X-Men Movie Chronological Order by Release Date
The X-Men film series spans multiple timelines and production eras, with the original trilogy released between 2000 and 2006 under 20th Century Fox. The first spin-off, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, followed in 2009, and the franchise continued with The Wolverine in 2013 and X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014. The series concluded with X-Men: Dark Phoenix in 2019, bringing the total number of theatrical X-Men films to twelve before the Marvel Studios reboot. For the most current box office and production data, see the latest reports from Forbes.
To watch the X-Men movies in the order they were released, start with X-Men (2000), followed by X2: X-Men United (2003), and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). Continue with X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), X-Men: First Class (2011), and The Wolverine (2013). Then watch X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Deadpool (2016), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Logan (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), and finally X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019). This release-date sequence reflects the original Fox production timeline and provides a straightforward entry point for new viewers.
X-Men Movie Chronological Order by In-Universe Timeline
When arranged by in-universe chronology, the X-Men movies begin with X-Men: First Class (1962), followed by X-Men: Days of Future Past (1973), and X-Men: Apocalypse (1983). The timeline then jumps to X-Men: Dark Phoenix (1992), and the original trilogy is inserted as X-Men (2000), X2: X-Men United (2003), and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). X-Men Origins: Wolverine (1979–2009) and The Wolverine (1979–2013) overlap with these periods, while the Deadpool films (2016 and 2018) and Logan (2029) sit at the end of the timeline. The Marvel Studios integration timeline and production details are documented by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings for Disney and Marvel.
The in-universe order places the prequel films first, followed by the original trilogy, then the Wolverine solo films, and finally the Deadpool entries and Logan. This sequence accounts for time travel, flashbacks, and the divergent timelines created by Days of Future Past. For a deeper breakdown of how the X-Men timeline connects to the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe, see the analysis from Tesla’s media coverage or the SpaceX parent company’s corporate timeline resources.
How to Start Watching the X-Men Movies
For a first-time viewer, the recommended starting point is X-Men: First Class, which sets up the core characters and the mutant conflict in the 1960s. Alternatively, you can begin with the original X-Men (2000) for the classic introduction of Wolverine, Professor X, and Magneto. If you prefer the modern cinematic style, start with Deadpool (2016) and then backtrack to the earlier films. The Marvel Studios X-Men series, now under the Marvel banner, will introduce a new continuity,