X-Men reboot movies in order X-Men Marathon
Mutants are born, not made, and this marathon proves why they changed superhero cinema forever. Epic battles, emotional choices, and a saga where being different is both a power and a curse.
Page Last Modified:
28 December 2025
Most Recent Release:
Dark Phoenix - 2019
Total Runtime:
522 Minutes
Total Items:
4
Average User Score:
(7)Watching orders for X-Men
X-Men reboot movies in order
You know how it is. You're all set for an X-Men reboot movie marathon, but as soon as you open Disney+ or dust off your Blu-ray collection, uncertainty hits. Should you start with the oldest film? Or maybe the first one that was released? And how do you deal with the time jumps, alternate timelines, and iconic scenes like Quicksilver's Pentagon escape? Hey, no worries! We've got you covered with the perfect viewing order. In this guide, we'll take you from the swinging sixties to the cosmic chaos of the Phoenix Saga, all in chronological order. Grab your popcorn and get your friends together for a X-Men marathon, just like Charles Xavier intended.
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1
X-Men: First Class Movie 132 min. 2011Before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were arch-enemies, they were closest of friends, working together with other mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known.USER SCORE 7 -
2
X-Men: Days of Future Past Movie 132 min. 2014The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods as they join forces with their younger selves in an epic battle that must change the past – to save our future.USER SCORE 8 -
3
X-Men: Apocalypse Movie 144 min. 2016After the re-emergence of the world's first mutant, world-destroyer Apocalypse, the X-Men must unite to defeat his extinction level plan.USER SCORE 7 -
4
Dark Phoenix Movie 114 min. 2019The X-Men face their most formidable and powerful foe when one of their own, Jean Grey, starts to spiral out of control. During a rescue mission in outer space, Jean is nearly killed when she's hit by a mysterious cosmic force. Once she returns home, this force not only makes her infinitely more powerful, but far more unstable. The X-Men must now band together to save her soul and battle aliens that want to use Grey's new abilities to rule the galaxy.USER SCORE 6
X-Men: First Class (2011)
It's set in the 1960s, during the Cold War. This reboot gave the franchise a fresh start with young Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr, played by James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender. The film is retro, stylish, and surprisingly emotional. It reveals the origins of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Magneto's trauma from Auschwitz, and the uniting of the first mutants against Sebastian Shaw, played devilishly by Kevin Bacon. The mutant team formation scenes are pure cinematic gold. This film sets the stage for everything to come, showing the growing moral divide between Xavier and Magneto.
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
Next, we dive into time travel, Sentinels, and a dystopian mutant apocalypse with X-Men: Days of Future Past. This film is at the heart of the reboot timeline. Bryan Singer skillfully brings together the old and new cast in an ambitious time-travel plot where the future of mutants is at stake. The 1970s setting is delightfully retro, and the stakes are sky-high. We're trying to stop Mystique's assassination plan from a dark future marked by Sentinel genocide and mutant extinction. The plan is to go back to 1973. Jennifer Lawrence's Mystique is awesome, and Quicksilver, played by Evan Peters, totally steals the show with his legendary Pentagon escape scene. This film changes the timeline and the history of the Fox X-Men franchise, but it's still in continuity.
X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
We jump into the 1980s with X-Men: Apocalypse, where there are a lot of bright colors and electronic sounds. The film introduces the ancient mutant Apocalypse, portrayed by Oscar Isaac under a lot of makeup, who wakes up in an Egyptian pyramid and decides to 'reset' the world. Dramatic? Absolutely. As he brings together four Horsemen, including a powerful Magneto, we see the beginnings of Xavier's young X-Men team: Cyclops, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, and Storm each have their origin stories. The film is grand, bombastic, and filled with mutant power battles that'll look their best on the biggest screen. And yes, Quicksilver delivers another iconic slow-motion moment. Nostalgia meets apocalyptic action.
X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)
We're wrapping up the reboot series with X-Men: Dark Phoenix, a film that might leave you with mixed feelings but is a must-see for your marathon. This is the emotional climax where Jean Grey's transformation into the Phoenix is the main focus. The story takes place in the 1990s, when the team was at its best. But a space mission throws everything off. Director Simon Kinberg retells the Phoenix story with a character-driven approach, giving Sophie Turner her moment to shine. Expect some pretty intense confrontations, broken friendships, and the classic Xavier-Magneto ideological conflict. It's not perfect, but if you're into strong Omega-level mutants and space drama, you've got to check it out.
Why This Order Works
The chronological order of First Class, Days of Future Past, Apocalypse, and Dark Phoenix makes for a tight and logical character development. You'll see Xavier's evolving idealism, Magneto's moral struggles, and Mystique's growing role as a symbol of mutant identity. This order helps the story build from the beginning to the end, so it's easy to follow without getting confused by jumps in time or different timelines. Plus, you get a dose of retro aesthetics: There's something for everyone in this film. If you're into Cold War tension in the 60s, 70s paranoia, an 80s mutant extravaganza, or 90s space vibes, this film has you covered. It's the ultimate mutant time capsule.
Tips for Your X-Men Reboot Movie Marathon
Plan your marathon for a long afternoon and evening. You're in for over 9 hours of pure mutant power. Make sure you have snacks that match the decade. For example, you could have 70s popcorn, 80s cola, and 90s sour candy. Switch it up and relax on your comfy couch or on a comfy armchair like the ones at Xavier's School. Streaming everything? Make sure your Disney+ collection is complete. For some extra fun, why not host a trivia quiz between films? Test your friends' knowledge by seeing who can name all the members of the first mutant teams or identify the most alter egos (hint: Raven Darkholme is more than just Mystique).
What's next after this marathon?
Finished the reboot films and craving more? You can rewatch the original 20th Century Fox X-Men movies or check out spin-offs like Deadpool and Logan. Keep in mind that they occur in different or twisted timelines, so save them for your "X-Men Multiverse" night. And, of course, everyone's really excited to see what the MCU has in store for mutants. Do you think this reboot will ever be made part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? We'll have to wait and see. Until then, enjoy the ride, mutant-style.