The 5 Most Underrated X-Men Movies & TV Shows, Ranked
The X-Men franchise is one of the most enduring superhero teams in comic books and other media. They're both a great mirror to real-world problems while also being a hub for incredible stories and characters, with the movies and shows proving this.
But for as many projects as there have been since 2000, some don't get nearly as much love as others. With the X-Men making their way to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Jean Grey appearing in Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026), research into the existing X-Men universe feels appropriate. But as you explore the many X-Men properties out there, don't forget the more underrated entries. Here are five of them, ranked, that you can watch right now on Disney+, Hulu, and more!
For as much as the X-Men made an impression on the movies, they've also had more than a few great TV shows, and of those, the best of the bunch in live-action was Legion (2017-2019). A trippy journey from Noah Hawley, Legion explores the fractured psyche of Professor Xavier's incredibly powerful and dangerous son.
Legion is one of those shows that's beloved by people who watch it and know about it, and it will enter the conversation as one of the best comic book shows out there. However, you have to know it exists to say that, and that's why it's at the top of this list as the best underrated X-Men show, because once you see it, you'll never forget it.
Following the poor performance of X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), The Wolverine (2013) took the character back to basics and adapted one of his most iconic storylines. The James Mangold film sees Logan return to Japan decades after he was a prisoner there in World War II and gets caught up in a dangerous family conspiracy.
Most people don't talk about The Wolverine, especially since Logan (2017) left such a greater impact on the franchise. Nevertheless, the film is a genuine standout for a solid Wolverine film, and the unrated cut is even more impressive both in violence and general entertainment.
X-Men: Evolution (2000-2003) came around the time of the original X-Men film and marked a new era for the franchise, as characters like Storm, Beast, and Wolverine were teachers and other characters were students. It was a fun direction to take the narrative and offered some great storylines and new characters like Spyke and X-23.
As media is in more of an era where faithfulness to the source material is key, X-Men: Evolution offered something different and fun and could very well be a blueprint for the MCU's version in the future. It doesn't get talked about much, but it has multiple seasons worth checking out.
The X-Men have had multiple animated shows over the decades, but none have been treated as unfairly as Wolverine and the X-Men (2008-2009). Following a broken team, it's up to Wolverine to reassemble the X-Men to stop an unseen threat that puts him in a role he never wanted.
The animation is fun, and the series features great cameos from heroes like the Hulk in ways that feel natural. While it only one season, it remains a show that deserved more and is often praised after being watched by audiences.
While Blade (1998) was the spark that brought modern Marvel movies to the mainstream, it was X-Men (2000) that started a true inferno. The plot was simple, with humans and mutants fighting for the fate of the rest of the world, but it was the first time we'd seen anything like it.
Characters like Wolverine, Magneto, and Professor X have remained staples of the franchise even now, and what they brought to these roles started in X-Men. But because it's older and doesn't get as much love as its sequel, people forget about it, and that has to change.
