X-Men (2000)

Quick take

The film that convinced Hollywood superheroes could be serious. Still holds up.

The good

• McKellen and Stewart elevate every scene they're in
• The allegory lands without being heavy-handed
• Tight pacing — doesn't overstay its welcome at under two hours

The bad

• Too many characters, not enough time for most of them
• Cyclops gets completely shortchanged
• The third act is a bit of a mess

Verdict

X-Men isn't the best in its own franchise, but it's foundational. It took the genre seriously before the genre knew it deserved to be taken seriously.