While Marvel movies today are mostly known as coming from Marvel Studios, which is owned by Disney, there was a long stretch where Marvel movies were released under multiple studios. In particular, Fox released 18 Marvel movies between 2000 and 2020. The New Mutants officially marked the end of the Fox Marvel legacy.
This article will list every Marvel movie released by Fox, ranked by their IMDb score, which is voted on by fans. Many of these films were part of the X-Men series, with various others being sprinkled in between. Ties between movies are broken by the number of votes they have.
Fantastic Four (2015) – 4.3
If any superhero property has had constant trouble, it’s Fantastic Four. 2015 brought the fourth attempt at a Fantastic Four film, and it didn’t go well.
A troubled production saw director Josh Trank being overruled by studio control, with action sequences being cut and the third act being entirely reshot. The film failed, and no Fantastic Four movie has been released since. The next adaptation of the team will be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Elektra (2005) – 4.7
Elektra was a spin-off of 2003’s Daredevil, with Jennifer Garner reprising her role. Joining her in the film were cast members Terence Stamp, Goran Visnjic, Kirsten Prout, and Will Yun Lee.
Due to the film’s poor reviews, studios wrongfully balked at any new female-led superhero movies for many years. Thankfully, studios eventually got over their hesitancy and began producing female superhero movies again.
Daredevil (2003) – 5.3
Daredevil starred Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Colin Farrell. While the film was not well-reviewed, its worldwide box office managed to make twice its budget.
The movie was cut down by the studio but did eventually receive a director’s cut. This cut added thirty minutes and was much more well-received by fans. Most notable in the director’s cut is a subplot involving Coolio as a client of Nelson and Murdock.
The New Mutants (2020) – 5.5
The New Mutants officially ended the X-Men films from Fox and was the last Fox Marvel movie in general. Famously delayed four separate times, many fans wondered when the movie would ever be released. It finally hit theaters in August 2020.
The film’s young cast, most of them being noticeably older when the movie was finally released, includes Maisie Williams, Anya-Taylor Joy, Charlie Heaton, Blu Hunt, and Henry Zaga.
Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer (2007) – 5.6
The sequel to 2005’s Fantastic Four, Rise of the Silver Surfer featured the return of the main cast. Making his big-screen debut was the Silver Surfer, played by Doug Jones and voiced by Lawrence Fishburne.
Despite some box office success, it never received another sequel. Human Torch actor Chris Evans went on to play Captain America in the MCU.
Fantastic Four (2005) – 5.7
The first Fantastic Four movie to have a theatrical release, this adaptation starred Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, and Michael Chiklis as the titular team. Julian McMahon and Kerry Washington co-starred as Dr. Doom and Alicia Masters, respectively.
As with all other movie adaptations of the superhero team, the film did not perform well with critics. Despite this, a sequel was released in 2007.
X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019) – 5.8
Dark Phoenix was the fourth and final film in the prequel timeline of the X-Men series, which could also be called the alternate timeline. It was also the seventh and final core X-Men film in the series.
The movie retells the “Dark Phoenix Saga,” which had previously been adapted in 2006’s The Last Stand. Similar to the previous films, Dark Phoenix jumped ahead another decade and was set in the 90s. It was directed by longtime series writer Simon Kinberg.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) – 6.6
The X-Men series first branched out from the main films with this 2009 origin story for Wolverine, directed by Gavin Hood. It details Logan’s life from his childhood discovery of his powers to his loss of memory over 100 years later.
The movie featured the series debuts for Deadpool and Gambit. After making his debut as Deadpool here, Ryan Reynolds kept the effort going for the character to have a solo film.
The Wolverine (2013) – 6.7
The Wolverine was directed by James Mangold. It takes place after The Last Stand, following Logan as he’s haunted by the events of that film. It also sees him return to Japan, where he’d fought in World War II 70 years earlier.
Hugh Jackman is joined by actors Hiroyuki Sanada, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima, and Will Yun Lee. Famke Janssen reprises her role of Jean Grey in Logan’s hallucinations.
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) – 6.7
The Last Stand was the third movie in the X-Men series. It features an adaptation of “The Dark Phoenix Saga,” while also featuring a controversial cure for mutants that further divides the X-Men and the Brotherhood.
This was the only film in the series directed by Brett Ratner. While some story choices weren’t well-received by fans, the deaths of three main characters were erased in Days of Future Past.
X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) – 6.9
X-Men: Apocalypse was set in the 80s, taking place roughly ten years after the “past” portion of Days of Future Past. The story follows the team facing the world’s first mutant.
Oscar Isaac portrayed the title villain, while newcomers Tye Sheridan, Sophie Turner, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Alexandra Shipp portrayed younger versions of Cyclops, Jean, Nightcrawler, and Storm.
X2 (2003) – 7.4
X2 is a great superhero sequel and is often named along with Days of Future Past as the best of the X-Men films. Taking place six months after the first film, the story finds the team dealing with William Stryker, a man from Logan’s past who hates mutants.
The film has great action sequences throughout. The sequence of Nightcrawler in the White House opening the film, the X-Mansion raid, and the thrilling finale all hold up as highlights.
X-Men (2000) – 7.4
The movie that started it all was directed by Bryan Singer. X-Men was not only the live-action debut of the team, but it’s one of the films responsible for kicking-off the modern era of superhero movies.
Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart both played their characters over a 17-year stretch. Jackman portrayed Wolverine in nine movies, while Stewart portrayed Xavier in seven.
Deadpool 2 (2018) – 7.7
Deadpool 2 featured the return of cast members Ryan Reynolds, Brianna Hildebrand, Morena Baccarin, Leslie Uggams, and T.J. Miller. Josh Brolin joins the cast as Cable, with new additions Julian Dennison and Zazie Beetz as well.
The movie introduces the X-Force to the series. The film was edited into a PG-13 version called Once Upon a Deadpool, with Deadpool reading the story to Fred Savage.
X-Men: First Class (2011) – 7.7
This is the first of the alternate timeline films, taking place in the 60s. It chronicles the forming of the X-Men and the first meeting of Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr.
The movie marked the series debuts for James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, and Nicholas Hoult. It was also the first time that the characters wore the classic blue and yellow suits of the comics.
X-Men: Days Of Future Past (2014) – 7.9
Days of Future Past took two generations of X-Men casts and put them in the same movie. Adapting the comic storyline of the same name, it follows a time-traveling journey meant to prevent Sentinels from wiping out all mutants.
The film was a massive success, and it successfully brought back old cast members while continuing the story for the new ones. It was considered a sequel to both The Last Stand and First Class.
Deadpool (2016) – 8.0
After many years of trying, Ryan Reynolds successfully brought Deadpool back to the big screen with a solo movie for the Merc with a Mouth. With plenty of action and fourth wall breaks, the movie was very faithful to the comics.
A leaked sizzle reel generated the initial excitement for the film. Reynolds’ Deadpool is currently the only character from the Fox series who will be worked into the MCU.
Logan (2017) – 8.1
James Mangold’s Logan features Jackman and Stewart in their final performances of the characters after 17 years. Set in the future, Jackman described the film as taking place in an alternate timeline.
The movie received the highest-rated reviews of all the Fox Marvel movies. It was also nominated for the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
