X-Men (film)#Box office

In 1944 Nazi-occupied Poland, fourteen-year-old Erik Lehnsherr is separated from his parents upon entering the Auschwitz concentration camp. While attempting to reach them, he causes a set of metal gates to bend toward him because of his mutant ability to generate magnetic fields, but is knocked out by guards.

In the present day, U.S. Senator Robert Kelly attempts to pass a "Mutant Registration Act" in Congress, which would force mutants to reveal their identities and abilities. Nearby, telepathic mutant Charles Xavier sees Lehnsherr, who now goes by the name "Magneto", in attendance and is concerned with how he will respond to the Registration Act.

In Meridian, Mississippi, seventeen-year-old Marie accidentally puts her boyfriend into a coma after kissing him, because of her mutant ability to absorb the power and life force of others. Adopting the name "Rogue", she flees to Alberta and meets Logan, also known as "Wolverine", a mutant with superhuman healing abilities and metal claws that protrude from between his knuckles. Sabretooth, a member of Magneto's Brotherhood of Mutants, attacks them on the road, but two members of Xavier's X-Men, Cyclops and Storm, save them. Logan and Rogue are brought to Xavier's school for mutants in Westchester County, New York. Believing that Magneto is interested in capturing Logan, Xavier asks him to stay while he investigates the matter. Meanwhile, Rogue enrolls in the school as a new pupil and develops a crush on cryokinetic mutant Bobby Drake.

Brotherhood members Toad and Mystique abduct Senator Kelly, bringing him to their hideout on the uncharted island of Genosha. Magneto uses Kelly as a test subject for a machine powered by his magnetic abilities that generates a field of radiation, which induces mutations in normal humans. Taking advantage of his newfound mutation, Kelly later escapes. Rogue visits Logan during the night while he is having a nightmare. Startled, he accidentally stabs her, but she manages to absorb his healing ability and recover. Mystique, disguised as Drake, later convinces Rogue that Xavier is angry with her and that she must leave the school. Xavier uses his mutant-locating machine Cerebro to find Rogue at a train station, and the X-Men go to retrieve her. Meanwhile, Mystique enters Cerebro and sabotages it.

Having left ahead of Storm and Cyclops, Logan finds Rogue on a train and convinces her to return. Before they can leave, Magneto arrives, incapacitates Logan and subdues Rogue, revealing it was her whom he wants rather than Logan. Although Xavier attempts to stop him by mentally controlling Sabretooth, he is forced to release his hold when Magneto threatens the police who have converged on the station, allowing the Brotherhood to escape with Rogue.

Kelly arrives at the school, and Xavier reads his mind to learn about Magneto's machine. Realizing the strain of powering it nearly killed him, the X-Men deduce he intends to transfer his powers to Rogue and use her to power it at the cost of her life. Kelly's body rejects his mutation, and his body dissolves into liquid. Xavier attempts to locate Rogue using Cerebro, but Mystique's sabotage incapacitates him, and he falls into a coma. Fellow telepath and telekinetic Jean Grey fixes Cerebro and uses it, learning that the Brotherhood plans to place their machine on Liberty Island and use it to "mutate" the world leaders meeting at a summit on nearby Ellis Island. The X-Men scale the Statue of Liberty, battling and overpowering the Brotherhood while Magneto transfers his powers to Rogue and activates the machine. As Logan confronts and distracts Magneto, Cyclops subdues him, allowing Logan to destroy the machine. He transfers his powers to Rogue, rejuvenating her while incapacitating himself.

Xavier and Logan recover from their comas. The group also learns that Mystique escaped the island battle and is impersonating Kelly. Xavier gives Logan a lead to his past at an abandoned military installation in Canada before visiting Magneto, now imprisoned in a complex constructed of polycarbonate. Magneto warns him that he intends to escape one day and continue the fight; Xavier replies that he will always be there to stop him.

• Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier: The founder of the X-Men and the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, who hopes for peaceful coexistence between mutantkind and mankind and is regarded as an authority on genetic mutation. Although restricted to a wheelchair, his mutant powers include vast telepathy, which is amplified by the Cerebro supercomputer that he invented with Magneto's help.
• Hugh Jackman as Logan / Wolverine: A Canadian loner who has lived for fifteen years without any memory of his past, apart from his dog tags and an adamantium-encased skeleton. His powers include enhanced animal-like senses, an accelerated healing factor granting him virtual immortality (which makes his age impossible to determine), and three claws extending past the bridge of each knuckle.
• Ian McKellen as Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto: An Auschwitz survivor who was friends with Xavier until his belief that humans and mutants could never co-exist led to their separation. His powers include the ability to generate powerful magnetic fields and a sophisticated knowledge in matters of genetic manipulation, which he uses to attempt to mutate the world leaders to allow mutant prosperity.
• Brett Morris as young Magneto
• Halle Berry as Ororo Munroe / Storm: A Maasai woman who teaches calmly and caringly at Xavier's school but has become bitter with other people's hatred for mutants, sometimes making her hate humans in return simply because she is afraid of them. Her powers include the ability to manipulate the weather and create lightning storms.
• Famke Janssen as Jean Grey: The medical doctor of the X-Mansion and romantically involved with Cyclops. Her powers include telekinesis and telepathy.
• James Marsden as Scott Summers / Cyclops: Xavier's second-in-command and an instructor at the institute who serves as the X-Men's field leader. He is seeing Jean Grey. His powers include a strong, uncontrollable red beam of optic energy produced from his eyes, which is only held in check by sunglasses or a specialized ruby-quartz visor enabling him to control the strength of the beam to fire when in combat.
• Bruce Davison as Senator Robert Kelly: An anti-mutant politician who is in support of using a Mutant Registration Act.
• Rebecca Romijn-Stamos as Mystique: Magneto's cold and ruthless second-in-command, who seems completely facile with respect to modern technology. Her powers include altering her shape and voice to mimic any human being, and high agility.
• Ray Park as Toad: A snide and cocky member of the Brotherhood. His powers include a prehensile tongue, a slimy substance that he spits onto others, and enhanced agility.
• Tyler Mane as Sabretooth: A brutal and sadistic member of the Brotherhood. His powers include a ferocious, feline-like nature, enhanced animal-like senses, fangs and healing abilities similar to Wolverine's, and claws extending past the tip of each finger.
• Anna Paquin as Marie / Rogue: A seventeen-year-old girl forced to leave her home in Meridian, Mississippi when she puts her boyfriend into a coma by kissing him. Her powers include absorbing anyone's memories, life force, and – in the case of mutants – powers through physical touch.

Additionally, Shawn Ashmore portrays Bobby Drake / Iceman, a mutant student at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters who takes a liking to Rogue. His powers include generating ice.

