1. X-Men
Corner of Film’s most underrated movie franchise is X-Men, the adaptation of the Marvel heroes of the same name that predate the MCU by almost a decade.
Beginning back in 2000 with X-Men, the first two entries into the franchise were a hit with critics and audiences alike. The third film, X-Men: The Last Stand, was widely despised, and from there, the franchise went into something of a tailspin attempting to right itself, although it never really managed to. With Mutants now preparing to arrive in the MCU, it seems that the days of the X-Men being a separate cinematic entity are over, but the existing franchise remains severely underrated.
With a sprawling, continuity-bending narrative that has explored multiple timelines and more than one incarnation of several characters, the X-Men franchise is far better than it gets any credit for. Mainstay Hugh Jackman proved just how promising the X-Men franchise was with 2017’s Logan, delivering a nuanced, emotional performance that demonstrated what X-Men could be in the right hands.
Sadly, it seems that the X-Men franchise is doomed to fade away as the MCU incorporates its characters into Disney’s cinematic ranks. But despite the critical panning and years of backlash from fans, the X-Men franchise helped usher in the modern age of superhero films, so it deserves to be afforded a little more respect.
And that’s our list. Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to follow Corner of Film on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @corneroffilm to keep up to date with all our excellent content!