Six classic Fox-Marvel movies to watch before Deadpool & Wolverine

The hype is real for Deadpool & Wolverine. All the surprises and the showdowns are worth the wait for the most-awaited superhero team-up.

But beyond the long-anticipated pairing of the Merc with the Mouth and the legendary Logan, the movie also pays tribute to the bygone era where Fox-Marvel movies thrived.

Fans can relish on fun callbacks and references to previous Fox-Marvel collaborations, from the good to the notorious. But regardless of their reception, the buildup to Deadpool & Wolverine would not be possible without them.

In honor of that, and in preparation for the only MCU movie of the year, here are some Fox-Marvel movies to prepare yourself before watching Deadpool & Wolverine:

X-Men

This is where it started. While Fox and Marvel had a prior relationship with the iconic animated series, seeing them adapt the superhero group in live-action was mind-blowing.

Despite its flaws, the first X-Men balances realistic stakes with bonkers action and memorable characters. Obviously, Hugh Jackman is the standout. And looking back at his humble beginnings, it is clear that he will carry the franchise.

Elektra

2003’s Daredevil was notorious to begin with. So, the push for an Elektra spin-off was all the more puzzling. But it existed, and it went down as one of the lowest-grossing Marvel-produced movies.

Jennifer Garner made the character of Elektra Natchios, stunts and all. But the film tried too hard to mimic Kill Bill, minus the fun and inventiveness. Watch the movie as a refresher.

Fantastic Four

The journey of the Fantastic Four to the big screen is mostly unsuccessful. But their 2005 appearance is the closest, by a margin, we can get to a legitimate team-up.

The Fantastic Four seemed to balance out the seriousness of X-Men with its campiness. But cheesy effects, lack of superhero action and emphasis on gags made this project feel too silly. Yet, Chris Evans though.

X-Men: The Last Stand

The conclusion to the X-Men trilogy is a polarizing one. While it ended the saga on a satisfying note, it had to go through hoops, like the quick deaths of some major characters, relentless action, and the Dark Phoenix plot.

But the movie gave us Kelsey Grammer as Beast, the Magneto truck flips and that classic Juggernaut moment. Yet, the saga did not end there.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

For better or worse, X-Men Origins defined the direction of the franchise. Every decision truly made a mark. The most famous one, of course, is the early interpretation of Deadpool as a pale humanoid with sewn lips.

But never forget the limp origin of Wolverine’s name, the inclusion of B-list superheroes, the crammed-in Gambit, the Blob and the bad effects. Gladly, Fox-Marvel learned their lesson.

Logan

Finally, the best X-Men movie of all time. Logan is a game-changer in the genre, placing the adamantium claw-wielding mutant in a gritty Western and grounding him in a story about found family.

With James Mangold’s bold vision in honoring “Old Man Logan” and Wolverine’s arc reaching a close, propelled by his relationship with Dafne Keen’s Laura, Logan is a Marvel film like no other.