X-Men Movies: Chronological vs Release Order Guide

The X-Men movie adaptations have become beloved in their own right, with such fan favorites as Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. These films are also pretty notorious for their messy timelines, with origin stories, retconning, and time travel to really spice things up.

There are plenty of different ways to watch these films, and the choice of how you watch will determine how certain reveals and moments will pay off. While it can be easy to just watch them as they were released, the 14 films can be organized into how they roughly fit into one big timeline. This allows you to experience the X-Men story from the beginning and follow each character’s journey from its earliest point.

The franchise includes the original trilogy, prequel films, spinoffs, and recent additions like Deadpool & Wolverine (2024). With the original X-Men cast returning in Avengers: Doomsday, understanding the timeline has become increasingly relevant for fans preparing for future MCU connections.

Viewers have two primary options when approaching the X-Men franchise: watching by release date or following the internal timeline. The release order allows audiences to experience the films as they were originally presented to theaters, witnessing the evolution of special effects, storytelling techniques, and casting choices over two decades.

The chronological order follows the internal logic of the film universe, starting with the earliest historical events and moving forward through time. This approach reveals character origins and storylines in a linear fashion, though it requires navigating significant timeline complications caused by time travel and retconning.

The franchise features notable actors in key roles throughout its history. Hugh Jackman appears as Wolverine in multiple films, while Patrick Stewart portrays Charles Xavier in the original trilogy. The prequel films feature James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender as younger versions of these characters. Additionally, Ryan Reynolds appears as Wade Wilson/Deadpool, first in a cameo and later in dedicated solo films.

The complete list of X-Men movies in the order they originally came out includes 14 films spanning from 2000 to 2024:

1. X-Men (2000)
2. X2 (2003)
3. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
4. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
5. X-Men: First Class (2011)
6. The Wolverine (2013)
7. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
8. Deadpool (2016)
9. X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
10. Logan (2017)
11. Deadpool 2 (2018)
12. Dark Phoenix (2019)
13. The New Mutants (2020)
14. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

For newcomers to the franchise, starting with X-Men (2000) allows you to experience the series as audiences originally did. However, those who prefer to start at the chronological beginning can begin with X-Men: First Class (2011).

The chronological timeline begins with the earliest historical events and progresses through the franchise's internal history:

1. X-Men: First Class (2011)

This film starts in 1944 at the Auschwitz concentration camp before jumping ahead to 1962. It follows a young Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto, showing the origins of both the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants.

2. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Primarily set in 1973, with significant portions in an alternate version of 2023. This film features X-Men from both the original films and the newer ones, making it difficult to place strictly on the timeline.

3. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

While the story begins in 1845, the bulk is set in 1979. It explores the origin of Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, showing how he received his adamantium claws and introducing Ryan Reynolds' Wade Wilson/Deadpool.

4. X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

The film starts in 3600 BC but is mostly set in 1983. It stars Oscar Isaac as En Sabah Nur/Apocalypse against the reboot X-Men crew.

5. X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)

Beginning in 1975 but taking place mostly in 1992, this is the last film starring the X-Men crew led by James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, telling the story of Jean Grey's transformation into Phoenix.

6. X-Men (2000)

Set in the early 2000s, this features Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen as the older versions of Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto.

7. X2: X-Men United (2003)

Takes place not too long after the original, featuring a brainwashed Nightcrawler attempting to murder the President of the United States.

8. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

The first live-action film to tell the Phoenix story internally. It features Famke Janssen's Jean Grey resurrected as the Phoenix.

9. The Wolverine (2013)

A sequel to both X-Men Origins: Wolverine and X-Men: The Last Stand, taking place shortly after the latter film and dealing with its fallout. It introduces Yukio, who appears later in Deadpool 2.

10. Deadpool (2016)

Ryan Reynolds' Wade Wilson/Deadpool makes his solo feature film debut. This film is mostly separate from the main X-Men timeline but exists within the same universe.

The X-Men movie timeline is notably complicated due to multiple factors. The franchise employs time travel extensively, particularly in X-Men: Days of Future Past, which creates alternate timelines and retcons previous events. This narrative device allows the filmmakers to reset certain storylines while maintaining continuity with earlier films.

Origin stories were released out of chronological order, with X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) coming before X-Men: First Class (2011), even though the latter depicts earlier events. This release pattern requires viewers to piece together the timeline manually.

The franchise is currently expanding into the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe. The original X-Men cast is set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, bridging the gap between the Fox X-Men universe and the MCU. This development makes understanding the existing timeline more relevant for fans following the evolving Marvel landscape.

When choosing a viewing method, consider that the release order preserves the original narrative reveals and character introductions, while the chronological order provides a linear story arc from the earliest historical point to the modern era. Both approaches offer distinct advantages depending on whether you prioritize narrative structure or historical context.