There have been many complex, hilarious, and violent characters in X-Men film franchise over the years, and some rank higher than the rest. Fox’s time with the X-Men is over. During Fox’s two decades of X-Men films, the studio has managed to bring a fair amount of Marvel Comics characters to live action. This was aided by the timeline of the X-Men films. Hugh Jackman and the original X-Men cast led a trilogy before a new generation took over the timeline of the younger X-Men films.
The main X-Men films weren’t the only ones to be released, as several spinoffs also added new characters to the franchise. Based on the history of the X-Men film franchise, there are some interesting characters that are among the best in the live-action films. This also includes Deadpool and Wolverinethe MCU’s first mutant film that will lead into future Marvel entries, including the MCU’s X-Men reboot.
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Colossus by Stefan Kapičić
Debut of the X-Men franchise in Deadpool (2016)
The Deadpool films introduced many X-Men characters in live action or put a new spin on characters that had appeared before. Colossus fits the latter. The character was First played by Daniel Cudmore in the original X-Men franchise.
However, it was Stefan Kapičić’s version of Colossus that made the character shine. With few X-Men appearing in the first two Deadpool films, Colossus developed an endearing bond with Wade Wilson. The character is funny, lovable and has a strong sense of duty and honor.
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Pyro by Aaron Stanford
Debut of the X-Men franchise in X2 (2003)
Alexander Burton first brought Pyro to life in X-Men. The role was recast for the sequel, with Aaron Stanford taking over. Pyro’s story had an interesting development in the original X-Men trilogy. Starting out as a student at the Xavier School for Gifted Youngstershe would let his anger get the best of him.
Pyro ended up defecting to Magneto’s Brotherhood of Mutants. Deadpool and Wolverine revealed that Pyro was sent to the Void by the TVA. There, his powers increased, with Pyro defeating Chris Evans’ Human Torch with ease and playing a large role in the film.
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Alan Cumming’s Nightcrawler
Debut of the X-Men franchise in X2 (2003)
Few characters have as memorable scenes in the X-Men films as Alan Cumming’s Nightcrawler. The mutant’s powers were perfectly portrayed on screen. Nightcrawler opening scene in X2with the character being brainwashed attacking the president of the United StatesIt’s a visual marvel.
Nightcrawler’s Catholic faith was represented in the film. The only negative aspect is the character is not as good-natured as in the comics, except for a quick group scene. The role was also unique for Cumming.
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Josh Brolin Cable
Debut of the X-Men franchise in Deadpool 2 (2018)
Cable is a very important mutant. Deadpool 2 It was the perfect live-action debut for the characterwith Josh Brolin delivering a unique performance in the role. Cable has a tough exterior for most of the film.
Then, Deadpool 2 reveals that his wife and daughter died. After Wade Wilson sacrifices himself, Cable’s heart shines, saving Deadpool. The two have hilarious chemistry, with Cable’s tough personality being the perfect foil for Deadpool’s humor.
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Sabertooth by Liev Schreiber
Debut of the X-Men franchise in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine is considered one of the worst superhero films of all time. Despite the film’s shortcomings, it the best version of Sabretooth. Liev Schreiber made the character more interesting than Tyler Mane’s version.
Schreiber’s Sabretooth is Wolverine’s half-brother and best friend at first. However, Sabretooth and Hugh Jackman’s Logan end up separating and becoming rivals. For all its flaws, the X-Men movie did a good job of exploring Sabretooth and Wolverine’s connection.
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Cyclops by James Marsden
Debut of the X-Men franchise in X-Men (2000)
Cyclops is the field leader of the X-Men. The character should have been at the top of the list if only the Fox X-Men films had been successful for Scott Summers. That being said, James Marsden was a suitable choice for the role.
However, the character had his role reduced due to the popularity of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Still, Marsden made Cyclops shine where he could. The X-Men leader’s powers looked great on the big screen, and Cyclops’ dynamic with Charles Xavier as the heart of the X-Men was explored in the 2000s. X-Men.
