X-Men (2000 Film)

X-Men is the 2000 live-action 20th Century Fox adaptation of the Marvel Comics concept of the same name.

The movie depicts a world where super-powered mutants exist largely in hiding. Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) is a powerful mutant working to help other mutants learn to control their powers while pursuing civil rights causes in government. Magneto (Ian McKellen), another mutant leader who favors views mutants as a supreme species and favors more revolutionary tactics. The two men and their respective teams struggle to recruit a new mutant called Rogue (Anna Paquin) who has been befriended by Wolverine (Hugh Jackman).

Directed by Bryan Singer from a script by David Hayter, the film was a massive success on many levels. It was a box office smash prompting an impressive franchise run that included six direct sequels and four spinoff films. The movie was well-received by critics. Fans embraced the movie for rendering a respectful take on the comic book source material. Jackman, a previously unknown actor became a bankable movie star overnight. X-Men was an important step in the film industry waking up to the rich story-telling found in comics.