Cameo appearances include X-Men co-creator Stan Lee as a hot dog vendor, screenwriter David Hayter and story writer/executive producer Tom DeSanto as police officers on Ellis Island, and George Buza, the voice of Beast in X-Men: The Animated Series (1992-1997), as the truck driver who drops Rogue off at the bar at which Wolverine fights.{{cite book |last=Hughes |first=David |title=Comic Book Movies |publisher=Virgin Books |year=2003 |pages=177–188 |isbn=0-7535-0767-6}} Other minor roles include Sumela Kay as Kitty Pryde, Katrina Florece as Jubilee, Donald MacKinnon as Piotr Rasputin / Colossus,{{cite web |url=http://www.comics2film.com/XMen.shtml |title=X-Men Archive |work=Comics2Film |access-date=August 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816035541/http://www.comics2film.com/XMen.shtml |archive-date=August 16, 2000}}{{cite web |title=The Official Colossus/Daniel Cudmore thread |url=https://forums.superherohype.com/threads/the-official-colossus-daniel-cudmore-thread.192224/page-11#post-6663113 |access-date=December 27, 2020 |work=The SuperHeroHype Forums|date=August 5, 2005 }} and Alexander Burton as John Allerdyce / Pyro. Shawn Roberts portrays David, Rogue's first boyfriend. Associate producer Kevin Feige appeared as a Weapon X technician, but his cameo did not make the final cut of the film.{{cite web |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1642699/kevin-feige-almost-had-his-own-marvel-cameo |title=Kevin Feige Almost Had His Own Marvel Cameo |date=April 2, 2017 |work=CinemaBlend |first=Corey |last=Chichizola |access-date=April 4, 2017 |archive-date=April 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404043409/https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1642699/kevin-feige-almost-had-his-own-marvel-cameo |url-status=live}}

File:Beastcon.jpg for Beast by Industrial Light & Magic, before the character was deleted from subsequent scripts{{cite video |people=Dougherty, Michael; Harris, Dan; Hayter David; Shuler Donner, Lauren; Winter, Ralph |date=2003 |medium=Audio commentary |publisher=20th Century Fox |title=X2}}]]

Marvel Comics writers and chief editors Gerry Conway and Roy Thomas wrote an X-Men screenplay in 1984 when Orion Pictures held an option on the film rights, but development stalled when Orion began facing financial troubles.{{cite journal |first=Brian K. |last=Morris |title="X" Marks the Sprocket |journal=Alter Ego |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |pages=9–16 |date=May 2006}} Throughout 1989 and 1990, Stan Lee and Chris Claremont were in discussions with Carolco Pictures for an X-Men film adaptation, with James Cameron as producer and Kathryn Bigelow directing.

A story treatment was written by Bigelow, with Bob Hoskins being considered for Wolverine and Angela Bassett as Storm. The deal fell apart when Stan Lee piqued Cameron's interest in a Spider-Man film,{{cite news |first=Tim |last=Molloy |url=https://www.thewrap.com/movies/article/chris-claremonts-dream-x-men-movie-james-cameron-kathryn-bigelow-and-bob-hoskins-wolverine-3/?page=0,0 |title=Chris Claremont's Dream X-Men Movie: James Cameron, Kathryn Bigelow, and Bob Hoskins as Wolverine |work=TheWrap |date=March 25, 2012 |access-date=October 11, 2014 |archive-date=March 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309121554/https://www.thewrap.com/chris-claremonts-dream-x-men-movie-james-cameron-kathryn-bigelow-and-bob-hoskins-wolverine-3/ |url-status=live}} Carolco went bankrupt, and the film rights reverted to Marvel. In December 1992, Marvel discussed selling the property to Columbia Pictures to no avail.{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/1992/film/news/marvel-characters-holding-attraction-for-filmmakers-101955/ |title=Marvel characters holding attraction for filmmakers |work=Variety |date=December 9, 1992 |access-date=August 9, 2008}} Meanwhile, Avi Arad produced the animated X-Men television series for Fox Kids. 20th Century Fox was impressed by the success of the television series, and producer Lauren Shuler Donner purchased the film rights for the property in 1994,{{cite magazine |first=Jeff |last=Jensen |title=Generating X |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=July 21, 2000 |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2000/07/21/x-men-0 |access-date=August 9, 2008 |archive-date=October 23, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023095316/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,276737_2,00.html |url-status=live }} bringing Andrew Kevin Walker to write the script.{{cite magazine |first=Steve |last=Daly |title=Deadly Done Right |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=September 29, 1995 |url=http://www.ew.com/article/1995/09/29/seven-scenarist-andrew-kevin-walker |access-date=May 22, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-date=October 13, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013235845/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,298924,00.html }}

Walker's draft involved Professor Xavier recruiting Wolverine into the X-Men, which consisted of Cyclops, Jean Grey, Iceman, Beast, and Warren Worthington III. The Brotherhood of Mutants, which consisted of Magneto, Sabretooth, Toad, Juggernaut and the Blob, try to conquer New York City, while Henry Peter Gyrich and Bolivar Trask attack the X-Men with three {{convert|8|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} Sentinels. The script focused on the rivalry between Wolverine and Cyclops, as well as the latter's self-doubt as a field leader. Part of the backstory invented for Magneto made him the cause of the Chernobyl disaster. The script also featured the X-Copter and the Danger Room. Walker turned in his second draft in June 1994.{{cite news |first=Andrew Kevin |last=Walker |author-link=Andrew Kevin Walker |title=X-Men First Draft |work=Simplyscripts |date=June 7, 1994 |url=http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/x-men_walker3.html |access-date=July 13, 2007}}

Laeta Kalogridis was brought on for a subsequent rewrite in 1995.{{cite journal |first1=Stephen |last1=Galloway |first2=Donna |last2=Parker |title=4 top ICM agents walk, undertake own Endeavor |journal=The Hollywood Reporter |publisher=Nielsen Company |date=March 30, 1995}}{{cite web |last=Kendall |first=G |url=https://www.cbr.com/x-men-movie-moments-that-almost-happened/ |title=15 Rejected X-Men Movie Ideas That Almost Happened |date=March 10, 2017 |publisher=Comic Book Resources |access-date=October 31, 2021}} An early script kept the idea of Magneto turning Manhattan into a "mutant homeland", while another hinged on a romance between Wolverine and Storm. Michael Chabon had pitched a six-page film treatment to Fox in 1996. It focused heavily on character development between Wolverine and Jubilee and included Professor X, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, Beast, Iceman, and Storm. Under Chabon's plan, the villains would not have been introduced until the second film.{{cite news |first=Kim |last=Voynar |title=X-Men and Fantastic Four: What Would Chabon Have Written? |work=Cinematical |date=July 9, 2006 |url=http://www.cinematical.com/2006/07/09/x-men-and-fantastic-four-what-would-chabon-have-written/ |access-date=September 23, 2007}}

Fox considered Brett Ratner, who would later direct X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), as a director{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Fleming |url=https://variety.com/2005/film/news/new-master-for-mutants-1117923934/ |title=New master for mutants |work=Variety |date=June 5, 2005 |access-date=October 11, 2014}} and offered the position to Robert Rodriguez, but he turned it down.{{cite magazine |title=The Total Film Interview-Robert Rodriguez |magazine=Total Film |url=http://www.totalfilm.com/features/robert-rodriguez-interview |date=October 1, 2003 |access-date=October 7, 2007}} After the commercial success of Mortal Kombat (1995) in the United States, Paul W. S. Anderson was offered the position but turned it down, wanting to shift away from making another PG-13-rated film in favour of making an R-rated horror film, Event Horizon (1997).{{cite AV media |people=Paul W. S. Anderson (Director), Jeremy Bolt (Producer) |year=2006 |title=Event Horizon |medium=Audio commentary |publisher=Paramount Home Entertainment}} Following the release of The Usual Suspects (1995), Bryan Singer was looking to do a science fiction film and Fox offered him Alien Resurrection (1997), but producer Tom DeSanto felt he would be more appropriate for X-Men.{{cite video |people=Lee, Stan; Claremont, Chris; Singer, Bryan; Shuler Donner, Lauren; DeSanto, Tom; Arad, Avi |title=The Secret Origin of The X-Men |medium=DVD |date=2000 |publisher=20th Century Fox}} Singer was hesitant to direct a comic book film, but changed his mind after DeSanto presented the themes of prejudice in the comic that resonated with Singer.