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The mystique of Jennifer Lawrence
Debut of the X-Men franchise in X-Men: First Class (2011)
Mystique was important in both timelines of the X-Men films. However, Jennifer Lawrence’s version of Mystique was even more than Rebecca Romijn’s. The reason for this is because Mystique was one of the three main characters in the younger X-Men films alongside Charles Xavier and Magneto.
Fox tried to show both sides of the mutant argument through Mystique. Although Romijn’s Mystique was more accurate to the comics, Lawrence’s character had better interactions with the rest of the mutants. Her relationship with James McAvoy’s Professor X was touching.
13
Halle Berry Storm
Debut of the X-Men franchise in X-Men (2000)
It’s true that the X-Men films underutilized Storm. This made Alexandra Shipp’s version of Ororo Munroe not the most exciting. However, despite not appearing as much as one would expect, Halle Berry’s Storm Was a Force to Behold.
The character had some impressive displays of power and cool action scenes. In X-Men: The Last Stand, Storm takes on the team’s leadership role after Jean Gray kills CyclopsS. This was more in line with his Marvel Comics history.
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Cassandra Nova by Emma Corrin
Debut of the X-Men franchise in Deadpool and Wolverine (2024)
Deadpool and Wolverine is the first MCU film for one of the mutants who were on Fox. Emma Corrin’s Cassandra Nova played a major role as the main villain. She is Carlos Xavier’s sisterpossessing similar appearance and powers.
Cassandra Nova was a sadistic killer. She controlled the Void and ruled over several characters in the multiverse. Despite being defeated at the end of the film, Cassandra was incredibly powerful, with Corrin giving an electric performance as the evil character.
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Jean Gray by Famke Janssen
Debut of the X-Men franchise in X-Men (2000)
Jean Gray was crucial to the original X-Men trilogy. The character’s role slowly grew with each film, allowing Famke Janssen to feel comfortable as the character. Jean’s powers became uncontrollable as the franchise progressed.
While Fox managed to screw up Dark Phoenix’s story twice, Janssen was a great Jean Grey. She made the character charismatic, intelligent and determined. When playing against the Phoenix X-Men: The Last StandJanssen gave a more moving and commanding performance than Sophie Turner’s Jean Gray in Dark Phoenix.
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The Beast by Kelsey Grammer
Debut of the X-Men franchise in X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
Kelsey Grammer’s casting as Beast is one of the best in the X-Men films. The actor delivered the perfect Hank McCoy, making the character as intelligent as he was in the comics and adding seriousness to the role. Beast also looked perfect.
Unfortunately, Grammer only had one full appearance in the film as Beast. The character later appeared in special appearances in X-Men: Days of Future Past and The wonders. The latter should lead to Grammer getting a chance to shine as Beast once again before the MCU’s Multiverse Saga ends.
9
Channing Tatum’s Gambit
Debut of the X-Men franchise in Deadpool and Wolverine (2024)
Channing Tatum was cast as Gambit in 2014 but he never managed to make his solo film work. After years of trying to play his favorite superhero, Tatum’s Gambit debuted in Deadpool and Wolverine. The wait was worth it.
Although it is mostly played for laughs in the MCU film, Tatum’s Gambit stole every scene he was in. The character donned his iconic Marvel Comics costume, and Gambit’s powers looked incredible on screen. Tatum wants to return, and Marvel seems to love his Gambit as much as the fans do.
8
Mercury by Evan Peters
Debut of the X-Men franchise in X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
Evan Peters’ Quicksilver is the best live-action version of the character. The hero has some of the most popular scenes in the X-Men films, with his speedster powers being displayed through objects and people moving incredibly slowly alongside him at key moments.
Unlike Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Pietro Maximoff, Peters’ Quicksilver was Magneto’s son. The actor gave a charming and fun performance in the role. The MCU later pretended Peters was Quicksilver in WandaVision before revealing that his character was actually Ralph Bohner.
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X-23 by Dafne Keen
Debut of the X-Men franchise in Logan (2017)
Logan It’s one of the best superhero movies of all time. Despite being only 12 years old when the film was released, Dafne Keen showed that she was the perfect actress for X-23. The character was fierce, curious and complex in Logan.
