All 10 Hugh Jackman Wolverine movies ranked from worst to best (including Deadpool 3)

Hugh Jackman is back as Wolverine and he's better than ever! The iconic actor returned to the role to introduce the legendary character into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Deadpool and Wolverine and, man oh man, are fans happy that he did.

The actor first brought Logan to the big screen in 2000's X-Men, which was such a resounding success that it kickstarted a long-running phenomenon of a franchise. Jackman's performance was praised, with many hailing it as the greatest aspect of the Fox film series, and honestly you'd have a hard time arguing against that. He was so popular, in fact, that he even starred in his own spin-off trilogy of Wolverine movies.

His tenure as the character came to an end in 2017's Logan, which provided a thrilling, heartfelt, and emotional conclusion to both Wolverine's arc and the present-day X-Men movies. Or, at least we thought that was the end until Jackman announced he would be bringing a new version of the claw-wielding mutant to screens in Deadpool and Wolverine.

But how does Wolverine's MCU adventure stack up to his previous silver screen showdowns? Let's rank all of the movies that Jackman has appeared in and find out!

10. X-Men: Apocalypse

While X-Men: Apocalypse is not the worst of the X-Men movies, it places at the bottom of this particular list for two reasons. One, it is admittedly one of the weaker entries in the saga, taking some missteps in its adaptation of the Apocalypse arc and running on for far too long. The other is that it features very little of Wolverine himself, which isn't a bad thing by any means, it just makes it hard to judge how it succeeds as a Wolverine movie.

Hugh Jackman's appearance is a surprise cameo that fans weren't particularly expecting given that this movie was one of the X-Men prequel films, showcasing the younger versions of the characters long before they had met Logan. And yet, he shows up when the team are imprisoned in Stryker's facility. With no memories of who he is, Logan goes on a berseker rampage, killing all of the soldiers in sight. But Jean Grey manages to remind him of who he is, allowing him to escape into the night.

This was a fun moment that diverted from the mediocre Apocalypse adaptation and it was fun to see the franchise come up with another innovative way of including Jackman in the prequel films. A pleasant surprise all around, but not exactly a Wolverine movie.

9. X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Probably the most infamous X-Men movie that isn't Dark Phoenix, X-Men Origins: Wolverine gets such a bad rap that it's honestly kind of underrated. The film, naturally, focuses on the beginnings of the X-Men movie franchise's version of Logan (who is played by pop superstar Troye Sivan in the flashbacks to his childhood). Hugh Jackman returns as the adult Logan to begin the story of how the mutant known as Wolverine evolves into the adamantium-sporting warrior we meet in the first X-Men movie.

It took a number of deviations from the classic comic book storyline, and not all of them were well-received. Though Liev Schreiber's performance as Victor Creed was praised, the fact that he wasn't the same version of Sabretooth we met in the X-Men movies was met with a negative response. The script also received mixed reviews, while some of the special effects received criticism.

Jackman is the glue that holds this one together. He's nothing short of superb in the leading role and proves that the X-Men's most reliable character is indeed capable of leading a movie all of his own. It was an important ingredient that guaranteed the success of this movie, and its two direct sequels.

8. X-Men: First Class

X-Men: First Class features the shortest Wolverine appearance of all the X-Men movies, as the claw-wielding mutant appears for just a few seconds; in which he had some colorful words for Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr who were hoping to recruit him. In that sense, it isn't a very good Wolverine movie, and that's why it's placed lower on this list. And yet, we can't overlook the fact that this is an absolutely brilliant film in and of itself.

Released in 2011, First Class was designed as a way of rebooting the X-Men franchise (while Wolverine's story carried on in his own trilogy). By being set in the past, it essentially operated as a prequel to the original trilogy, showing us how Charles and Magneto put together the team of mutants that were both capable of saving the world and showcasing how heroic the mutants could be.

As always with the X-Men's stories, nothing is ever straightforward as the complex storytelling brings forth the differences between Professor X and Magneto's approaches, forcing them to choose which side of the battlefield they are on. It's incredibly compelling and makes for quite the story hook, as you can't help but root for the X-Men to succeed while also understanding what drove Magneto to his colder, calculated approach.

7. X-Men: The Last Stand

X-Men: The Last Stand brought about the end of the original X-Men trilogy of movies, but it did so with very mixed results. The film attempted to juggle two major storylines from the Marvel Comics at the same time and both suffered as a result of that. Though it's certainly not as bad as critics suggested it was at the time, it did miss an opportunity to tell either one of those stories with the focus that they deserve.

The primary focus was on Jean Grey's return and transformation into the Dark Phoenix. That saw her commit unspeakable acts against her loved ones and even join forces with Magneto. Meanwhile, their cause was influenced by the rise of the so-called mutant "cure" that took away the abilities of any mutant who took it. Wolverine found himself at the center of the story as he attempted to protect the X-Men, and he was the only one durable enough to get close to Jean and Magneto to stop them.

X-Men: The Last Stand is a highly underrated film that has received much more appreciation from audiences in the years since its release. Sure, it stumbles in areas, but it's a very compelling film that holds its own - and your attention - every step of the way.

6. The Wolverine

After the X-Men franchise decided to focus on prequels to earlier stories in the saga, The Wolverine finally gave it a chance to revisit the present. Set after the events of X-Men: The Last Stand, Logan is still grieving the loss of Jean Grey. When he is offered the chance to reunite with an old friend before he dies, he reluctantly does so, hoping the journey to Japan will help him move on with his life. However, it brings a new threat that The Wolverine must battle, all while protecting some innocents caught in the crossfire.

