The Definite Guide to Watching All X-Men Films Chronologically as a Marathon
If you are reading this, chances are, that you are one of those gutsy fans who want to experience the complete story of the X-Men Cinematic Universe from the first event to the last. Well, if you plan to watch all movies of the X-Men series in a chronological order, then you came to the right place!
The timeline of the X-Men series is so confusing, that everyone seems to have a unique way of interpreting it – mostly because of the details. Well, its time for a simple approach like:
I just want to watch the whole thing as a movie marathon, so give me a simple list with all the X-Men movies in a chronological order.
Here’s what you are about to find here:
✓ A movie-by-movie explanation of the entire chronological order of the X-Men Series.
✓ Recommended alternative movie versions, like director’s cut or unrated (when applicable).
✓ Awesome fan-treats like Honest Trailers or How it Should Have Ended videos.
✓ A straightforward list of all X-Men movies organised in a logical, sequential order, that summarises and simplifies the entire X-Men timeline.
Ready? Buckle up then, cause we are about to submerge into the incredible world of the X-Men Series, where genetic mutation is a source of superhuman abilities for both the good and the evil.
X-Men TimeLine Explained
The Untangled Chronology of All 13 X-Men Movies
(2000 – 2020)
EPISODE 1: Circa 1960s
X-Men: First Class (2011)
Directed by Matthew Vaughn
Starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence
Released in 2011, as the 5th movie of the franchise, X-Men: First Class takes place in the 1960s, before any other movie. Therefore, in a chronological order it is the first film in the timeline of the X-Men Series.
Story: While helping the United States government, the newly graduated Charles Xavier (McAvoy) meets and befriends the vengeance-seeking Erik Lensherr (Fassbender). They become Professor X and Magneto respectively, and together they form the first mutant team: X-Men.
EPISODE 2: Circa 1970s
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
Directed by Gavin Hood
Starring Hugh Jackman
Released in 2009, as the 4th movie of the franchise, X-Men Origins: Wolverine takes place in the late 1970s, more than a decade after the events of X-Men: First Class. Thus, in a chronological order it is the second film in the timeline of the X-Men Series.
Story: Bone clawed Logan (Jackman) and his brother, Victor are living from war to war throughout U.S. history. When their healing abilities are discovered by their peers during the Vietnam war, U.S. Colonel Stryker recruits them and other mutants to form a special team.
EPISODE 3: Circa 2000s
X-Men (2000)
Directed by Bryan Singer
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen
Released as the first movie of the franchise, X-Men takes place in the 2000s, more than two decades after the events of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Thus, in a chronological order it is the third film in the timeline of the X-Men Series. This is where the story-lines of the first two episodes collide.
Story: Wolverine gets mixed up in a conflict between the X-Men of the old Professor X (Stewart) and the Brotherhood of Magneto (McKellen).
EPISODE 4: Circa 2000s
X2: X-Men United (2003)
Directed by Bryan Singer
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen
Released as the second movie of the franchise, X2: X-Men United takes place in the 2000s, just a few years after the events of the previous film. Therefore, in a chronological order it is the 4th film in the timeline of the X-Men Series.
Story: The X-Men of Professor X, Wolverine and Magneto band together to solve the mystery around a mutant assassin who has made an attempt on the President’s life.
EPISODE 5: Circa 2000s
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
Directed by Brett Ratner
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen
Released as the third movie of the franchise, X-Men: The Last Stand takes place in the 2000s, just a few years after the events of X2: X-Men United. Thus, in a chronological order it is the 5th film in the timeline of the X-Men Series.
Story: The discovery of a “cure” for mutation draws a line between the followers of Professor X and those of Magneto, while Jean Grey comes back from the death, possessed by an uncontrollable dark power.
EPISODE 6: Circa 2010s
The Wolverine (2013)
Directed by James Mangold
Starring: Hugh Jackman
Recommended version to watch: Unleashed Extended Edition
Released as the 6th movie of the franchise, The Wolverine takes place in the 2010s, almost a decade after the events of X-Men: The Last Stand. Therefore, in a chronological order it is the 6th film in the timeline of the X-Men Series.
Story: Wolverine lives in solitude in the woods, when he is summoned to Japan by an old acquaintance, who offers him mortality.
EPISODE 7: Circa 2020s and 1970s
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
Directed by Bryen Singer
Starring both the older and the younger X-Men cast
Recommended version to watch: The Rogue Cut
Released in 2014, as the 7th movie of the franchise, X-Men: Days of Future Past, as the title suggests, takes place in both the future and the past. Wolverine’s consciousness travels 50 years back in time, from the 2020s to his younger body in the 1970s. He ends up somewhere between the events of X-Men: First Class and X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
His plan is to change the future, and he does it so successfully, that he erases the events of every movie that took place after X-Men: First Class. This makes X-Men Days of Future Past the second episode of an altered X-Men timeline. But hey! X-Men Origins: Wolverine was Episode Two! What’s happening?