In August 1996, Ed Solomon began work on the script. By December 1996, Singer was in the director's position, while Solomon completed a rewrite that month.{{cite web |last=Siegel |first=Tatiana |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/bryan-singers-traumatic-x-men-set-movie-created-a-monster-1305081 |title=Bryan Singer's Traumatic X-Men Set: The Movie "Created a Monster" |date=July 31, 2020 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=October 31, 2021}} Solomon's hiring was publicly revealed in April 1997, and Singer went on to film Apt Pupil (1998). Fox then announced a Christmas 1998 release date.{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Fleming |url=https://variety.com/1997/voices/columns/a-mania-for-marvel-1117434784/ |title=A Mania For Marvel |work=Variety |date=April 14, 1997 |access-date=March 25, 2008}}{{cite news |first=Anita M. |last=Busch |url=https://www.variety.com/vstory/VR1117466461.html |title=Singer set to direct Fox's Men |work=Variety |date=December 10, 1996 |access-date=March 25, 2008}} John Logan and James Schamus provided script revisions, with the latter focusing solely on fleshing out the characters.{{cite web |last=Chitwood |first=Adam |url=https://collider.com/james-schamus-indignation-hulk-interview/ |title=James Schamus on His Directorial Debut Indignation, What Went Wrong with Hulk, and More |date=July 27, 2016 |website=Collider |access-date=October 31, 2021}} In late 1997, the budget was projected at $60{{nbsp}}million. In 1998, Claremont returned to Marvel and, seeing how Fox was still struggling with the script, sent them a four-page-long memo where he explained the core concepts and what differentiated the X-Men from other superheroes.{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/dark-phoenix-creator-chris-claremont-pitched-james-cameron-x-men-movie-1216631/ |title=Dark Phoenix Comic Creator on Pitching James Cameron and the 4-Page Memo That Made X-Men |first1=Borys |last1=Kit |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=June 8, 2019}} In late 1998, Singer and DeSanto sent a treatment to Fox, which they believed was "perfect" because it took "seriously" the themes and the intent of the Xavier and Magneto comparisons to Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, unlike the other scripts. They made Rogue an important character because Singer recognized that her mutation, which renders her unable to touch anyone, was the most symbolic of alienation. Singer merged attributes of Kitty Pryde and Jubilee into the film's depiction of Rogue. Magneto's plot to mutate the world leaders into accepting his people is reminiscent of how Constantine I's conversion to Christianity ended the persecution of early Christians in the Roman Empire; the analogy was emphasized in a deleted scene in which Storm teaches history. Senator Kelly's claim that he has a list of mutants living in the United States recalls Joseph McCarthy's similar claim regarding communists.

After the disastrous reception of Batman & Robin (1997), the release of Blade (1998) convinced some film studios that a Marvel character "could carry on" a movie.{{cite web |last=B. Vary |first=Adam |date=April 28, 2022 |title='Spider-Man' at 20: How Sam Raimi and Sony Pictures Rescued the Superhero Genre and Changed Hollywood Forever |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/features/spider-man-2002-oral-history-sam-raimi-sony-pictures-1235240553/ |access-date=April 28, 2022 |website=Variety |archive-date=April 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428040616/https://variety.com/2022/film/features/spider-man-2002-oral-history-sam-raimi-sony-pictures-1235240553/ |url-status=live }} Fox, who had set the budget at $75{{nbsp}}million, rejected the treatment, which they estimated would have cost $5{{nbsp}}million more. Beast, Nightcrawler, Pyro, and the Danger Room had to be deleted before the studio greenlighted X-Men.{{cite news |first=Dan |last=Cox |title=Col inks Solomon, Lynn |work=Variety |date=July 29, 1998 |url=https://variety.com/1998/film/news/col-inks-solomon-lynn-1117478916/ |access-date=June 6, 2019}} Fox head Bill Mechanic argued that this would enhance the story, and Singer concurred that removing the Danger Room allowed him to focus on other scenes he preferred. Elements of Beast, particularly his medical expertise, were transferred to Jean Grey. In mid-1998, Singer and DeSanto brought Christopher McQuarrie from The Usual Suspects and together they did another rewrite.{{cite news |first1=Ed |last1=Solomon |first2=Chris |last2=McQuarrie |first3=Tom |last3=DeSanto |first4=Bryan |last4=Singer |title=February 1999 X-Men script |work=Sci-Fi Scripts |date=February 24, 1999 |url=http://www.scifiscripts.com/scripts/xmenscript.txt |access-date=July 1, 2007}}{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Petrikin |url=https://variety.com/1999/biz/news/rice-gets-fox-promotion-1117490409/ |title=Rice gets Fox promotion |work=Variety |date=January 20, 1999 |access-date=March 25, 2008}} McQuarrie was initially slated to work on the script for only three weeks but had not yet delivered his draft by October 1998. Joss Whedon was brought in during production to rewrite the last act. Whedon was highly critical of the script and instead performed a "major overhaul".{{cite web |last=Green |first=Willow |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/exclusive-x-men-terrible-decision/ |title=Exclusive: X-Men{{'}}s 'Terrible Decision' |date=October 24, 2000 |work=Empire Online |access-date=October 31, 2021}} Whedon's draft featured the Danger Room and concluded with Jean Grey dressed as the Phoenix.{{cite web |url=http://www.natoonline.org/infocus/05augustseptember/whedonuncut.htm |title=In Focus | August/September 2005 | Serenity Now! Uncut |work=Natoonline.org |access-date=October 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615162238/https://www.natoonline.org/infocus/05augustseptember/whedonuncut.htm |archive-date=June 15, 2011}} According to Entertainment Weekly, this screenplay was rejected because of its "quick-witted pop culture-referencing tone",{{cite magazine |first=Craig |last=Seymour |title=X-Man Out |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=May 10, 2000 |url=https://ew.com/article/2000/05/10/buffy-creator-slams-x-men-movie/ |access-date=May 22, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-date=February 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203200300/http://ew.com/article/2000/05/10/buffy-creator-slams-x-men-movie/ }} and the finished film contained only two dialogue exchanges that Whedon had contributed. Whedon also claimed to have been invited to the table read, completely unaware that his script had been thrown out.{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/joss-whedon-1798208181 |title=Interview – Joss Whedon |first=Tasha |last=Robinson |date=September 5, 2001 |work=The A.V. Club |access-date=November 21, 2009}}

