X-Men and Deadpool in Marvel Order

By Anna Volkova · Updated October 21, 2026

The older X-Men and Deadpool films were made by Fox and stay outside the MCU timeline, even though Deadpool & Wolverine leans on them heavily. This page explains how the pieces fit and what to watch first.

X-Men MCU order at a glance

That is the whole list today. Neither title depends on the other, so you can watch them in either order without missing anything.

Why the list is so short

For most of the MCU's history, the film rights to the X-Men sat with another studio. Marvel Studios could not use mutants, so the Avengers grew up without them. That changed only recently, which is why the list contains two titles rather than a long run of films.

Expect it to grow. Mutants are clearly on their way into the main universe, but we only add titles once they are part of the official lineup. When new entries arrive, they will show up here and in our MCU chronological order.

X-Men '97: a cartoon sequel, not an MCU prequel

X-Men '97 continues the X-Men animated series from the nineties, picking up with the same team and the same look. It is set in its own universe and does not connect to the Avengers or to Deadpool.

That makes it the easiest title on this page to start with. You do not need any MCU background at all. If you grew up with the original cartoon, rewatching a few of its key episodes first will make the emotional beats hit harder, but the show recaps enough to stand on its own. It also works as a gentle introduction to the X-Men for anyone who only knows the Avengers. The episodes build on each other, so watch them in order rather than dipping in at random.

Deadpool & Wolverine and the Fox films

Deadpool & Wolverine brings Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman back as their characters, and the story treats the Fox films as a real part of their history. For the best experience, watch these first:

• Deadpool and Deadpool 2, the two earlier Deadpool films. These are close to essential.
• Logan, Hugh Jackman's final Fox outing as Wolverine. Deadpool & Wolverine reacts to it directly.
• Loki, the MCU series. It introduces the Time Variance Authority, which plays a big role in the plot.

The wider Fox X-Men series is optional. The film rewards long-time fans with references to it, yet the story is clear without them. One practical note for families: like the earlier Deadpool films, it is far more violent and crude than a typical Marvel movie, so it is not one for younger viewers.

In what order should you watch the X-Men films?

If you want the full Fox background, release order is the safest route, because that series has a tangled timeline of its own. Here it is, with a note on how much each one helps before Deadpool & Wolverine:

1. X-Men, X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand, the original trilogy. Helpful for Wolverine's history.
2. X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Optional; the Deadpool films poke fun at it.
3. X-Men: First Class. Optional, a younger cast in the sixties.
4. The Wolverine. Optional, a solo Logan story.
5. X-Men: Days of Future Past. Optional, though it links the two casts.
6. Deadpool. Essential.
7. X-Men: Apocalypse. Optional.
8. Logan. Essential.
9. Deadpool 2. Essential.
10. Dark Phoenix and The New Mutants. Safe to skip for this purpose.

None of these are on our list, because they are not Marvel Studios productions, but they are the background the film draws on.

Mutants in the wider MCU

Even before these two titles, mutants were creeping into the main universe. A few moments are worth knowing about:

• Ms. Marvel hints at Kamala Khan's true nature in its final episode.
• Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness features a variant of Professor X.
• The Marvels ends with a scene that points toward the X-Men.

None of these is required, but together they show the studio slowly preparing the ground. Ms. Marvel sits with the rest of Marvel's series in our guide to Marvel shows in order.

Suggested route

If you have a weekend and want the full mutant experience, try this:

• Deadpool
• Deadpool 2
• Logan
• Loki, season one
• Deadpool & Wolverine
• X-Men '97, at any time

Short on time? Watch Deadpool 2, then Deadpool & Wolverine. You will miss some jokes but none of the plot. To spread a longer run over several days, the Marvel marathon plan helps you set a pace.

Mistakes to avoid

Assuming you need every Fox X-Men film. You do not. Only a handful of them matter here, as the list above shows.

Watching X-Men '97 as setup for the movies. It is great television, but it is not connected to the films. Enjoy it separately.

Skipping Loki. It is the one MCU title that really helps with Deadpool & Wolverine.

Starting the MCU with Deadpool & Wolverine. It is fun, but it jokes about a lot of Marvel history. Newcomers get more from it after a few core films, and our Marvel watch order for beginners is a better first step. The Marvel movies in order guide then places Deadpool & Wolverine among every other film.