The Definitive X-Men Movie Order: How To Watch The Entire Fox Universe Before Deadpool & Wolverine

Deciphering the X-Men movie timeline is a heroic feat in itself, often more complicated than a trip through the Multiverse. With 14 films spanning decades, multiple timelines, and the impending arrival of *Deadpool & Wolverine* (set for release in 2024), the continuity of the Fox X-Men Universe has become notoriously tangled. This comprehensive guide, updated for the current date of December 10, 2025, cuts through the confusion, providing two clear viewing orders—the simple Release Order and the brain-bending Chronological Order—so you can experience the saga of Professor X and Magneto exactly how you want to.

Whether you are a new fan preparing for the franchise’s integration into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) or a veteran trying to make sense of the new timeline created by *X-Men: Days of Future Past*, this is the only viewing guide you need. We'll break down the original trilogy, the prequel series, the standalone Wolverine films, and the fourth-wall-breaking adventures of Deadpool, ensuring every piece of the mutant puzzle is in place.

The Complete X-Men Filmography: 14 Movies in Release Order

For the first-time viewer, or anyone who simply wants to experience the franchise as it was originally presented to the world, the Release Order is the easiest and most straightforward path. This order allows you to appreciate the evolution of the filmmaking, the visual effects, and the introduction of key characters like Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Professor X (Patrick Stewart), and Magneto (Ian McKellen). While it contains significant continuity errors, it is the purest viewing experience.

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• 1. X-Men (2000): The film that started it all, introducing the core team and the conflict between Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr.
• 2. X2: X-Men United (2003): Often cited as one of the best superhero sequels, it deepens the character relationships and introduces William Stryker.
• 3. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006): Concluding the original trilogy with the controversial "Dark Phoenix Saga" storyline.
• 4. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009): A prequel focusing on Logan's past, his time with Team X, and his adamantium bonding procedure.
• 5. X-Men: First Class (2011): The prequel series begins, exploring the 1960s origins of Charles Xavier and Magneto and the formation of the first X-Men team.
• 6. The Wolverine (2013): A standalone adventure set after *The Last Stand*, focusing on Logan in Japan.
• 7. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014): The timeline-shattering film that merges the original cast with the prequel cast and resets the continuity.
• 8. Deadpool (2016): The R-rated, fourth-wall-breaking debut of Wade Wilson, which exists in the new, post-*Days of Future Past* timeline.
• 9. X-Men: Apocalypse (2016): Set in the 1980s, this film follows the younger X-Men as they face the ancient mutant En Sabah Nur.
• 10. Logan (2017): A gritty, emotional, and definitive farewell to Wolverine, set in a bleak future of 2029.
• 11. Deadpool 2 (2018): Wade Wilson forms X-Force to protect a young mutant named Russell Collins (Firefist).
• 12. X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019): A second attempt at the "Dark Phoenix Saga," set in the early 1990s.
• 13. The New Mutants (2020): A horror-focused standalone film about a group of young mutants held in a secret facility.
• 14. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024): The highly anticipated crossover that brings Wolverine into the MCU Multiverse via the Time Variance Authority (TVA).

The Chronological X-Men Timeline: Two Confusing Universes Explained

The true challenge for fans lies in the chronological order, which is split into two distinct timelines—the Original Timeline (Earth-10005) and the Revised Timeline (Earth-17315)—due to the time travel events of *Days of Future Past*. Both timelines begin with *First Class* but diverge dramatically after 1973.

The most important entity to remember is the year 1973. Any event that happens before this year is considered canon in both timelines. The film *X-Men: Days of Future Past* acts as the nexus point: Wolverine travels from the dystopian 2023 of the Original Timeline back to 1973 to prevent Mystique from committing a murder that triggers the Sentinel program.

Timeline A: The Original Timeline (Earth-10005)

This is the timeline that leads to the bleak future where the Sentinels have decimated the mutant population. It is the timeline that Hugh Jackman's Wolverine leaves to save the future.