Actor and producer David Hayter, who at the time was working as Singer's assistant, was brought in for rewrites due to his extensive knowledge of the original comics. Hayter took great pride in retaining much of the core elements from the source material, such as Wolverine's Canadian background, as the studio wanted to make him American.{{cite web |url=https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/wolverine-oral-history-x-men |title=THE ORAL HISTORY OF WOLVERINE, THE UNLIKELY SUPERHERO WHO SAVED THE X-MEN |work=Inverse |last=Vanhooker |first=Brian |date=March 3, 2022 |access-date=March 7, 2022}} He received solo screenplay credit from the Writers Guild of America, while Singer and DeSanto were given story credit. The WGA offered McQuarrie a credit, but he voluntarily took his name off when the final version was more in line with Hayter's script than his.{{cite news |first=Borys |last=Kit |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i367bfce562b7ee624637405023e9228f |title=McQuarrie to pen Wolverine sequel |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=August 13, 2009 |access-date=August 13, 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100110110714/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i367bfce562b7ee624637405023e9228f |archive-date=January 10, 2010}} In July 2020, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that McQuarrie and Solomon both removed their names from the film due to the studio's "tortuous process". Solomon would later express regret towards removing his name. Hayter claims that 55 percent of his script ended up in the finished film, while other insiders claim that the majority of what is onscreen was written by McQuarrie and Solomon with only small contributions from Hayter.{{cite web |last=Siegel |first=Tatiana |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bryan-singers-traumatic-x-men-set-movie-created-a-monster-1305081/ |title=Bryan Singer's Traumatic X-Men Set: The Movie "Created a Monster" |date=July 31, 2020 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=July 31, 2020}}

Glenn Danzig was invited by Fox to audition for the role of Wolverine in 1995, as his height and build closely resemble that of the film's protagonist, as described in the original comic books. However, he declined due to scheduling conflicts with his band.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1290&dat=19950512&id=KlBUAAAAIBAJ&pg=3147,5268089 |title=Danzig with the devil: Rocker relishes his turn as music's bad boy |last=Graff |first=Gary |date=May 3, 1995 |publisher=Knight-Ridder / Tribune News Services |access-date=January 28, 2018}} With Singer taking over as director, Russell Crowe was the first choice to play Wolverine, but he turned it down, instead recommending his friend, actor Hugh Jackman, for the part.{{cite web |first=Hugh |last=Armitage |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a440603/hugh-jackman-russell-crowe-got-me-my-wolverine-role/ |title=Hugh Jackman: 'Russell Crowe got me my Wolverine role' |publisher=Digital Spy |date=November 24, 2012 |access-date=September 23, 2014}} Jackman was an unknown actor at the time, while a number of more established actors offered their services for the role. Jackman's wife Deborra-Lee Furness told him not to do it after reading the three pages he was given.{{Cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |date=2014-05-22 |title=Hugh Jackman on X-Men: Days of Future Past, Retcon, and Why Wolverine Doesn't Multitask |url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/05/hugh-jackman-x-men-days-of-future-past-chat.html |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=Vulture |language=en}} Singer brought Viggo Mortensen to view storyboards, but Mortensen's son was vocal about the character's imposing appearance. Mortensen was also apprehensive of signing on for multiple films.{{cite news |title=Viggo Mortensen Recalls Why He Turned Down The Wolverine Role In X-Men & Took His Young Son To The Meeting |url=https://theplaylist.net/viggo-mortensen-wolverine-xmen-20210206/ |work=The Playlist |date=February 6, 2021 |access-date=February 7, 2021}} Dougray Scott was cast as Wolverine in a multi-film deal but was forced to back out due to scheduling conflicts with Mission: Impossible 2 (2000) in early October 1999 and sustaining injuries in a motorbike accident.{{ cite news |first=Michael |last=Fleming |url= https://variety.com/1999/voices/columns/wahlberg-a-headbanger-x-men-gets-man-1117502566/ |title=Wahlberg a headbanger?; X-Men gets man |work=Variety |date=May 27, 1999 |access-date=June 19, 2019 |archive-date=March 3, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180303110141/https://variety.com/1999/voices/columns/wahlberg-a-headbanger-x-men-gets-man-1117502566/}}{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Fleming |url=https://variety.com/1999/voices/columns/x-marks-the-scott-for-singer-helmed-fox-pic-1117503085/ |title=X marks the Scott for Singer-helmed Fox pic |work=Variety |date=June 15, 1999 |access-date=June 19, 2019 |archive-date=January 24, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124001819/https://variety.com/1999/voices/columns/x-marks-the-scott-for-singer-helmed-fox-pic-1117503085/}}{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Fleming |url=https://variety.com/1999/voices/columns/nl-scores-demme-s-blow-1117756399/ |title=NL scores Demme's Blow |work=Variety |date=October 7, 1999 |access-date=August 9, 2008}} Scott also said that Tom Cruise made him drop out of the role as well.{{Cite news |last=Kelly |first=Guy |date=2020-03-06 |title=Dougray Scott: 'My wife escaped Weinstein five times – I regret ever working with him' |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/dougray-scottmy-wife-escaped-weinstein-five-times-regret-ever/ |access-date=2023-11-28 |issn=0307-1235}} Jackman was then cast three weeks into filming, based on a successful audition.{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Petrikin |url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/aussie-jackman-jumps-into-singer-s-x-men-pic-1117756476/ |title=Aussie Jackman jumps into Singer's X-Men pic |work=Variety |date=October 11, 1999 |access-date=August 9, 2008}}

