The Definitive X-Men Watch Order: 3 Ways To Conquer The Fox Universe Timeline (Updated 2025)
Trying to watch the X-Men movies in order is famously one of the most challenging tasks in all of superhero cinema, thanks to a timeline so fractured it makes the Multiverse Saga look simple. As of December 22, 2025, with the dust settled from *Deadpool & Wolverine*'s monumental arrival, we finally have a clear, albeit complex, understanding of the entire *Fox X-Men Universe* (Earth-10005) and how it all connects.
This comprehensive guide cuts through the continuity errors to present the three essential viewing orders: the simple Release Order, the mind-bending Chronological Order, and the recommended Definitive Narrative Order that best preserves the story's emotional impact and character arcs. Choose your path and prepare to dive into the world of mutants, Sentinels, and the complicated history of Professor X and Magneto.
The Complete X-Men Filmography (Release Order)
For first-time viewers, or those who simply want to experience the saga as it was originally presented to audiences, the Release Order is the cleanest and safest way to begin. This path avoids the initial chronological confusion and allows the retcons introduced by *X-Men: Days of Future Past* (2014) to hit with maximum impact. This is the official list of all 13 films in the core Fox X-Men Universe.
- 1. X-Men (2000)
- 2. X2: X-Men United (2003)
- 3. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
- 4. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
- 5. X-Men: First Class (2011)
- 6. The Wolverine (2013)
- 7. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
- 8. Deadpool (2016)
- 9. X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
- 10. Logan (2017)
- 11. Deadpool 2 (2018)
- 12. Dark Phoenix (2019)
- 13. The New Mutants (2020)
- 14. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Why Choose Release Order? It’s the easiest way to watch. The story is told with the narrative reveals and timeline shifts intended by the filmmakers. You get the original trilogy's conclusion before the prequel series (*First Class*) reboots the timeline, and the introduction of Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool as a meta-commentary character makes more sense.
The Chronological (In-Universe) Watch Order: The Two Timelines
Attempting a strict chronological order reveals the core problem of the X-Men film series: the existence of two distinct timelines. The events of *Days of Future Past* effectively split the canon into an 'Original Timeline' and a 'Revised Timeline.' To watch chronologically, you must follow both branches.
The Original Timeline (Pre-Days of Future Past)
This timeline is the original, darker path that leads to the dystopian future seen in the opening of *Days of Future Past*. It features the original cast, including Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, Patrick Stewart's Professor X, and Ian McKellen's Magneto.
- X-Men: First Class (1962): The true beginning, focusing on the formation of the first X-Men team and the friendship between Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr.
- X-Men Origins: Wolverine (1970s): Though largely ignored by later films, this is where Wolverine gets his Adamantium skeleton and loses his memory.
- X-Men (The 2000s)
- X2: X-Men United (Shortly After *X-Men*)
- X-Men: The Last Stand (Shortly After *X2*): The final chapter of the original trilogy.
- The Wolverine (2013): Takes place after *The Last Stand*, with Logan struggling with Jean Grey’s death.
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (1973/Future Scenes): This is the nexus point where the past is changed, creating the new timeline.
The Revised Timeline (Post-Days of Future Past)
Thanks to the actions in *Days of Future Past*, the future is changed, erasing the events of *The Last Stand* and *The Wolverine*. This new timeline focuses on the younger cast and features a less bleak future, at least initially.
- X-Men: Apocalypse (1983): The young team faces the ancient mutant En Sabah Nur (Apocalypse).
- Dark Phoenix (1992): The final main-series film, focusing on Jean Grey and the Phoenix Force.
- Deadpool (Modern Day): The first film featuring Wade Wilson, existing in this new timeline.
- Deadpool 2 (Shortly After *Deadpool*): Continues Wade's story, introducing Cable and Domino.
- The New Mutants (Modern Day): A standalone horror-focused film that exists in a quiet corner of this reality.
- Logan (2029): This is an *alternate future* of the Revised Timeline, where the X-Men are gone. It is a standalone, heartbreaking conclusion for the original Wolverine.
The Definitive Narrative Watch Order (The 'Foxverse' Finale)
For the ultimate, most satisfying narrative experience that builds to the events of *Deadpool & Wolverine* and the MCU's acknowledgment of this universe (Earth-10005), follow this recommended order. This path prioritizes emotional arcs over strict chronology and treats the most confusing films as separate, non-essential branches.
- X-Men: First Class (1962) - *The Origin*
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (1973/Future) - *The Nexus Point*
- X-Men: Apocalypse (1983) - *The Revised Timeline Continues*
- Dark Phoenix (1992) - *The Revised Timeline Conclusion*
- X-Men (2000) - *The Original Trilogy Start (Now the "Good Future" Established in DOFP)*
- X2: X-Men United (2003)
- X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
- The Wolverine (2013)
- Deadpool (Modern Day) - *The Meta-Branch*
- Deadpool 2 (Modern Day) - *The Meta-Branch Continues*
- Deadpool & Wolverine (2024/MCU Multiverse) - *The Foxverse Finale*
Films to Watch Separately (Optional but Recommended):
- X-Men Origins: Wolverine: Treat this as a non-canon side story. It contradicts too many elements of the other films to fit neatly.
- The New Mutants: A standalone horror story that is canon to the Revised Timeline but has no bearing on the larger narrative.
- Logan: This is a powerful, self-contained epilogue that exists in an alternate, dark future where the Mutant Registration Act has succeeded in wiping out the X-Men. Watch it last for maximum emotional impact.
The X-Men TV Universe: Parallel Realities
To achieve maximum topical authority, you should also know that the X-Men universe extended to two live-action television series, both of which exist in their own parallel realities, separate from the main film timelines.
- Legion (2017–2019): This series follows David Haller, who is revealed to be the son of Charles Xavier. It is a psychedelic, abstract masterpiece that exists in a completely separate universe.
- The Gifted (2017–2019): This series is set in a world where the X-Men have vanished after an event called "7/15." It is a more grounded take on the Mutant Underground and is also a separate-but-related reality.
The End of the Foxverse and the MCU Transition
The release of *Deadpool & Wolverine* in 2024 officially marks the end of the Fox X-Men Universe as we know it. The film utilized the Time Variance Authority (TVA) to pull characters from Earth-10005, confirming the entire Fox saga as a distinct universe within the larger MCU Multiverse.
This means that while the continuity of the Fox films remains messy internally, their place in the larger Marvel tapestry is now clear: they are a completed, alternate universe. The upcoming X-Men integration into the main MCU reality (Earth-616) will feature a completely new cast, but the legacy of the Fox films, particularly the definitive performances of Wolverine and Professor X, will forever be acknowledged through the Multiverse concept. This viewing guide ensures you have all the context needed for this monumental transition.
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