Ranking all 14 ‘X-Men’ movies, from worst to best

14. 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' (2009): This entry ranks at the bottom of the list, despite Hugh Jackman's excellent performance as Logan. The film, a prequel exploring Wolverine's early life and the Weapon X experiment, suffers from a convoluted plot, questionable character interpretations, and a heavily criticized portrayal of Deadpool that disappointed fans. While watchable, it falls significantly short of the quality found in later installments. Stream on Disney+.

13. 'The New Mutants' (2020): This movie had an intriguing concept but was marred by a troubled production and eventual release. Set in an institution housing five teenage mutants, the story follows their struggles as their powers manifest as terrifying visions. Although the cast includes strong talent like Anya Taylor-Joy and Maisie Williams, the finished film fails to live up to its full potential. The horror-inspired approach, while unique, never reaches the intended impact. Stream on Disney+.

12. 'Dark Phoenix' (2019): This film had the potential to be a fitting conclusion to the original X-Men saga, featuring a talented cast and iconic comic-book storyline. However, it fell short due to rushed storytelling, underdeveloped characters, and a lack of emotional weight. The movie follows Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) as she battles her uncontrollable new power, leading to a narrative dead end upon Disney's acquisition of Fox. Stream on Disney+.

11. 'X-Men: Apocalypse' (2016): This superhero movie attempts to expand the universe without necessarily delivering better results. Set in the 1980s, it introduces Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac), an ancient and powerful mutant who seeks to destroy humanity. The film brings together familiar faces such as Professor X, Magneto, Mystique, Jean Grey, and Cyclops, along with impressive action sequences. However, Apocalypse never quite captures the desired level of engagement. Stream on Disney+.

10. 'X-Men: The Last Stand' (2006): This movie is the most frustrating on the list, as it contains a potentially good film amidst its shortcomings. The story tackles two major comic-book ideas: the mutant cure and Jean Grey's transformation into the powerful Phoenix. However, the rushed runtime prevents many characters and storylines from breathing. The film also makes controversial choices with major characters, ultimately failing to deliver the emotional impact its big moments warrant. Stream on Disney+.

9. 'The Wolverine' (2013): Surprisingly, this solo Wolverine story stands out as an improvement over the prequel, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." Set in Japan, Logan (Hugh Jackman) embarks on a journey filled with yakuza, samurai, an old acquaintance, and a powerful industrialist family. The film also delves deeper into Logan's relationship with his mortality, providing Jackman with more emotional material to work with than in the previous Wolverine movie.

While the final act becomes somewhat dependent on conventional superhero spectacle, the overall story makes it a worthwhile adventure. Stream on Disney+.

8. 'Deadpool 2' (2018): Following the success of the first film, "Deadpool 2" faced the challenge of proving Ryan Reynolds' mutant could work as a second installment. Thankfully, it largely succeeds. Wade Wilson now finds himself protecting a troubled young mutant from Cable (Josh Brolin), a time-traveling character. The sequel largely delivers on Reynolds' witty performance and entertaining action sequences, making it a worthy sequel. Stream on Disney+.

These rankings provide a comprehensive look at the 14 "X-Men" movies, from the weakest entry, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," to the anticipated new entry in the MCU, set to release on May 5, 2028.