X-MEN on Rotten Tomatoes: Main Team Films Ranked Best to Worst

#1 X-Men: Days of Future Past with 90%

Director Bryan Singer’s triumphant return to helming the mutant franchise after 2003’s X2, Days of Future Past became one of the most beloved and highest-praised films in the series. This was aided by the return of original trilogy stars Sir Patrick Stewart, Sir Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Ellen Page, Shawn Ashmore, and Daniel Cudmore with cameos from Famke Janssen, James Marsden and Kelsey Grammer.

#2 X-Men: First Class with 86%

Bringing the iconic mutant film series to the 60’s, First Class, directed by Kickass and Kingman’s Matthew Vaughn received praise for being one of few comic book films to place its characters during historical events place in the past. Audiences welcomed the new cast and concept with open arms, leading to three additional sequels.

#3 X2 with 85%

What can you say about the legendary X2? Director Bryan Singer’s 2003 X-Men sequel received mass praise and is considered to be one of the best comic book film sequels in history. With an engaging screenplay from writers David Hayter, Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris, and a booming, memorable soundtack from John Ottman, this sequel easily stuck the landing for many.

#4 X-Men with 81%

Along with Blade, director Bryan Singer’s 2000 film gave notoriety to a new wave of comic book films after a multitude of critical disasters hurt the “genre” in the 90’s (*cough* Batman & Robin *cough*). It was praised for dramatic and serious with the action complimenting, not overbearing it. Although controversy swarmed around the black costume choices, the film’s cast worked well together and it’s serious take earned mass respect.

#5 X-Men: The Last Stand with 57%

Director Brett Ratner’s action-packed take on Marvel’s Dark Phoenix saga received a ton of critical hate for not adapting the source material faithfully, but many found the action sequences to be visually enjoyable. Some found the film to be unforgiveable after killing off or “humanizing” some of its main stars. The film led to the mutant series taking a break from team films for half a decade to focus on Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine.

#6 X-Men: Apocalypse with 47%

Director Bryan Singer’s quick follow up to the wildly successful Days of Future Past took a big hit from critics and audiences, with hardcore fans mixed on the film. Considered to be one of the most action-filled entries in the series, many felt the film’s world-ending villain simply didn’t hold up to past threats and felt too commercial. That said, the film does have its faithful following.

#7 Dark Phoenix with 22%

The lowest ranked mainline X-Men film, director and writer Simon Kinberg’s Dark Phoenix received an incredible amount of hate, aided by multiple delays, negative press from reporters, rumors and much more. Kinberg’s second stab at the Phoenix storyline received criticism, and while he included aliens and other cosmic elements, a large portion of fans and audiences felt it was simply a retread of 2006’s The Last Stand and didn’t do enough to push the franchise forward, despite it’s looming end after Disney purchased 20th Century Fox.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes