X-Men: First Class

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2:44

X-Men: First Class

PG-13

Released Jun 3, 2011

2h 6m

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Sci-Fi

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Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

295 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In the early 1960s, during the height of the Cold War, a mutant named Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) meets a fellow mutant named Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender). Despite their vastly different backgrounds -- Charles grew up with a wealthy family, while Erik lost his parents at Auschwitz -- the two become close friends. As the world teeters on the brink of a nuclear war, Charles and Erik with other mutants join forces to save humanity. However, a situation soon tears the friends apart.

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Critics Consensus

With a strong script, stylish direction, and powerful performances from its well-rounded cast, X-Men: First Class is a welcome return to form for the franchise.

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Jarrah E Hodge

Bitch Media

The acting, special effects, and writing were excellent, except possibly the two times Xavier tries to hit on women in bars by saying they have "groovy mutation[s]".

Jan 7, 2021

Full Review

Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

First Class can safely be watched by first-timers, but old faithfuls of the franchise will get a little more, tracing the origins of their favourite characters.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 2, 2019

Full Review

Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

If you didn't see the previous movies, you may not be able to appreciate some of the subtle references, but that won't make you enjoy the movie any less. Check it out.

Rated: B

Sep 8, 2017

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... Jennifer Lawrence is superb as the young blue-skinned shape-changer Mystique, trying to reconcile her identity crisis with Xavier’s sometimes oblivious idealism.

Sep 9, 2023

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

A summer movie where audiences will leave talking about the performances and the ideas, not the mindless battles.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jun 7, 2023

Full Review

Cory Woodroof

Lumination Network

This is an immensely fun, engaging, stylish superhero film that I fully recommend for your viewing pleasure.

Feb 11, 2022

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Nathaniel C

The movie lacks quality acting and design. Beast looks like he’s in a furry costume. Unfortunate that the concept could be so good and the execution be such a failure.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/25

Full Review

Hailee B

Good callbacks into the movie. I enjoyed them a lot.The storytelling was great. James McAvoy is such a great actor, man; I can't get over it at all. Man, Mystique is so fine yes, girl, your true self is so much better, like, man, I do not care about anything come on, lol. Great job, Jennifer Lawrence. The beach scene was crazy, especially with Erik, and that quarter won't lie It was crazy to watch go through that man's head holy hell. Good Job, Matthew Vaughen, for directing this let's go, X-Men!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/25

Full Review

Kabeer G

A perfect prequel to the series; despite the audience already knowing what's to come, the twists, turns and character arcs are just a mere few of the things that make this film a memorable one!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/04/25

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie is shitty nothing good was in it. X-Men The Last Stand is way better than this dog crap I hate the villain "Sebastian Shaw" and why is Emma Frost a villain I would give it a 4.1/10 And X-Men The Last Stand gets 6/10. what a bad movie.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/03/25

Full Review

Samuel W

An origin story that actually works for the original trilogy! A nice, refreshing take of the X-Men that we know and love, and gives us interesting new dynamics of previously established characters in the franchise as it diverges into the true origins of the partnership Magneto and Xavier had. With excellent new faces portraying our old characters, some were welcomed and some were a disgrace to the original portrayals. As a way to show our X-Men love, they did very well.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/01/25

Full Review

Obi-wan K

Amazing story at first i did not want to watch this But i forced myself and after it was amazing

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/15/24

Full Review

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Matthew Vaughn

Director

James McAvoy

Charles Xavier

Michael Fassbender

Erik Lehnsherr

Rose Byrne

Moira MacTaggert

Jennifer Lawrence

Raven

January Jones

Emma Frost

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X-Men: First Class: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In the early 1960s, during the height of the Cold War, a mutant named Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) meets a fellow mutant named Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender). Despite their vastly different backgrounds -- Charles grew up with a wealthy family, while Erik lost his parents at Auschwitz -- the two become close friends. As the world teeters on the brink of a nuclear war, Charles and Erik with other mutants join forces to save humanity. However, a situation soon tears the friends apart.

Director: Matthew Vaughn
Producer: Bryan Singer, Lauren Shuler Donner, Simon Kinberg, Gregory Goodman
Screenwriter: Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz, Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Bad Hat Harry, Donners' Company
Rating: PG-13 (Intense Sequences of Action|Brief Partial Nudity|Intense Sequences of Violence|Language|Some Sexual Content)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 3, 2011, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $146.4M
Runtime: 2h 6m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, DTS

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