Now an adult, Keen was one of the highlights of the Deadpool and Wolverine. The actress didn’t miss a beat as X-23, showing that she could play the role for a long time. X-23 helped Hugh Jackman’s new variant of Wolverine reach his MCU film potential, while also being a great character in his own right.
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Magneto by Ian McKellen
Debut of the X-Men franchise in X-Men (2000)
Magneto is essential to most of the iconic X-Men stories. As the first live-action version of the character, Ian McKellen did not disappoint. His convictions were strong and presented clearly.
McKellen was great as one of Marvel Comics’ most powerful villains. The actor gave life an anguished Erik Lehnsherr who wanted to bring about real change in the world. However, there is another, more compelling Magneto actor in live action.
5
Charles Xavier, by James McAvoy
Debut of the X-Men franchise in X-Men: First Class (2011)
Every version of Professor X and Magneto in Fox’s X-Men films was fantastic. The only reason James McAvoy’s Charles Xavier is at the bottom of this list is that he has to face one of the best superhero casts of all time.
McAvoy was an incredible choice for the character. He has played in many Charles sides over the years. McAvoy’s Charles Xavier was a mentor to younger heroes, a friend of Magneto, always trying to make peace with the villain, and let his fears and insecurity show. His Charles was complex, imperfect and real.
4
Magneto by Michael Fassbender
Debut of the X-Men franchise in X-Men: First Class (2011)
Michael Fassbender’s Magneto is the best live-action version of the villain. While Ian McKellen’s take on the character was great, Fassbender’s was more subtle. Magneto’s story had some changes, but it was equally impactful. Fassbender’s Magneto has his fair share of trauma.
He was a complex character whose motives made sense, even though his methods weren’t always correct.
Despite turning against humanity several times due to this, Magneto’s friendship with Charles Xavier still shined in every film in which Fassbender and James McAvoy appeared together. Fassbender’s Magneto wasn’t just a complete villain. He was a complex character whose motives made sense, even though his methods weren’t always correct.
3
Charles Xavier, by Patrick Stewart
Debut of the X-Men franchise in X-Men (2000)
Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier is one of the faces of the X-Men franchise and Marvel films in general. The actor still went on to play the character in the MCUappearing as a variant of Professor X.
Stewart’s Charles Xavier looked perfect and behaved like the Charles from the comics. He was kind when needed, offering advice to other mutants. However, Professor X was not someone to mess with, as Stewart imbued the role with a presence and authority that matched Charles Xavier’s powerful nature..
2
Deadpool by Ryan Reynolds
Debut of the X-Men franchise in Deadpool (2016) – As Wade Wilson in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
After X-Men Origins: Wolverine ruined the character, 2016 Dead Pool allowed Ryan Reynolds to properly debut as one of Marvel’s most popular live-action heroes. Deadpool is uniquewith its brand of R-rated humor and violence making it a worldwide hit. Although the character’s strong point is his humor, Deadpool can work incredibly well in both comedic and dramatic situations.
Reynolds’ Wade Wilson is hilarious, unpredictable and insecure. These characteristics add up to make him a flashy but complex character, which led Deadpool to jump from Fox to Marvel Studios to lead a new MCU film, Deadpool and Wolverinewhich is now the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time.
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Wolverine by Hugh Jackman
Debut of the X-Men franchise in X-Men (2000)
As Wade Wilson said in Deadpool and Wolverine, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine is “The X-Man”. No other character in Fox’s X-Men films represents the franchise better than him. After the actor stole the show in the 2000s X-MenWolverine was written to be the main star of the X-Men films.
While this meant major characters like Cyclops would have less to do, Jackman would deliver excellent performances in the role for over two decades. Jackman’s Wolverine is a reluctant hero. He is a good person, but his violent attitude and harsh tone create barriers around him that make it difficult for anyone to enter emotionally. Wolverine has some of the best action scenes in the franchise and is part of his greatest moments, consolidating him as the best character in the X-Men film franchise.
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