Patrick Stewart was first approached by Singer to play Xavier on the set of Conspiracy Theory (1997), which was directed by X-Men executive producer Richard Donner.{{cite news |first=Geoff |last=Boucher |title=Bryan Singer on X-Men: First Class: It's got to be about Magneto and Professor X |work=Los Angeles Times |date=March 18, 2010 |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2010/03/bryan-singer-and-the-xmen-together-again.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322191808/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2010/03/bryan-singer-and-the-xmen-together-again.html |archive-date=March 22, 2010 |access-date=March 20, 2010 |url-status=live}} Michael Jackson actively campaigned for the role of Xavier but was never seriously considered by the studio. Jim Caviezel was originally cast as Cyclops but backed out due to scheduling conflicts with Frequency (2000).{{cite news |first=Jeff |last=Otto |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/556/556968p1.html |title=IGN Interviews Jim Caviezel |work=IGN |date=October 14, 2004 |access-date=August 8, 2008}} James Marsden was unfamiliar with his character, but he soon became accustomed after reading various comic books. Marsden modeled his performance similar to a Boy Scout.{{cite news |first=Scott |last=Holleran |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/features/?id=2082&p=.htm |title=Close-Up: X-Men{{'}}s James Marsden |publisher=Box Office Mojo |date=June 2, 2006 |access-date=August 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110053141/https://boxofficemojo.com/features/?id=2082&p=.htm |archive-date=November 10, 2006}} Anna Paquin dropped out of the lead role in Tart (2001) in favor of X-Men.{{cite news |first=Vanessa |last=Torres |url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/swain-signs-to-top-tart-for-interlight-1117756727/ |title=Swain signs to top Tart for Interlight |work=Variety |date=October 18, 1999 |access-date=August 9, 2008}} Rachael Leigh Cook was considered for the role of Rogue. Cook later admitted that she regretted her decision to turn the role down.{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/rachel-leigh-cook-x-men-rogue-role-response/ |title=Rachel Leigh Cook Regrets Turning Down Rogue Role In 2000's X-Men Movie |work=Screen Rant |last=Shirey |first=Paul |date=August 31, 2021 |access-date=August 31, 2021}} Janet Jackson was offered the role of Storm, but she turned it down due to tour obligations.{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/janet-jackson-reflects-on-almost-playing-storm-in-x-men-8639366 |title=Janet Jackson was (almost) a part of a mutant nation, reflects on being asked to play Storm in X-Men |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |last=Braithwaite |first=Lester Fabian |date=April 25, 2024 |access-date=August 9, 2024}} Singer and Hayter originally offered the role of Jean Grey to Charlize Theron but she turned it down.{{cite web |url=https://observer.com/2020/07/x-men-anniversary-fox-marvel-superhero-movies-kevin-feige/ |title=What X-Men Pulled off 20 Years Ago, According to Those Who Made It |work=The New York Observer |date=July 14, 2020}} Singer cast Bruce Davison and Ian McKellen, both had acted in his previous film Apt Pupil. McKellen responded well to the gay allegory of the film, "the allegory of the mutants as outsiders, disenfranchised and alone and coming to all of that at puberty when their difference manifests", Singer explained. "Ian is an activist and he really responded to the potential of that allegory."

The original start date was mid-1999,{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Petrikin |url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/marvel-fox-pact-for-pix-1117491127/ |title=Marvel, Fox pact for pix |work=Variety |date=February 9, 1999 |access-date=March 25, 2008}} with the release date set for Christmas 2000, but Fox moved X-Men to June. Steven Spielberg had been scheduled to film Minority Report (2002) for release in June 2000, but he had chosen to film A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), and Fox needed a film to fill the void.{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Petrikin |url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/fox-shifts-actioner-x-men-to-july-1117750560/ |title=Fox shifts actioner X-Men to June |work=Variety |date=August 19, 1999 |access-date=March 25, 2008}} This meant that Singer had to finish X-Men six months ahead of schedule, although filming had been pushed back.{{cite magazine |first=Josh |last=Walk |title=Getting the Shaft |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=August 19, 1999 |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,84602,00.html |access-date=May 22, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 14, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014231425/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,84602,00.html }} The release date was then moved to July 14.{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Petrikin |url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/fox-shuffles-x-men-and-anna-1117755724/ |title=Fox shuffles X-Men and Anna |work=Variety |date=September 16, 1999 |access-date=August 9, 2008}}

Filming took place from September 22, 1999, to March 3, 2000, in Toronto and in Hamilton, Ontario.{{cite web |first=Greg Dean |last=Schmitz |author-link=Greg Dean Schmitz |title=Greg's Preview – X-Men |publisher=Yahoo! Movies |url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/preview/1808406650 |access-date=August 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821124442/https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/preview/1808406650 |archive-date=August 21, 2007}}{{cite web |url=http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/x/xmen.html |title=X-Men filming locations: Hamilton, Ontario |work=Movie Locations |access-date=August 9, 2008 |archive-date=September 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907090550/http://movie-locations.com/movies/x/xmen.html |url-status=dead }} Locations included Central Commerce Collegiate, Distillery District and Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Casa Loma, Roy Thomson Hall and Metro Hall were used for X-Mansion interiors, while Parkwood Estate (located in Oshawa, east of Toronto) was chosen for exteriors. Spencer Smith Park (in Burlington, Ontario) doubled for Liberty Island.{{cite web |first=Scott |last=Chitwood |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/034/034940p1.html |title=X-Men's Sabretooth Scares Crap out of Kid, Toronto Set Visit, Wolvie Love Triangle, New Pics, & More |work=IGN |date=February 10, 2000 |access-date=August 10, 2008 |archive-date=April 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414130236/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/02/10/x-mens-sabretooth-scares-crap-out-of-kid-toronto-set-visit-wolvie-love-triangle-new-pics-more |url-status=live}} Post-production was hectic, with Shuler Donner saying that "we had to lock picture and score and edit, sometimes at the same time".{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jul-23-ca-57571-story.html |title=The Sound of Work Leaving L.A. |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 23, 2000 |first=Jon |last=Burlingame |access-date=June 4, 2016 |archive-date=March 2, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160302115453/https://articles.latimes.com/2000/jul/23/entertainment/ca-57571}}

During production, Singer would allegedly arrive late and experience mood swings and "explosive" tantrums. At the time, Singer claimed to be taking medication for back pain. Cast and crew members found Singer's drug use too "problematic". Kevin Feige, the film's associate producer, was flown on-set to ensure that Singer was kept in line. Singer was also accused of giving small roles to younger actors and minors in exchange for sex. A source for Pyro actor Alex Burton says Burton was told the role was created for him by Singer and Marc Collins-Rector. Burton was also flown from Los Angeles to Toronto for filming, an unusual occurrence for an actor with a minor role. Several sources close to The Hollywood Reporter claimed that story meetings were "unprofessional, even by eccentric auteur standards", with Singer allegedly bringing "young guys", who were not involved with the project, to the meetings. Singer also banned the comics on set, and Feige had to sneak them in for the actors to understand their roles.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/15/movies/ryan-reynolds-hugh-jackman-deadpool-wolverine.html |title=Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman on the Perks and Pitfalls of Playing Superheroes |work=The New York Times |last=Buchanan |first=Kyle |date=July 15, 2024 |access-date=August 9, 2024 |url-access=registration}}

The filmmakers decided not to replicate the X-Men costumes as seen in the comic book. Stan Lee and Chris Claremont supported this decision. Claremont joked, "you can do that on a drawing, but when you put it on people it's disturbing!" Producer/co-writer Tom DeSanto had been supportive of using the blue and yellow color scheme of the comics, but came to conclude that they would not work onscreen.{{cite news |first=Scott |last=Chitwood |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/034/034827p1.html |title=DeSanto talks about X-Men costumes |work=IGN |date=February 10, 2000 |access-date=August 10, 2008 |archive-date=April 5, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070405132616/https://movies.ign.com/articles/034/034827p1.html}} To acknowledge the fan complaints, Singer added Cyclops' line "What would you prefer, yellow spandex?"—when Wolverine complains about wearing their uniforms—during filming. Singer noted that durable black leather made more sense for the X-Men to wear as protective clothing, and Shuler Donner added that the costumes helped them "blend into the night".{{cite video |title=Suiting Up |via=X-Men First Class Blu-ray |publisher=20th Century Fox Home Entertainment |date=2011}} The black leather outfits were inspired by The Matrix (1999), as studio executives felt it would help for the film's success.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/kevin-feige-the-matrix-xmen-leather-suits/ |title=Kevin Feige Reveals the Real Reason the X-Men Wore Black Leather Suits in Original Film |work=CBR |last=Dick |first=Jeremy |date=July 20, 2024 |access-date=August 9, 2024}}