The Wolverine is one of the most compelling Logan stories the screen has ever seen. He goes through a lot in this one, both emotionally and physically, and it takes its toll on him as he begins to contemplate his own mortality. It sets the stage for the battles he will eventually face in 2017 sequel Logan while also putting forth a complex story in its own right - one that we don't acknowledge the strength of often enough.

It's true that the third act does let the movie down a bit, as it's safe to say very few watchers expected such a personal story to end with a battle between Logan and a giant robot attempting to steal his immortality. It was a questionable pivot that undermined the strong storytelling prior to that; even so, the movie mostly stands on its own merits and deserve a bit more appreciation.

5. X-Men

We are throwing it back to where it all began for the X-Men franchise with the very first movie. Released in 2000, it was a huge step forward for the superhero movie genre, which had become less reliable after Batman and Robin took it backwards. Could comic book characters make the jump into the next century? Yes, and movies such as Blade and X-Men are responsible for that, paving the way for the likes of Spider-Man and Batman Begins to succeed in the early 2000s.

X-Men is a more serious movie than the modern superhero flick, tackling more mature themes like the comics they are based on. Although the lack of comic-accurate suits have since been called into question, they did help the movie appeal to a more mainstream audience (black leather was all the rage in action movies back then), and quite possibly helped turn Marvel's Mightiest Mutants into box office champions.

One of the biggest issues with the early X-Men movies is that they don't really work as ensemble pieces, as Wolverine is essentially front and center at all times. The good news is that it showcased just how fantastic Hugh Jackman was in the role, as he delivered a nuanced, attention-grabbing performance that was very loyal to the source material. A great start for both the franchise and the definitive Wolverine.

4. X2: X-Men United

The first sequel in the X-Men franchise doubled down on what worked so well in the original movie, and that included the focus on Wolverine. As a result, X2: X-Men United gave Logan even more spotlight, delving into the origins that the franchise had previously only teased and having him cross paths with Colonel William Stryker - the man responsible for turning him into Weapon X and erasing his memories.

The response to the 2003 movie was positive and it's easy to see why so many consider it to be one of those rare sequels that is even better than its predecessor. It goes bigger and better, while also allowing its story to remain personal, particularly for Logan. The film's final battle sequence is one of the movie series' most ambitious feats and it pulled it off extremely well (which is even more impressive considering there wasn't a blueprint for regular big-budget superhero movies in the 2000s).

Again, the time devoted to each character in the ensemble was questionable, but since this was more of a Wolverine movie (and an excellent one at that) and Jackman thrived under the spotlight, it's forgivable. Second time was the charm for the film series; there was no going back after this, for the mutants continued to reach great heights on the big screen, making history along the way.

3. X-Men: Days of Future Past

The past, present, and future of the X-Men saga collided in X-Men: Days of Future Past as the casts from both the original trilogy and the prequel spinoffs came together for a story told in two different time periods. The connecting force was Logan, who the X-Men in the future needed to send back to the past to ensure the survival of the human race - allowing him to interact with the X-Men of the past.

For years after the original trilogy had come to a close, there was an uncertainty about the franchise. There were the Wolverine movies and the First Class prequel film, but what was it all building towards? This movie is the answer to that question, as it brought both of those chapters together to form a new one - one that both carried on the story of the X-Men while also righting a number of the wrongs of trilogy-closer The Last Stand.

There were many highs throughout the X-Men movies, but this is the franchise's best example of a perfect movie. It's thrilling, compelling, and unnerving, keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout while also allowing all of its ensemble cast to shine. And it brought about a better ending to that original X-Men story, while also setting up a new direction for the saga to take; all while offering up an incredible adaptation of one of the X-Men's best storylines.

2. Deadpool and Wolverine

It was the moment we were all waiting for; Hugh Jackman finally got to don the iconic yellow and blue suit from the comics and he got to do in the Marvel Cinematic Universe alongside Deadpool. Hopes were high, anticipation was through the roof, and Marvel fans all around the world were on the edges of their seats, hoping, waiting, praying that Deadpool and Wolverine would be worthwhile. In what no doubt came as music to everyone's ears, it lived up to all of the hype - and so much more.

Hugh Jackman's return to the role of Logan after seven years had to be perfect (because Logan was perfect) and it was. Seeing him in the suit was everything we all hoped it would be, and it only furthered the case as to why he's always going to be the definitive version of that character. His chemistry with Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool was also perfect, as the chaotic duo made audiences respond accordingly to every joke, grunt, slash, and battle.

They also had a great story with work with. It was straightforward but one that worked well for both of these larger-than-life characters, providing us all with two hours of pure, unadulterated entertainment. Exactly what a Deadpool and Wolverine movie should be.

1. Logan

Hugh Jackman's initial run as Wolverine came to a bittersweet close in 2017's Logan. A movie based on the Old Man Logan arc from the Marvel Comics, it adopted a much darker more grounded approach, functioning more like a classic Western drama than a superhero movie. The result was nothing short of cinema.

Directed by James Mangold, this haunting tale saw Logan years in the future, beaten down by the effects of his lengthy battle-heavy life and dying from the effects of Adamantium poisoning. But, more vulnerable than ever, he is tasked with protecting a young clone of himself - a daughter, if you will - from a stone cold, emotionless, stronger version of himself. One is a child, the other is a relentless carbon copy of Logan programmed to destroy.

Logan is an emotional story that gives the world's greatest X-Man his last stand; and even in a world that turned its back on him and his friends long ago, this aged, dying X-Man has one final chance to be a hero. It's a thrilling, violent, and powerful movie that features the finest performance of Hugh Jackman's career.

It is, without a doubt, the best Wolverine movie ever made.