The X-Men franchise is one of the longlasting comic book film universes that has brought to screen some iconic characters, some brilliant films and some confusing timeline meddling. The franchise has been going on for 20 years with its fair share of films with great performers and characters but also with its fair share of duds.
This decade has seen a new wave of X-Men films from the instantly classic to the instantly uninteresting and has seen the franchise branch out into other comic-book properties. The films are of mixed acclaim as can be seen by looking at the often-cited Rotten Tomatoes. Here are all of this decade’s X-Men movies ranked, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
DARK PHOENIX (2019) - 23%
The latest film to be released is the last one on this list, Dark Phoenix sees the X-Men have to battle one of their own - Jean Grey - as she has become unstable and overly powerful after a cosmic force hit her in space, nearly killing her.
The film was a disappointment just like the 2006 version of the same adapted story was. The performances within it are not necessarily bad, just unmemorable and boring to the point where not even Michael Fassbender’s Magneto could salvage it. It is dull, unemotional, bland and ultimately meaningless.
X-MEN APOCALYPSE (2016) - 43%
Dark Phoenix’s predecessor X-Men Apocalypse could not continue the run of form of the previous two entries into the mainline of the franchise. It shows the rise of the first and most powerful mutant, Apocalypse, as he gets a team of mutants together to cleanse mankind and create a new world order.
This is another entry into the franchise which is rightfully deemed dull and bloated. The performances are strong but underutilized, the film lacks heart, and when you build a film around a villain the villain needs to be written well and be interesting, which Apocalypse is not.
ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL (2018) - 58%
Once Upon A Deadpool is a simple premise really, all it is is Deadpool 2 cut and edited in a way which means it meets the PG-13 threshold for films.
The film was not that well received and while it can be fun and enjoyable it ultimately does very little to justify its existence and Deadpool 2 would have been better had it just remained Deadpool 2.
THE WOLVERINE (2013) - 71%
The sequel to the fairly awful X-Men Origins: Wolverine sees Logan travel to Tokyo to meet an old acquaintance and loses his healing factors, from here he must battle lethal samurai warriors while dealing with the death of Jean Grey on his mind.
The movie is nothing special but is entertaining. It improves on the first of the three but is nothing compared to the third, Jackman is great, as usual, as Wolverine while Mangold gives assured direction, with good, gritty action in this X-Men entry.
DEADPOOL 2 (2018) - 84%
Deadpool 2 sees Wade Wilson protect a young mutant from authorities and is jailed and from there forms the X-Force to keep a young mutant safe from time-traveling soldier Cable and along the way.
With Ryan Reynolds charm and charisma at the forefront, Deadpool 2 manages to shine in its meta approach with gory action, hilarious gags helping make the film an overall entertaining ride which some consider to be better than its predecessor. While some may get worn down by Deadpool 2’s antics, it proved popular amongst critics and fans.
DEADPOOL (2016) - 85%
The first of the two just outshines the second here, Deadpool follows mercenary Wade Wilson as he undergoes a rogue treatment that leaves his body scarred and with insane healing powers, and he hunts down the man who nearly ruined his life.
The film fantastically uses its fourth wall breaking and is hilarious throughout with fast-paced action, a charming and charismatic Ryan Reynolds in the lead, and is one of the best and most successful rated R films of all time with vulgar entertainment in spades.
X-MEN: FIRST CLASS (2011) - 86%
The first in the new line of X-Men films, X-Men: First Class shows the beginnings of the X-Men saga as the first-class comes to terms with, and become adept with, their new powers and shows the formations of friendships, alliances, and opponents that shape the history of the famous mutants.
First Class is a great film with a good cast delivering some amazing performances, particularly Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy. Following the floundering end to the original X-Men films as well as Origins, First Class was a welcome back for the franchise’s high quality, with a great script, stylish direction and overall great craftsmanship.
X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (2014) - 90%
The sequel to the great First Class, X-Men: Days Of Future Past sees the heroes from the classic trilogy team up with their younger generation from First Class to alter a historical event and fight a battle to save the future of humanity.
The film was received with mass acclaim from fans and critics with its great cast, brilliant performances - namely Fassbender, McAvoy, and Jackman - as well as the way it weaves a complex story so well into a blockbuster film. It is a brilliant and immensely impressive film.
LOGAN (2017) - 93%
The last of the Wolverine trilogy, one of the best superhero or comic book films ever made and what Rotten Tomatoes deems to be not just the best X-Men movie of the decade, but of all time, Logan is a certified masterpiece. The movie follows Logan in the future, wallowing away with alcohol in a hideout with an aging Charles Xavier and mutant Caliban before a woman comes along requesting Logan help a special young girl to safety, leading to the claws coming out again.
The direction is fantastic, the writing is great, the darkness and grittiness of it all is a sight to behold but the real star of this whole film are the performances from both Hugh Jackman in his last outing as Wolverine and Patrick Stewart in his finest showing as Xavier. The film defies all expectations of a superhero/comic book film and creates something special that will live on in fans’ minds for years to come.