Oakley, Inc. provided the red-lensed glasses worn by Cyclops, a customized version of the company's own X-Metal Juliet.{{cite web |url=http://www.oakley.com/en/blog/new-eyewear-for-cyclops-revealed-in-x-men-days-of-future-past/ |title=New Eyewear for Cyclops Revealed in X-Men: Days of Future Past |access-date=February 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302082952/https://www.oakley.com/en/blog/new-eyewear-for-cyclops-revealed-in-x-men-days-of-future-past/ |archive-date=March 2, 2016}} Wolverine's claws required no cast of Hugh Jackman's hands, and were built so he could easily put them on and take them off for safety reasons. Production had insisted that they be attached at all times under a full prosthetic sleeve but designer Gordon Smith refused to do it. Production also insisted on real metal blades, which Smith also refused to do, making injection-moulded plaster blades instead. Hundreds of pairs were built for Jackman and his stunt doubles.Gordon Smith FXSMITH

Rebecca Romijn wore 110 individual silicone prosthetics on her body to portray Mystique; only the edges were glued, the rest were self-sticking. The prosthetics were built flat and wrapped her body. They were internally colored with food coloring and needed additional makeup or paint. The original agreed-to and tested design was to color her skin with cosmetic-grade food coloring as well, but at the last minute Bryan Singer insisted on painting her skin to look opaque, as in the comic book, which added six hours to the time needed to apply Romijn's makeup, making the ordeal very difficult for her. There were also no facilities provided to exhaust paint fumes, during one of Canada's colder winters.Gordon Smith Romijn reflected, "I had almost no contact with the rest of the cast; it was like I was making a different movie from everyone else. It was hell."

In the late 1990s, computer-generated imagery was becoming more commonly used. Singer visited the sets of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) and Titanic (1997) to understand practical and digital effects. Filming had started without a special effects company hired. Digital Domain, Cinesite, Rhythm & Hues Studios (R&H), Hammerhead Production, Matte World Digital, CORE and POP were all hired in December 1999.{{cite news |first=Marc |last=Graser |url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/seven-f-x-houses-will-share-x-men-duties-1117758743/ |title=Seven f/x houses will share X-Men duties |work=Variety |date=December 8, 1999 |access-date=August 9, 2008}} Visual effects supervisor Mike Fink admitted to have been dissatisfied with his work on X-Men in 2003, despite nearly being nominated for an Academy Award.FX2 Visual Effects, 2003, 20th Century Fox

Digital Domain's technical director Sean C. Cunningham and lead compositor Claas Henke morphed Bruce Davison into a liquid figure for Kelly's mutation scene. Cunningham said, "There were many digital layers: water without refraction, water with murkiness, skin with and without highlights, skin with goo in it. When rendered together, it took 39 hours per frame." They considered showing Kelly's internal organs during the transformation, "but that seemed too gruesome", according to Cunningham.{{cite book |title=Digital Domain: The Leading Edge of Visual Effects |last=Bizony |first=Piers |author-link=Piers Bizony |year=2001 |publisher=Billboard Books |isbn=0-8230-7928-7 |page=143}}

{{Main|X-Men (soundtrack)}}

Singer initially approached John Williams to compose the film score who turned down the offer because of scheduling conflicts.{{cite news |first=Bill |last=Ramey |title=Superman-on-Film |work=Batman-on-Film |date=February 12, 2006 |url=http://www.batman-on-film.com/supermanonfilm/article_singer_routh_wondercon2006.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013024143/https://www.batman-on-film.com/supermanonfilm/article_singer_routh_wondercon2006.html |archive-date=October 13, 2008 |access-date=May 22, 2007}} Later, he roped in his usual composer, John Ottman.{{cite news |first=Marc |last=Graser |url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/ottman-adds-helming-to-other-duties-1117503313/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303210203/https://variety.com/1999/film/news/ottman-adds-helming-to-other-duties-1117503313/ |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |title=Ottman adds helming other duties |work=Variety |date=June 21, 1999 |access-date=May 20, 2017}} However, once Fox pushed X-Men from December to July, Ottman's commitment to direct Urban Legends: Final Cut made him unable to work with Singer.{{cite web |url=http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/articles/2001/28_Feb---John_Ottman_Urban_Legends_Final_Cut.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310172827/https://www.filmscoremonthly.com/articles/2001/28_Feb---John_Ottman_Urban_Legends_Final_Cut.asp |title=John Ottman on Urban Legend: Final Cut |archive-date=March 10, 2016}} The film is then scored by Michael Kamen,{{cite web|last=Chitwood|first=Scott|title=Michael Kamen to score X-Men|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/02/10/michael-kamen-to-score-x-men|publisher=IGN|access-date=November 6, 2024|date=February 10, 2000}} who recorded it in Los Angeles instead of London, as the producers abandoned it due to time constraints. The soundtrack to the film was released by Decca Records on July 11, 2000. A 2-CD expanded and remastered release of the album was published by La-La Land Records on May 11, 2021.{{Cite web |title=Expanded 'X-Men' Soundtrack Album Announced {{!}} Film Music Reporter |url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2021/05/11/expanded-x-men-soundtrack-album-announced/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |language=en-US}}

Fox aired a special entitled Mutant Watch to promote the movie that partially includes in universe scenes of a senate hearing featuring Senator Robert Kelly. This featurette was included as a bonus feature on some of the video releases. On June 1, 2000, Marvel published a comic book prequel to X-Men, entitled X-Men: Beginnings, revealing the backstories of Magneto, Rogue and Wolverine.{{cite book |title=X-Men: Beginnings (Paperback) |isbn=0785107509 |last1=Comics |first1=Marvel |year=2000}} There was also a comic book adaptation based on the film.{{cite book |title=X-Men: The Movie (Paperback) |year=2000 |isbn=0785107495 |last1=MacChio |first1=Ralph|publisher=Marvel Comics }} A console video game, X-Men: Mutant Academy, was released on July 6, 2000, to take advantage of the film's release, featuring costumes and other materials from the film.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/x-men-mutant-academy-ships/1100-2603999/ |title=X-Men: Mutant Academy Ships}}

X-Men had its premiere at Ellis Island on July 12, 2000,"Ellis Island Premiere". X-Men 1.5, Disk 2 (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment) two days before a wide opening in 3,025 theaters in North America. It would also debut in Australia that weekend to take advantage of the school holidays, while most other territories would get the film in August.{{cite web |date=July 18, 2000 |first=Don |last=Groves |title=X-traordinary bow |url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/x-traordinary-bow-1117783838/ |work=Variety}} Marvel Studios was depending on X-Men{{'}}s success to ignite other franchise properties (Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Hulk, and Daredevil).{{cite web |date=July 13, 1999 |first=Michael |last=Fleming |title=Marvel takes cue from its superheroes |url=https://variety.com/1999/voices/columns/marvel-takes-cue-from-its-superheroes-1117503960/ |work=Variety}}

