New to the X-Men Fan Club? Here's How to Watch X-Men Films in Order

The X-Men Universe: Where Should You

Hopping into the X-Men movies can feel like stepping into a maze. There are prequels, sequels, spin-offs, alternate timelines, and characters who appear in more than one version of history. But that is also what makes the franchise so much fun.

If you are wondering how to watch X-Men movies in order, you have two main choices: follow the films according to their story chronology or watch them in the order they were released. For a first-time marathon, a simplified chronological approach gives you a good sense of how the characters and their stories develop.

The important thing to remember is that the X-Men films do not exist within one perfectly consistent timeline. X-Men: Days of Future Past changes the course of mutant history, while Deadpool & Wolverine takes the franchise further into the multiverse. So, rather than trying to make every date fit perfectly, you can use the following list as a practical viewing order.

Key Takeaway

The X-Men franchise is built around multiple generations and branching timelines. A chronological viewing order helps you follow the broad story, while the release order shows how the franchise evolved over more than two decades.

X- Men Movies in Chronological Watch Order

If you want to watch the X-Men movies in order according to the broad progression of their stories, this is the easiest sequence to follow. Some films overlap different periods or timelines, so consider this a viewer-friendly order rather than a strict historical record:

Order	Movie	Main Story Period
1	X-Men: First Class	1944–1962
2	X-Men: Days of Future Past	1973 and an alternate 2023
3	X-Men Origins: Wolverine	1845 and mainly 1979
4	X-Men: Apocalypse	1983
5	X-Men: Dark Phoenix	1975 and mainly 1992
6	X-Men	Early 2000s
7	X2: X-Men United	Early 2000s
8	X-Men: The Last Stand	Mid-2000s
9	The Wolverine	After The Last Stand
10	Deadpool	Around 2016
11	Deadpool 2	Around the late 2010s
12	The New Mutants	Later X-Men era
13	Logan	2029
14	Deadpool & Wolverine	2024 / multiple realities

1. X-Men: First Class

   Start here if you want to explore the beginnings of the modern X-Men story. Set mainly in 1962, First Class introduces younger versions of Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr, before Magneto and Professor X become ideological rivals. It also establishes the foundations of the X-Men and Brotherhood.

2. X-Men: Days of Future Past

   This is the film that makes the X-Men chronology considerably more complicated. Wolverine travels back to 1973 to prevent a catastrophic future. The film brings together the younger and older versions of the X-Men cast and becomes the major turning point for the franchise's continuity.

3. X-Men Origins: Wolverine

   This film explores Logan's history, beginning as far back as 1845 before moving primarily to 1979. It covers his relationship with Victor Creed, his military experiences, and the Weapon X programme that transforms Wolverine into the adamantium-clawed mutant audiences know.

4. X-Men: Apocalypse

   Set in 1983, this chapter introduces Apocalypse, an ancient and extraordinarily powerful mutant who awakens after thousands of years. The younger X-Men, including Jean Grey, Cyclops and Storm, must learn to work together to stop him.

5. X-Men: Dark Phoenix

   Set primarily in 1992, Dark Phoenix focuses on Jean Grey and the immense power she struggles to control after encountering a cosmic force. The film explores the consequences for Jean and the rest of the team and serves as the final major chapter for the younger X-Men cast.

6. X-Men

   Released in 2000, this is where the modern live-action X-Men franchise began. Professor X, Magneto, Wolverine, Storm, Cyclops and Jean Grey are introduced to audiences in a world where mutants face fear, discrimination and political opposition.

7. X2: X-Men United

   The X-Men face a new threat after an attack on the US President. Alongside the larger conflict, the film digs deeper into Wolverine's mysterious past and forces mutants with different beliefs to confront a common danger.

8. X-Men: The Last Stand

   The original trilogy concludes with a conflict over a potential "cure" for mutation and the emergence of the Phoenix within Jean Grey. The film brings several major character arcs to a dramatic conclusion and sets the stage for Wolverine's later standalone story.

9. The Wolverine

   Taking place after The Last Stand, this film sends Logan to Japan, where he becomes involved in a conflict involving an old acquaintance, the Yakuza, and the question of his own immortality. It offers a more personal and introspective Wolverine story.

10. Deadpool

    Wade Wilson finally gets his own film after his earlier appearance in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Played by Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool brings a very different style to the mutant universe, mixing superhero action with irreverent humour and frequent fourth-wall breaks.

11. Deadpool 2

    Deadpool returns with a time-travelling Cable and a young mutant at the centre of the story. The film expands the universe around Wade while introducing more X-Men references and continuing to play deliberately loosely with established continuity.