There’s lots of confusion and lots of theories, but here’s my uncomplicated approach. Since the movies of the original timeline led up to this point, it would be unfair to delete them from the watch-list, right? Its also pointless to jump back and forth between alternate realities and watch Days of Future Past twice, just because it’s a timeline splitter. (Although that movie is so good it deserves to be watched more than twice).
My simple solution is this:
All previous movies led up to this point, so its only logical to watch X-Men: Days of Future Past as the seventh episode of the complete X-Men timeline. Don’t over-complicate! Its just a time-travel, but the story goes on.
Now, that history is being rewritten from the 1970s onwards, we just have to follow the events of the new timeline. Solved!
EPISODE 8: Circa 1980s
X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
Directed by Bryan Singer
Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence
Released in 2016, as the 9th movie of the franchise, X-Men: Apocalypse takes place in the 1980s, roughly a decade after the events of X-Men Days of Future Past. Thus, in a chronological order it is the 8th film in the timeline of the X-Men Series.
Story: When Magneto’s wife and daughter are killed by humans, he joins the ancient mutant Apocalypse, to help him destroy civilisation as we know it. The X-Men try to thwart their plans, but are they strong enough to stop the most powerful mutant on Earth, and his four horsemen?
EPISODE 9: Circa 1990s
X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)
Directed by Simon Kinberg
Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Sophie Turner
Released in 2019, as the 12th and last movie of the franchise, X-Men: Dark Phoenix takes place in the 1990s, roughly a decade after the events of X-Men: Apocalypse. Thus, in a chronological order it is the 9th film in the timeline of the X-Men Series.
Story: Young Jean Grey develops incredible powers that corrupt and turn her into the Dark Phoenix. The X-Men will have to decide if the life of a team member is worth more than all the people living in the world.
EPISODE 10: Circa 2010s
Deadpool (2016)
Directed by Tim Miller
Starring: Ryan Reynolds
Released in 2016, as the 8th movie of the franchise, Deadpool takes place in the 2010s, roughly 20 years after the events of X-Men: Dark Phoenix. Therefore, in a chronological order it is the 10th film in the timeline of the X-Men Series.
Story: Wade Wilson (Reynolds), a fast-talking mercenary with a morbid sense of humor is diagnosed with terminal cancer. He is subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers and a quest for revenge.
EPISODE 11: Circa 2010s
Deadpool 2 (2018)
Directed by Tim Miller
Starring: Ryan Reynolds and Josh Brolin
Released in 2018, as the 11th movie of the franchise, Deadpool 2 takes place in the 2010s, just a few years after the events of the first Deadpool. Thus, in a chronological order it is the 11th film in the timeline of the X-Men Series.
Story: When his girlfriend is murdered, Deadpool tries to find inner peace by saving a fat mutant kid from the vengeance of a brutal, time-travelling cyborg called Cable.
EPISODE 12: Circa 2010s
The New Mutants (2020)
Co-written and directed by Josh Boone
Starring: Maisie Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy and Charlie Heaton
Released in 2018, as the 13th movie of the franchise. We don’t really know when The New Mutants takes place exactly, but its likely before Logan. Thus, in a chronological order it is the 12th film in the timeline of the X-Men Series.
Story: Five young mutants, just discovering their abilities while held in a secret facility against their will, fight to escape their past sins and save themselves.
CAUTION: The New Mutants has very little or actually no connection with other X-Men movies, and its labelled as “Waste of Time” for a reason. You may not want to spoil a phenomenal X-Men marathon with this movie. Watch at your own risk of boredom and regret.
EPISODE 13: Circa 2020s
Logan (2017)
Directed by James Mangold
Starring: Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart
Released in 2017, as the 10th movie of the franchise, Logan takes place in the 2020s, more than a decade after the events of Deadpool 2 (and probably The New Mutants). Therefore, in a chronological order it is the 13th and last (for now) film in the timeline of the X-Men Series.
Story: A weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X, somewhere on the Mexican border. However, Logan’s attempts to hide from the world are upended when a young mutant girl arrives, pursued by dark forces.
Due to it’s meta nature, Deadpool 2 spoils Logan so I’d warn new viewers of that.
Will you please add the 3 X-Men TV Series into this timeline. (Legion, The Gifted, Mutant X)