after Apocalypse.
10. Deadpool & Deadpool 2 (Set in 2016–2018)
Wade Wilson exists in his own little bubble. He makes jokes about the timelines being confusing, which is honestly the most accurate thing in the whole series.
11. The New Mutants (Set around 2017)
A group of teens in a creepy hospital. It doesn't connect much to the others, but it's officially part of the Fox-verse.
12. Logan (Set in 2029)
The end of the road. No new mutants have been born in years. Professor X is struggling with dementia, and Logan’s healing factor is failing. It’s heartbreaking.
13. Deadpool & Wolverine (Set in 2024 / Multiversal)
Wade enters the MCU. He goes looking for a "variant" of Logan to save his universe. It effectively ties a bow on the entire Fox era while planting seeds for the future.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Timeline
The biggest misconception? That everything fits together. It doesn't.
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For example, in X-Men (2000), Professor X says he met Magneto when he was 17. In First Class, they meet in their 20s. In The Last Stand, they visit a young Jean Grey together and they're both walking. But according to First Class, Charles was paralyzed long before he met Jean.
Why does this happen? Basically, the producers didn't care as much about a "shared universe" back in the early 2000s. They just wanted to make good individual movies. When they decided to make prequels, they prioritized cool scenes over sticking to the script of a movie made ten years prior.
Expert Tip: Don't look for perfection. View the X-Men movies as "legends" or "stories" about these characters rather than a rigid historical record.
The Best Way to Watch Them Today
If you’re doing a marathon, don’t go chronological. It’s too jarring. You’ll jump from the high-def 2011 First Class to the dated CGI of 2000 X-Men, and your brain will reject it.
The "Hybrid" Order is the winner:
- The Original Trilogy (X-Men, X2, The Last Stand)
- The Wolverine Solos (Origins, The Wolverine)
- The Prequel Tetralogy (First Class, Days of Future Past, Apocalypse, Dark Phoenix)
- The Modern R-Rated Hits (Deadpool 1 & 2, Logan)
- The Grand Finale (Deadpool & Wolverine)
This way, you see the world-building first, understand why the "reset" in Days of Future Past matters, and end on the highest emotional notes with Logan and the multiversal fun of the MCU transition.
Actionable Steps for Your Rewatch
- Skip the fluff: If you're short on time, you can safely skip X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Dark Phoenix. They don't add much to the overall quality of the experience.
- Watch the "Rogue Cut": For Days of Future Past, find the Rogue Cut. It adds about 17 minutes of footage that actually makes the future stakes feel more desperate.
- Check the Post-Credits: Almost every movie from The Wolverine onwards has a teaser. Don't close the tab as soon as the names start scrolling.
- Context is King: Remember that Logan takes place in a possible future, not necessarily the only future. It helps the medicine go down easier when you realize how depressing that ending is.
The X-Men films are a wild ride of extreme highs and baffling lows. But even the bad ones have Hugh Jackman giving it 110%, and that's usually worth the price of admission alone.
By following the hybrid order, you get the full emotional weight of the character arcs without getting lost in the continuity weeds. Grab some popcorn, ignore the plot holes, and enjoy the evolution of the mutant race.