12. The New Mutants

    This spin-off follows a group of young mutants held in a mysterious facility. It moves away from the traditional superhero formula and incorporates elements of horror and psychological drama, making it one of the more distinct entries in the wider franchise.

13. Logan

    Set in 2029, Logan takes place in a bleak future where mutants have almost disappeared. An ageing Wolverine and Charles Xavier encounter a young mutant named Laura, leading Logan into one final journey. It remains the furthest point in the traditional X-Men film chronology.

14. Deadpool & Wolverine

    This 2024 crossover is especially important for understanding where the X-Men franchise sits today. Deadpool and Wolverine are brought together through the multiverse, allowing the film to connect the older X-Men movies with Marvel's larger multiverse story.

Key Takeaway

The simplified X-Men timeline begins with the younger generation and eventually moves into the original trilogy, Wolverine's standalone stories, and the Deadpool era. Deadpool & Wolverine then opens the door to a much broader multiverse, while Logan remains the furthest chronological point.

X- Men Movies in Release Order

Want to experience the franchise exactly as audiences did? Then release order is the way to go. The original X-Men arrived in 2000, followed by X2 and The Last Stand. X-Men Origins: Wolverine then expanded the universe with a standalone story, before First Class went back in time and introduced younger versions of familiar characters.

The release order is particularly interesting because it allows you to see how the franchise's tone, cast and approach to continuity changed over time.

Release	Movie
2000	X-Men
2003	X2: X-Men United
2006	X-Men: The Last Stand
2009	X-Men Origins: Wolverine
2011	X-Men: First Class
2013	The Wolverine
2014	X-Men: Days of Future Past
2016	Deadpool
2016	X-Men: Apocalypse
2017	Logan
2018	Deadpool 2
2019	Dark Phoenix
2020	The New Mutants
2024	Deadpool & Wolverine

For newcomers, chronological viewing offers a more story-driven experience. Release order, meanwhile, gives you a better appreciation of how the franchise itself developed and how audiences originally encountered its characters.

Key Takeaway

Release order starts with X-Men in 2000 and follows the franchise's actual cinematic evolution through 2024's Deadpool & Wolverine. It is useful if you want to experience the changing cast, filmmaking styles, and continuity decisions exactly as they unfolded.

Watch X-Men Movies with Vi

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Conclusion

Figuring out how to watch X-Men movies in order does not have to be as complicated as the mutant timeline itself. You can follow the chronological sequence for a story-led marathon or choose release order to experience the franchise as audiences originally did.

From the origins of Xavier and Magneto to Wolverine's journey, Deadpool's multiverse adventures and the emerging connection with the MCU, the X-Men universe has grown far beyond the original trilogy.

Now that Deadpool & Wolverine has opened another door between the legacy films and Marvel's multiverse, and Avengers: Doomsday is bringing X-Men characters into the next phase of the MCU, there is plenty more mutant history to explore. So, grab your favourite snacks, pick your preferred X-Men movies in order, and get ready for a marathon spanning generations, timelines and universes.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Is the Best Way to Watch X-Men Movies in Order?

   For a first-time marathon, chronological viewing is a straightforward option. Start with First Class, move through Days of Future Past, Origins: Wolverine, Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix, then continue with the original trilogy, Wolverine and Deadpool films, The New Mutants, Deadpool & Wolverine and finally Logan.

2. Why Is The X-Men Timeline So Confusing?

   The timeline becomes complicated because Days of Future Past uses time travel to change mutant history. This creates differences between the original and revised continuities. The Deadpool films then take an intentionally flexible approach to continuity, while Deadpool & Wolverine expands the story into the multiverse.

3. Is X-Men '97 Connected to The X-Men Movies?

   No. X-Men '97 continues the animated X-Men storyline rather than the live-action film continuity. It has its own version of the characters and events. Marvel currently lists its second season as a 2026 animated series, separate from the live-action X-Men movie timeline.

4. What Is the Next Major X-Men-Related Marvel Release?

   Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to release on 18th December 2026 and features several actors associated with the original X-Men films. Avengers: Secret Wars is scheduled to follow in 2027, while Marvel is also moving towards a new era for the X-Men.

5. When Is the New X-Men Movie Releasing and Who Is in the Cast?

   Marvel Studios’ new X-Men movie is scheduled to release in cinemas on 5^th May 2028. The announced cast includes Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Scott Summers, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Maya Boyd as Storm and Christopher Abbott as Professor X.