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1. X-Men: First Class (1962): The formation of the X-Men.
2. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (1845–1979): Most of the film takes place before 1973, but the final events lead into the Original Trilogy.
3. X-Men (2000): The first film in the series.
4. X2: X-Men United (2003): The sequel.
5. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006): The conclusion of the Original Trilogy.
6. The Wolverine (2013): Set after the events of *The Last Stand*.
7. X-Men: Days of Future Past (Future Segments, 2023): The dystopian future where the few remaining mutants send Wolverine back in time.

Timeline B: The Revised Timeline (Earth-17315)

Wolverine's actions in 1973 successfully create a new, more optimistic timeline where the original X-Men are alive and well in 2023. This timeline is where the second prequel trilogy and the *Deadpool* films primarily reside.

1. X-Men: First Class (1962): Shared beginning.
2. X-Men: Days of Future Past (Past Segments, 1973): The moment of the timeline reset.
3. X-Men: Apocalypse (1983): The younger X-Men, including Jean Grey, Cyclops, and Storm, face En Sabah Nur.
4. X-Men: Dark Phoenix (1992): The second, and final, attempt at the Dark Phoenix Saga in this revised continuity.
5. Deadpool (2016): Wade Wilson’s debut, which features members of the X-Men in the new timeline.
6. Deadpool 2 (2018): Wade’s further adventures, including his use of the Tempad to travel through time and make continuity corrections.
7. The New Mutants (Late 2020s): The film's setting is loosely connected to the X-Men universe, potentially taking place in the late 2020s.
8. Logan (2029): Although set in the future of the revised timeline, *Logan* is a dark, standalone story that functions as an alternate future for the Revised Timeline, showing a world where Professor X accidentally killed most of the X-Men.

The Deadpool & Wolverine Anomaly: Bridging the Fox Universe and the MCU

The most current and pressing question for fans is where the 2024 film *Deadpool & Wolverine* fits into this already complicated mess. The film is set to be a major nexus point, effectively bridging the Fox X-Men Universe with the MCU’s Multiverse Saga.

The key to understanding its placement is the Time Variance Authority (TVA), a bureaucratic organization introduced in the Disney+ series *Loki*. In the trailer for *Deadpool & Wolverine*, Wade Wilson is recruited by the TVA, a group that monitors and prunes timelines. This confirms that the events of the Fox X-Men Universe are now considered part of the larger MCU Multiverse.

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The film appears to pull Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) from a point in his own Revised Timeline, likely before the events of *Logan*, to team up with Deadpool. This means *Deadpool & Wolverine* acts as a capstone, or an epilogue, to the entire Fox saga, retroactively placing the whole X-Men franchise into a new, multiversal context. For a complete understanding of the entire X-Men cinematic journey before its official MCU reboot, the viewing order should conclude with this film.

Which Viewing Order is Right For You?

Choosing the best way to watch the X-Men movies depends entirely on your intention:

• For Simplicity and Historical Context: Choose the Release Order. It allows you to track the franchise's evolution, from the 2000 original to the 2024 MCU crossover, and avoids the immediate headache of continuity errors.
• For Story Coherence and Character Development: Choose the Chronological Order (Revised Timeline). This order tells a more cohesive story about the young Charles Xavier and Magneto, following their journey from *First Class* through to *Dark Phoenix*. It provides the most logical narrative flow for the core X-Men team.
• For the Full Wolverine Experience: Focus on the four main Wolverine-centric films: *X-Men Origins: Wolverine*, *The Wolverine*, *Logan*, and the upcoming *Deadpool & Wolverine*. The Original Trilogy films are also essential for his character arc.

Ultimately, the X-Men franchise is less about a perfect timeline and more about the enduring themes of prejudice, family, and the fight for mutant rights. By following the Revised Chronological Timeline, you will get the best narrative flow, concluding with the dark, yet beautiful, ending of *Logan* and the multiversal chaos of *Deadpool & Wolverine*.