In late 2025, the X-Men franchise has officially moved from the “Fox era” to the “Marvel Studios era,” but the timeline has never been more complicated. With the massive success of Deadpool & Wolverine and the critical acclaim of X-Men ’97, fans are scrambling to figure out how these multiple timelines, variants, and shows fit together.
For the BGCP community and Scottish mutant-hunters, here is the definitive guide to the X-Men cinematic and television universe—including what is canon, what is “alternate,” and how to watch it all without getting a headache.
The Release Order (The “Classic” Experience)
If you want to see how the franchise evolved—including the changing cast and the arrival of Deadpool—this is the most logical way to watch.
- X-Men (2000)
- X2: X-Men United (2003)
- X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
- X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
- X-Men: First Class (2011)
- The Wolverine (2013)
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
- Deadpool (2016)
- X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)
- Logan (2017)
- Deadpool 2 (2018)
- Dark Phoenix (2019)
- The New Mutants (2020)
- Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
The Chronological Timeline (The “Story” Order)
This order is for the brave. Because Days of Future Past literally rewrites history, the timeline splits.
The Past & Origins
- X-Men: First Class (Set in 1962)
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (Set in 1973 – Past Scenes)
- X-Men Origins: Wolverine (Set in 1979)
The Original (Erased) Timeline
- X-Men (Set in 2000)
- X2 (Set in 2003)
- X-Men: The Last Stand (Set in 2006)
- The Wolverine (Set in 2013)
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (Set in 2023 – Future Scenes)
The New (Revised) Timeline
- X-Men: Apocalypse (Set in 1983)
- X-Men: Dark Phoenix (Set in 1992)
- Deadpool (Set in 2016)
- Deadpool 2 (Set in 2018)
- The New Mutants (Set in late 2020s)
- Deadpool & Wolverine (Set in 2024/The Void)
- Logan (Set in 2029)
What about the TV Shows? (Canon or Not?)
- X-Men: The Animated Series & X-Men ’97: These exist in their own separate animated universe (Earth-92131), though X-Men ’97 has massive multiversal implications in 2025.
- Legion (TV Series): Created by Noah Hawley, this is arguably the best “X-Men” show, but it exists in its own Parallel Reality. It features a version of Professor X (David’s father) but does not impact the movies.
- The Gifted (TV Series): Set in an alternate timeline where the X-Men have disappeared. It uses characters like Polaris (Magneto’s daughter) but is Not Canon to the main films.
The Ultimate Collection: 👉 [X-Men 10-Movie Collection (Blu-ray)]
- Why: Covers everything from the 2000 original to Dark Phoenix. The best value for money in the UK.
The 2025 Hype: 👉 [Deadpool & Wolverine (4K Ultra HD Steelbook)]
- Why: The highest-selling physical release of 2025. It’s the “bridge” between the Fox and MCU worlds.
The Animated Masterpiece: 👉 [X-Men Season 1]
- Why: The show that proved X-Men is better than ever. A must-buy for old-school fans.