X-Men was originally released on VHS and DVD on November 21, 2000 by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, to take advantage of Thanksgiving in the United States. In its initial home video weekend, the film earned $60{{nbsp}}million in rentals and direct sales alongside Gladiator, making them earn more than all films in theaters outside from leader How the Grinch Stole Christmas.{{cite web |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-80490155.html |title=DVDINSIDER: Sales And Rentals Of Twentieth Century Fox's "X-MEN" Xceeds Xpectations - DVD News | HighBeam Research |date=May 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505033900/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-80490155.html |archive-date=5 May 2016 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=112779&page=1|title=Gladiator, X-Men Set DVD Records|website=ABC News }} X-Men finished as the seventh highest-grossing home release of 2000 with $141{{nbsp}}million, with 78% being earned through sales.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2000/biz/news/year-end-2000-top-video-titles-628120/ |title=Year End 2000 Top video titles |date=December 31, 2000}} A new two-disc DVD was released three years later on February 11, 2003 in anticipation to the theatrical release of sequel X2, titled X-Men 1.5.{{cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/news/198490830-X-Men-1-5-To-Be-Released-This-February |title="X-Men 1.5" To Be Released This February |website=The Numbers |url-status=dead |access-date=March 24, 2022 |archive-date=March 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324195208/https://www.the-numbers.com/news/198490830-X-Men-1-5-To-Be-Released-This-February }} It includes the theatrical version of the film along with the option to add deleted scenes and several new additional features.{{cite web |url=https://ign.com/articles/2003/01/24/x-men-15 |title=X-Men 1.5 |last=Conrad |first=Jeremy |date=January 24, 2003 |work=IGN |access-date=June 10, 2019}} This THX certified DVD release also features audio commentary of director Bryan Singer with actor and friend Brian Peck,{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=Jeffery M. |title=Comic Relief |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-comic-relief/145112439/ |access-date=April 10, 2024 |work=The San Francisco Examiner |date=April 28, 2003 |pages=12 |language=en}}{{cite news |last=Salas |first=Randy A. |title='X-Men 1.5' looks toward sequel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-x-men-15-looks-toward-se/145112952/ |access-date=April 10, 2024 |work=Star Tribune |date=February 11, 2003 |pages=E3}} sneak peeks for Daredevil and X2, a DTS 5.1 audio track, enhanced viewing mode and behind-the-scenes footage. The first disc has animated menus with four multi-colored orbs and the second disc has two separated sections, which are X-Men 2 and Evolution X.{{cite web |url=http://archive.thedigitalbits.com/reviews2/xmen15se.html |title=DVD Review - X-Men 1.5: Special Edition |work=archive.thedigitalbits.com}}

X-Men was released on Blu-ray in April 2009, with bonus features reproduced from the X-Men 1.5 DVD release.{{cite web |url=http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/2057/xmen.html |title=X-Men Blu-Ray |last=Boss |first=Nate |date=April 30, 2009 |work=High Def Digest |publisher=Internet Brands |access-date=October 12, 2014 |quote=The entire supplement package is a rehash from the 'X-Men 1.5' DVD release, so much so that the features function the exact same way, as Fox didn't take the time to create a Picture in Picture track. Wait, I take that back....they did. It's on the UK version of the disc.}} Unlike the US edition, the UK release of the Blu-ray includes a picture-in-picture mode called "BonusView" and an in-feature photo gallery.{{cite web |url=http://www.dvdactive.com/reviews/dvd/x-men-trilogy.html |last=Gould |first=Chris |work=DVD Active |access-date=October 12, 2014 |title=Review: X-Men Trilogy (UK – BD)}}

X-Men is included in the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray set X-Men: 3-Film Collection, which was released on September 25, 2018.{{cite web |url=https://ultrahd.highdefdigest.com/62360/xmentrilogy4kultrahdbluray.html |title=X-Men: 3-Film Collection - 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray |last=Duarte |first=M. Enois |date=October 2, 2018 |work=High Def Digest |publisher=Internet Brands |access-date=January 11, 2021}}

In North America, X-Men opened on Friday, July 14, 2000, and made $21.4{{nbsp}}million on its opening day.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=daily&id=xmen.htm |title=X-Men (2000) – Daily Box Office |publisher=Box Office Mojo |access-date=September 20, 2017}} This made it the third-highest opening day of any film, behind Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and The Lost World: Jurassic Park. It also had the third-highest Friday gross, just after the latter film and Toy Story 2.{{cite news |title=Audiences mobbed multiplexes for the opening of "X-Men" as... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/2000/07/16/Audiences-mobbed-multiplexes-for-the-opening-of-X-Men-as/7694963720000/ |access-date=February 28, 2022 |publisher=United Press International |date=July 16, 2000 |archive-date=February 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228183046/https://www.upi.com/Archives/2000/07/16/Audiences-mobbed-multiplexes-for-the-opening-of-X-Men-as/7694963720000/ |url-status=live}} The film earned $57.5{{nbsp}}million in its opening weekend,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-springfield-news-leader-x-men-the/168002889/ |title='X-Men' the latest hero at box office

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250315025341/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-springfield-news-leader-x-men-the/168002889/ |date=July 17, 2000 |access-date=March 15, 2025 |archive-date=March 15, 2025 |page=2 |publisher=The Springfield News-Leader |via=Newspapers.com |url-status=live}} {{Open access}} averaging $18,000 per theater, and having the highest-grossing opening weekend for a superhero film (surpassing Batman Forever{{'}}s $52.8{{nbsp}}million),{{cite web |last=Gray |first=Brandon |date=May 6, 2002 |title='Spider-Man' Takes Box Office on the Ultimate Spin: $114.8 Million |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=1157&p=.htm |access-date=April 5, 2017 |website=Box Office Mojo |archive-date=February 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207041845/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=1157&p=.htm |url-status=live }} a non-sequel and a July release (surpassing Men in Black{{'}}s $51.1{{nbsp}}million).{{cite news |last=Block |first=Alex Ben |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99675126/x-men-tops-in-575-million-opening/ |title='X-Men' tops in $57.5 million opening |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410183010/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99675126/x-men-tops-in-575-million-opening/ |date=July 21, 2000 |access-date=April 10, 2023 |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |page=34 |work=Bridge News |publisher=The Montana Standard |via=Newspapers.com |url-status=live}} {{Open access}}{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed2171864068/ |title=Weekend Box Office |publisher=Box Office Mojo |access-date=September 20, 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/month/?mo=07&p=.htm |title=Top July Opening Weekends |publisher=Box Office Mojo |access-date=September 20, 2017}} At the time of its release, X-Men had the sixth biggest opening of all time and marked the first time in history that three pictures had consecutive opening weekends above $40{{nbsp}}million in North America, after The Perfect Storm{{'}}s $41.3{{nbsp}}million and Scary Movie{{'}}s $42.3{{nbsp}}million. Moreover, it had the second largest opening weekend of that year, behind Mission: Impossible 2.{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jul-18-fi-54830-story.html |title='X'-Movie Chief Mechanic a Marvel for Fox |date=July 18, 2000 |work=Los Angeles Times}} Upon its debut, the film would reach the number one spot at the box office.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/ledger-enquirer-x-men-overpower-box-of/167875338/ |title='X-Men' overpower box office

