10 Scenes That Most Defined Wolverine"s X-Men Movie Story*
Summary
- Wolverine's emotional journey is defined by pivotal moments throughout the X-Men movies, from his origins to his heroic sacrifices.
- Hugh Jackman's portrayal of Wolverine showcases the character's evolution from feral survivalist to loving father figure.
- Wolverine's interactions with Professor X, Sabretooth, and others shape his complex history as a hero with layers of depth.
Throughout the
X-Men movies, no character has been on a developmental rollercoaster quite like Wolverine. Appearing in nearly every single installment of the Fox X-Men movies, Hugh Jackman's Wolverine performance needs no introduction as one of the most iconic superhero performances ever. In every film he's appeared in, the character has had some moment that defined his overarching narrative throughout the comic book franchise.
Wolverine is a complicated hero with a lot of different aspects to him. Whether acting as a lone wolf operative in Canada, tearing his way through the battlefield in countless wars, or leading the charge as an invaluable member of the X-Men, there's always something to appreciate about Wolverine's complicated history. His emotional journey through the many Fox X-Men movies is just as dynamic, going from a feral survivalist devoid of higher emotions to a loving father figure.
10 Wolverine Meets Professor X X-Men (2000) One of his earliest interactions with the X-Men is arguably the beginning of Wolverine's emotional journey. After going through the grueling Weapon X program, Wolverine is little more than a survival-minded animal, running from the help of Professor X and his academy. It's only after his conversation with Charles that Logan is truly able to let his guard down, clearly not used to being offered any measure of kindess.
Not only is Hugh Jackman's wide-eyed performance as the wild young Logan a sight for sore eyes, but Patrick Stewart's Professor X truly excels in his role. The wise mentor of the superhero team's ability to gradually work through Wolverine's protective barriers with sheer kindness rather than telepathy makes for a brilliant exchange of dialogue, and this is perhaps the first time chronologically that Wolverine begins to believe in something other than himself. Of course, that only comes after some machismo-fueled insults.
9 Wolverine And Sabertooth Battle Through The Ages X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) X-Men Origins: Wolverine is by no means considered the best of Wolverine's live-action appearances, usually counted among the lower-quality X-Men movies. But if there's one great scene that came out of the otherwise poorly-received film, it's the opening montage of Wolverine and Sabretooth cutting their way through a long history of wars. It's easy to forget that Sabretooth is Wolverine's nemesis for good reason.
The striking visuals of the action montage carry the emotional weight of the scene, with Harry Gregson-Williams' epic score driving the gruesome imagery. Liev Schreiber's recast as Sabretooth works in the film's favor, able to actually establish some sort of brotherly bond with Hugh Jackman's Wolverine before the two inevitably turn against each other. This sequence is a haunting testament to Logan's longevity, emotional trauma, and betrayal at the hands of his only family.
8 Wolverine Saves Yashida The Wolverine (2013) Even more of a Wolverine-focused side story than X-Men Origins: Wolverine was, 2013's The Wolverine is an often forgotten solo entry in Logan's lengthy tenure through the Fox movies. The film borrowed a trick from its predecessor by opening with a period piece scene that does a lot to establish Wolverine's character. While held as a prisoner of war in Nagasaki in 1945, Wolverine witnesses the United States' dropping of the atomic bomb, saving the life of an officer in the Japanese Imperial army named Yashida.
This scene demonstrates the heroic qualities Logan had long before he ever met the X-Men, willing to save the life of what should've been his enemy for no particular reason. Despite being tortured at the hands of the Japanese military, Logan endures yet more pain with a horrific-looking burn that shields Yashida from the impact of the nuke. This selfless act says a lot about Logan's true altruism beneath the gruff exterior, even if it ultimately works against him when Yashida betrays him later on.
7 Weapon X Is Let Loose On Stryker's Compound X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) Long before Logan was ever Wolverine, he bore the simple moniker of Weapon X. Technically, Weapon X was the program overseen by William Stryker, the depraved colonel bent on turning mutants into weapons of war. Wolverine was by far his most successful project until he was freed by the early version of the X-Men in X-Men: Apocalypse.
The surprise cameo of Hugh Jackman's Wolverine in the alternative X-Men timeline at first just seems like a cheeky bit of fanservice, but the moment actually has a surprisingly profound impact on Logan's journey throughout the series. As he carves his way through the Weapon X facility, Logan is at his most primal, being little more than a feral creature driven by base instincts, but is given the gift of his name by Jean Grey. This small act of kindness gives the amnesiac Wolverine all he has to go off of when hunting down his past later.
6 Wolverine Tearfully Kills Jean Grey X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) Among all of Wolverine's roles throughout the X-Men films, his status as one point of the love triangle between himself, Jean Grey, and Cyclops is one of the most emphasized. It's bad enough that Cyclops eventually gets chosen over him, despite the clear passion between Wolverine and Jean Grey that persists into the third film. But Logan being the only one that can stop the rampaging Dark Phoenix, ultimately forced to kill her, is one of the most tragic turns of Wolverine's entire arc throughout the movies.
