2000’s X-Men started the epic franchise and a new era of comic book movies, but how did it really end?
Back in 2000, comic book movies were in a downturn with some thinking the genre was dead. Then X-Men came along to revive it. The monster hit not only brought the beloved mutants to life but grounded them in a realistic way to influence scores of other films, including the MCU.
The movie made a star out of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine with a top-notch cast and Bryan Singer’s direction was sensational. It combined into a hit film that was backed by a great storyline.
How does X-Men play out?
The movie focuses on Wolverine as he’s hunted by Magneto (Ian McKellan) and his Brotherhood of Mutants. He and young Rogue (Anna Paquin) are taken in by the X-Men, led by Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) with Cyclops (James Marsden), Storm (Halle Berry), and Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), who Logan feels an attraction to.
Xavier believes Magneto is after Wolverine because of his skeleton and claws covered by the indestructible metal adamantium. While having a nightmare, Wolverine accidentally stabs Rogue, who uses her own mutant gift to absorb the life energy of others to take on Logan’s healing factor and save herself.
Magneto’s shapeshifting aide Mystique (Rebecca Romijin) poses as student Bobby to guilt Rogue into going on the run. Wolverine catches up to her at a train station when Magneto attacks. Too late, the pair discover it was Rogue, not Wolverine, that Magneto wanted all along and captures her.
Magneto’s plan in X-Men (2000) explained
After Professor Xavier is taken out by a malfunctioning Cerebro detector, the X-Men are visited by Senator Robert Kelly (Bruce Davison), an anti-mutant politician. He’d been captured by Magneto and used as the test subject for a device turning him into a mutant, warping his body to escape.
The X-Men quickly realize that Magneto plans to use that device at an international conference being held on Liberty Island and transform all those leaders into mutants to help his cause. What Magneto doesn’t know is that the process is unstable, as proven when Kelly literally melts away. So if Magneto uses it, he’ll be killing thousands of people, which will only turn humanity against mutants.
The device is powered by Magneto’s abilities but also drains him. He’s thus planning to transfer his powers to Rogue and use her to power the device, which will kill her. Wolverine joins the rest of the X-Men racing to Liberty Island to stop Magneto.
At Liberty Island, the X-Men battle it out against the Brotherhood, taking down Mystique and Toad (Ray Park). The team is then captured by Magneto, who holds them prisoner while Sabretooth (Tyler Mane) fights Wolverine on the top of the Statue of Liberty.
Wolverine manages to get Cyclops’ visor, so Cyclops and Jean combine powers to blast Sabretooth out of the Statue. This also damages the machine just as it’s firing up, immobilizing Magneo. Wolverine then once more lets Rogue absorb his healing powers to save her life.
How does X-Men end?
In the aftermath, the team sees what looks like an alive Kelly renouncing his anti-mutant views but realizes it’s really Mystique posing as him. Xavier gives Wolverine a clue about his past in an abandoned base, and after a goodbye to Rogue, Wolverine heads there.
The final scene has Xavier visiting Magneto in his plastic prison with the former friends speaking on their opposing views. Magneto warns that he’ll find a way to escape and Xavier promises to be right there to face him before he leaves.
Back in 2000, the post-credits “stinger” wasn’t a thing, so there’s no post-credits scene. What we get is a fantastic comic book experience that still ranks as one of the best in all of Marvel lore.
X-Men streaming on Disney+.