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250313135538/https://www.newspapers.com/article/ledger-enquirer-x-men-overpower-box-of/167875338/ |date=July 17, 2000 |access-date=March 13, 2025 |archive-date=March 13, 2025 |page=31 |publisher=Ledger-Enquirer |via=Newspapers.com |url-status=live}} {{Open access}} During its second weekend, the film was overtaken by What Lies Beneath, but made a total of $23.5{{nbsp}}million.{{cite news |last=Harrigan |first=Tom |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109933313/what-lies-beneath-opens-in-top-spot/ |title='What Lies Beneath' opens in top spot; 'X-men' drops to second |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921134504/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109933313/what-lies-beneath-opens-in-top-spot/ |date=July 26, 2000 |access-date=September 21, 2022 |archive-date=September 21, 2022 |page=49 |work=The Associated Press |publisher=The News & Observer |via=Newspapers.com |url-status=live}} {{Open access}}

X-Men grossed $157.3{{nbsp}}million in the United States and Canada and $139{{nbsp}}million in other territories for a worldwide total of $296.3{{nbsp}}million, against a production budget of $75{{nbsp}}million, becoming the eighth-highest-grossing film of 2000 domestically and ninth worldwide. The success of X-Men started a reemergence for the comic book and superhero film genre.{{cite news |first=Robert |last=Levine |title=Does Whatever a Spider (and a C.E.O.) Can |work=The New York Times |date=June 27, 2004}}

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, {{RT data|score}} of {{RT data|count}} reviews are positive, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The site's critical consensus reads: "Faithful to the comics and filled with action, X-Men brings a crowded slate of classic Marvel characters to the screen with a talented ensemble cast and surprisingly sharp narrative focus."{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/xmen |title=X-Men |website=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Fandango |access-date={{RT data|access-date}}}}{{RT data|edit}} Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 64 out of 100 based on 33 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/x-men |title=X-Men (2000): Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=August 8, 2008}} Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.{{cite web |url=https://cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title=Cinemascore |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date=December 20, 2018 |access-date=June 6, 2019}}

Kenneth Turan found "so much is happening you feel the immediate need of a sequel just as a reward for absorbing it all. While X-Men doesn't take your breath away wire-to-wire the way The Matrix did, it's an accomplished piece of work with considerable pulp watchability to it."{{cite news |first=Kenneth |last=Turan |author-link=Kenneth Turan |title=Gen-X |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 14, 2000 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jul-14-ca-52650-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013112614/https://articles.latimes.com/2000/jul/14/entertainment/ca-52650 |archive-date=October 13, 2012 |access-date=June 6, 2019 |url-status=live}} ReelReviews.net's James Berardinelli, an X-Men comic book fan, believed, "the film is effectively paced with a good balance of exposition, character development, and special effects-enhanced action. Neither the plot nor the character relationships are difficult to follow, and the movie avoids the trap of spending too much time explaining things that don't need to be explained. X-Men fandom is likely to be divided over whether the picture is a success or a failure".{{cite web |url=http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/x/x-men.html |work=Reel Views |title=X-Men |access-date=August 8, 2008}} Marc Salov of The Austin Chronicle wrote, "Of course, the wide-open ending practically shrieks "sequel," so rest assured this is only the beginning of a new super-franchise. Here's hoping Joel Schumacher doesn't get his hands on it."{{cite news|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/events/film/2000-07-14/x-men/|title=X-Men - Movie Review|last=Savlov|first=Marc|newspaper=The Austin Chronicle|date=July 14, 2000|access-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903183229/https://www.austinchronicle.com/events/film/2000-07-14/x-men/|archive-date=September 3, 2020|url-status=live}} David Sterritt of Christian Science Monitor gave it a two-out-of-four rating and said, "Die-hard action fans may cheer, but if you're looking for the romantic verve of Superman or the dreamlike edginess of Batman, this isn't the comic-book movie for you."{{cite web|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/2000/0714/p15s1.html|title=Moody, dark 'X-Men' seems less than super}} Desson Thomson of The Washington Post commented, "[T]he movie's enjoyable on the surface, but I suspect many people, even die-hards, will be less enthusiastic about what lies, or doesn't, underneath".{{cite news |first=Desson |last=Thomson |author-link=Desson Thomson |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/entertainment/movies/reviews/xmenhowe.htm |title='X-Men' – Tasty but Not Filling |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=July 14, 2000 |access-date=June 6, 2019}}

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times said he "started out liking this movie, while waiting for something really interesting to happen. When nothing did, I still didn't dislike it; I assume the X-Men will further develop their personalities if there is a sequel, and maybe find time to get involved in a story. No doubt fans of the comics will understand subtle allusions and fine points of behavior; they should linger in the lobby after each screening to answer questions."{{cite web |date=July 14, 2000 |first=Roger |last=Ebert |author-link=Roger Ebert |website=RogerEbert.com |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/x-men-2000 |title=X-Men |access-date=June 6, 2019}} He also gave it a "thumbs down" on Ebert & Roeper.{{YouTube|VB2Ae6sDMxQ|Ebert & Roeper Review X-Men}}{{cite episode |date=July 15, 2000 |title=X-Men/The Five Senses/The Eyes of Tammy Faye/Chuck & Buck |series=At the Movies |series-link= At the Movies (1986 TV program) |first1=Roger |last1=Ebert |first2=Richard |last2=Roeper |season=15 |number=7 |time=}} Peter Travers of Rolling Stone noted, "Since it's Wolverine's movie, any X-Men or Women who don't hinge directly on his story get short shrift. As Storm, Halle Berry can do neat tricks with weather, but her role is gone with the wind. It sucks that Stewart and McKellen, two superb actors, are underused."{{cite magazine |date=December 10, 2000 |first=Peter |last=Travers |author-link=Peter Travers |title=X-Men |magazine=Rolling Stone |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5949101/review/5949102/xmen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204042422/https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5949101/review/5949102/xmen |archive-date=December 4, 2008 |access-date=June 6, 2019}}

{{Anchor|Awards|Accolades}}

X-Men was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, but lost to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The film was also successful at the 27th Saturn Awards where it won the categories for Best Science Fiction Film, Director (Bryan Singer), Actor (Hugh Jackman), Supporting Actress (Rebecca Romijn), Writing (David Hayter), and Costumes.{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=104214 |title=X-Men Sweeps Saturn Awards |publisher=ABC News |date=June 13, 2001 |access-date=June 6, 2022}} Nominations included Best Supporting Actor (Patrick Stewart), Performance by a Younger Actor (Anna Paquin), Special Effects, and Make-up. Singer also won the Empire Award for Best Director.

{{main|X2 (film)}}

After the film's critical and financial success, a series of films followed, starting with X2 (2003).

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