All Wolverine Movies in Order: The Only Way to Make Sense of the Timeline

Let’s be real for a second. Trying to figure out the chronology of the X-Men universe is basically like trying to untangle a drawer full of old headphones. You think you’ve got it, and then—bam—a time-traveling mutant shows up and resets everything you just learned.

Hugh Jackman has been playing Logan for over two decades now. That’s a long time to keep the mutton chops looking that sharp. But because the studio kept jumping between prequels, sequels, and "soft reboots," watching all wolverine movies in order isn't as simple as going from one to ten.

If you’re sitting down for a marathon, you have two choices. You can watch them as they hit theaters (Release Order) or try to follow Logan’s actual life from 1845 to the distant future (Chronological Order). Honestly? Both have their perks. But one will definitely give you a massive headache if you aren't prepared for the continuity errors.

The "I Just Want to Watch Them" Release Order

This is how most of us experienced the claws for the first time. It’s the safest bet because the special effects actually get better as you go, rather than jumping from 2024 CGI back to the "CGI claws" disaster of 2009.

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1. X-Men (2000)
2. X2: X-Men United (2003)
3. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
4. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
5. X-Men: First Class (2011) – Just a cameo, but a legendary one.
6. The Wolverine (2013)
7. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
8. X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) – Another "blink and you'll miss it" (well, sort of) appearance.
9. Logan (2017)
10. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

You’ll notice a few movies are missing. I left out Dark Phoenix and The New Mutants because Logan isn't really in them. If you’re a completionist, sure, throw them in, but for a "Wolverine" specific run, they’re basically filler.

Why the Chronological Order is a Hot Mess

If you want to watch Logan’s life story linearly, you’re in for a wild ride. He was born James Howlett in the mid-1800s, so technically, the first few minutes of X-Men Origins: Wolverine are the "start."

But then Days of Future Past happens.

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That movie literally rips the timeline in half. When Logan goes back to 1973, he prevents a dystopian future, which means everything that happened in the original 2000, 2003, and 2006 movies technically... didn't happen anymore? Or it happened in a different "branch"? It’s enough to make your brain leak.

The "Logan's Life" Timeline (Sorta)

• X-Men Origins: Wolverine (The 1845-1970s parts): We see him and Sabretooth fighting through every major American war.
• X-Men: First Class (1962): He’s sitting at a bar in a suit. He tells Xavier and Magneto to go f*** themselves. Classic Logan.
• X-Men Origins: Wolverine (The 1979 parts): He gets the adamantium. He loses his memory. This movie is widely considered the "black sheep," but it’s essential for the backstory.
• X-Men (2000) through The Wolverine (2013): This is the "Original Timeline." Logan finds the X-Men, loses Jean Grey, and heads to Japan to find himself.
• X-Men: Days of Future Past (1973/2023): The pivot point. Future Logan sends his mind back to his 1973 body.
• X-Men: Apocalypse (1983): In this new timeline, he’s a feral animal trapped in a lab (Weapon X) until Jean Grey lets him out.
• Logan (2029): The "end." He’s old. He’s tired. His healing factor is failing. It’s a masterpiece.
• Deadpool & Wolverine (The Multiverse): This one pulls a version of Logan from a completely different universe. It’s the ultimate "meta" movie that honors the Fox era while bringing him into the MCU.

The Big Misconception: Is Logan the Same Guy in Every Movie?

Technically, yes. Practically? No.

After Days of Future Past, the "Logan" we see in X-Men: Apocalypse hasn't lived the events of the original 2000 X-Men movie yet. He has a completely different path. And then there's the version in Deadpool & Wolverine, who is explicitly a "variant."

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Fans often argue about whether Logan (2017) is the definitive end for the character. Director James Mangold has often said he viewed it as its own thing, but most fans slot it at the very end of the "New Timeline." It works best if you don't overthink the continuity errors—like how Professor X's paralysis keeps moving dates, or why Sabretooth looks like a completely different person between movies.

Pro Tips for Your Rewatch

If you're going to tackle all wolverine movies in order, keep these few things in mind to actually enjoy the experience:

• Don't skip the post-credits: Especially in The Wolverine. That scene sets up the entire stakes for Days of Future Past.
• The "Rogue Cut" exists: For Days of Future Past, there's a longer version called the "Rogue Cut." It adds about 17 minutes of footage. If you want more Logan-centric interaction, it's worth the extra time.
• Ignore the heights: In the comics, Wolverine is a 5'3" "runt." Hugh Jackman is 6'2". The movies just pretend he's short for about five minutes in the first film and then everyone just moves on.

To get the most out of this, I'd suggest starting with the original 2000 X-Men. It sets the tone better than the prequels ever could. Once you’ve finished Logan, take a breather before jumping into the chaotic fun of Deadpool & Wolverine. It’s the perfect palette cleanser after the emotional wreck that is the 2017 film.

Grab some popcorn, watch the "Berserker Rage" scenes on a good sound system, and try not to worry too much about the dates. The movies are about the man, not the calendar.

Next, you should look into the specific history of the "Weapon X" program in the comics to see just how much the movies changed from the original source material.