Film guide · 2000

X-MenComplete Guide

The parts that are hard to follow from the film alone, explained with a story summary, a character map and key terms.

Released
2000
Runtime
104 min
Set in
Alternate universe (Fox)

Good to know before watchingNo spoilers

The first X-Men film

The start of 20th Century Fox's X-Men series, set in a different world from Marvel Studios' films.

No homework needed

You can start right here.

Two friends, two philosophies

Professor X wants peace with humans; Magneto wants to fight them. Their conflict drives the whole series.

No post-credits scene

You can leave when the credits start.

Character mapSpoilers

Who's who in X-Men (2000), with Logan and Rogue at the center. The X-Men are on the left; Magneto's Brotherhood at top right.

Because of copyright, we can't use stills, posters or any other images of the characters as they appear in the film. All face photos are freely licensed photos of the actors themselves (non-human characters are original illustrations made for this site; people without a photo are shown with initials).

Drag to move, pinch (or scroll on a computer) to zoom. Tap a person to read about them.

All characters

About the images

Face photos are freely licensed photos of the actors from Wikimedia Commons, cropped to a square and resized. Non-human characters are original illustrations made for this site, and people without a photo are shown with a placeholder (initials).

StorySpoilers

Read the story (spoilers up to the ending)

1. Young Erik

In a WWII camp, a boy torn from his parents bends an iron gate with his power.

2. Rogue runs away

Rogue, whose touch drains people, runs away and heads to Canada.

3. Meeting Logan

Rogue meets Logan, a man with no memory, and the X-Men rescue them both.

4. Magneto's plan

Magneto has built a machine that turns humans into mutants.

5. Battle at the Statue of Liberty

The X-Men fight Magneto's group atop the Statue of Liberty.

Read the detailed scene-by-scene story

Key terms

Mutants
People born with special powers.
Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters
Professor X's school for young mutants, and the X-Men's base.
The Brotherhood
Magneto's group of mutants who fight humans.
Cerebro
A device that lets Professor X locate mutants anywhere in the world.
The Mutant Registration Act
A proposed law requiring mutants to register their identities and powers.

Confusing parts, explainedSpoilers

Contains spoilers about the ending.

Why does Magneto fight humans?

Having suffered terribly at human hands as a child, he believes humans will always persecute mutants.

What's the relationship between Professor X and Magneto?

Old friends who, despite opposing views, still care for each other.

Why does Magneto want Rogue?

Powering the machine nearly kills him, so he plans to make Rogue absorb his power and run it instead.

Easy-to-miss details

Black leather suits

The X-Men wear black leather uniforms.

A game of chess

The film ends with Professor X and Magneto playing chess.

Stan Lee's cameo

Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee appears as a hot dog vendor on the beach.

The ending and post-creditsSpoilers

After the end credits

No post-credits scene.

What to watch next

More Marvel movie guides