This emotional weight of this moment isn't lost on the film, despite the uneven tone of the third installment in the original Fox X-Men trilogy. Having to kill Jean might be one of the lowest moments in Wolverine's entire story, bringing him back down into despair after climbing out of his past in his adventures with the X-Men. It'd be made even more tragic if it wasn't for the plot hole that Logan could've simply injected her with one of the thousands of hypodermic needles filled with mutant cures lying around.
5 Wolverine Gets His Own Words Used Against Him X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
In one of his briefest appearances in the entire X-Men franchise, Wolverine still manages to make a big impact in X-Men: First Class, dropping the PG-13 film's single allotted F-bomb when Magneto and Professor X attempt to recruit him. This rude dismissal gets used against him later when Wolverine has to travel back in time to convince Charles Xavier of the impeding Sentinel threat in X-Men: Days of Future Past. The cynical Xavier eventually recognizes Logan, telling him "I'm gonna say to you what you said to us then; F*** off."
Wolverine's reaction to this wisecrack isn't the most level-headed, but the juxtaposition of the line goes a long way to demonstrating the growth he's had with the X-Men since being approached by Charles and Erik that fateful day. Logan has evolved into a hero that truly cares about the rest of the X-Men, rather than the cigar-chomping loner the two mutant leaders found in a bar. Still, he recognizes the need to force past Xavier to get his act together for the sake of the future.
4 The Wolverine Is Born X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) For all the problems the film has, it should come as no surprise that X-Men Origins: Wolverine features some very pivotal moments in Logan's Fox movie journey. Among these, few are as important as the very transformation of Logan into the weapon that would become known as Wolverine. After being manipulated by Stryker, fueled by the deaths of his family, Logan undergoes the painful Weapon X procedure, coating his bones and claws with a layer of adamantium.
This moment is briefly alluded to with nightmarish flashbacks in previous Wolverine movies, making it all the more grim to see it play out in real time. Hugh Jackman truly sells the agonizing pain of the procedure, once again taking the mutant to one of his lowest points. Yet without this moment, Wolverine simply wouldn't be the same ferocious killing machine X-Men movies fans know and love.
3 Wolverine Lets Go Of His Past To Be An X-Man X2 (2003) Before so many details were revealed about Wolverine's past, his amnesia was one of the most intriguing elements of the original X-Men trilogy. X2 teased solid answers to his questions about himself for the first time, introducing the tyrannical Colonel William Stryker, former head of the Weapon X program, who would go on to become a staple series villain. Yet when Wolverine finally has a chance to get some solid answers once and for all, he declines to go down the rabbit hole, instead saying "I'll take my chances with him", referring to Stryker's mutant son.
This is an incredibly powerful moment that concludes Wolverine's arc regarding his memory in the first trilogy. Rather than continue to obsess over his past, Wolverine embraces his future as an X-Man, doing what he can to save other vulnerable mutants from people like Stryker instead of continuing to give him power over him with his secrets. As he rips off his dog tags and leaves them in the cold along with the chained-up Stryker, Wolverine gladly accepts his new life.
2 Wolverine Sacrifices Himself For Rogue X-Men (2000) Wolverine's relationship with Rogue in X-Men is one of the best dynamics in the original film. Both of the two mutants are powerful strays, scared and on the run from those that would seek to abuse their gifts, having to overcome their trauma to open themselves up to becoming a member of the X-Men. Wolverine's ability to survive by transferring his powers to Rogue so that she can recover from the draining effects of Magneto's machine.
This moment is given some prescient setup earlier in the film, with Wolverine accidentally stabbing Rogue during a night terror only to heal her by allowing her to absorb his own power. Beyond the clever power interaction, the poignant scene solidifies Wolverine and Rogue's bond while proving his commitment to protecting his newfound family. It's a shame that Rogue and Logan's relationship didn't get further developed in later entries.
1 Wolverine Dies While Saving Laura Logan (2017)
A phenomenal ending to Wolverine's story in the Fox movies, Logan is an undisputed triumph in superhero storytelling that concludes its titular mutant's arc with his death. It's the exact manner in which Wolverine dies that makes the scene so heartbreaking, protecting Laura and the other mutant children to the very end. As Logan fades away, he embraces X-23 as his daughter once and for all, officially passing on his legacy to the next generation.
This death is about as perfect of an ending as Wolverine could've gotten in the X-Men movies, resolving his struggles with mentorship and family with one tender moment shared between him and his surrogate daughter. While this would've been a satisfying place to end Hugh Jackman's Wolverine career, the mutant hero is slated to return to screens in the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine. Hopefully, the comedic film won't sully the legacy of Wolverine's excellent arc spanning his appearances in the Fox
X-Men movies.
Upcoming Marvel Movies Release Date Deadpool & Wolverine July 26, 2024 Captain America: Brave New World February 14, 2025 Thunderbolts* May 2, 2025 The Fantastic Four July 25, 2025 Blade November 7, 2025 Avengers: The Kang Dynasty May 1, 2026 Avengers: Secret Wars May 7, 2027
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