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X2: X-Men United (2003)

tomatometer

88

Average Rating: 7.5/10
Reviews Counted: 222
Fresh: 195 | Rotten: 27

Tightly scripted, solidly acted, and impressively ambitious, X2: X-Men United is bigger and better than its predecessor -- and a benchmark for comic sequels in general.

83

Average Rating: 6.9/10
Critic Reviews: 40
Fresh: 33 | Rotten: 7

Tightly scripted, solidly acted, and impressively ambitious, X2: X-Men United is bigger and better than its predecessor -- and a benchmark for comic sequels in general.

audience

84

liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 885,662

My Rating

Movie Info

When a failed assassination attempt occurs on the President's (Cotter Smith) life by the teleporting mutant Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming), it's Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and his School for Gifted Youngsters who are targeted for the crime. While Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) and Storm (Halle Berry) try and locate the assassin, Cyclops (James Marsden) and Xavier (also known as 'Professor X') seek answers from their old foe Magneto (Ian McKellan) in his glass cell...Little do they know they're

Nov 25, 2003

$214.8M

20th Century Fox

Cast

All Critics (224) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (200) | Rotten (27) | DVD (50)

Bigger and more ambitious in every respect, from its action and visceral qualities to its themes.

April 15, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Very smart, if way too long.

May 28, 2003 Full Review Source: Newsday | Comment
Newsday
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Suffice to say that I was steadily engrossed and entertained and ultimately moved by a drama that is, in the end, more human than mutant.

May 23, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Observer | Comment
New York Observer
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The best new addition to the corp is Alan Cumming's Nightcrawler. His pointy ears, yellow eyes, and blue skin make him the most creepily beautiful presence in the pageant.

May 11, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Magazine | Comment
New York Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A summer firecracker.

May 8, 2003 Comment
Rolling Stone
Top Critic IconTop Critic

... X2 has everything you'd want in a comic book adaptation ...

May 5, 2003 Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper | Comment
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Bigger and badder than #1, but still a blast.

December 29, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

'X' hits the spot.

July 7, 2010 Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | Comment
Big Picture Big Sound

This has set the standard very high for this Summer and it will be interesting to see what, if any films, can match its calibre.

July 7, 2010 Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | Comment
Dark Horizons

For this brief shining moment, the "X-Men" universe held perfect pitch, and funny book movies had a new standard of execution to live up to.

December 7, 2009 Full Review Source: Modamag.com | Comment
Modamag.com

A truly superior sequel to the original...

April 29, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | Comment
Cinema Crazed

The higher aspirations sometimes weigh the action down, creating a story that is interesting but not always engaging, lacking the exuberance that could have made it truly exciting.

April 21, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinefantastique | Comment
Cinefantastique

It takes a true cinema talent to turn the daunting and rather unwieldy 40 years of material into a coherent yet complex, smart yet incredibly fun entertainment that satisfies both the fanboys and newbie moviegoers alike.

December 28, 2008 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | Comment
TheMovieReport.com

Singer and his screenwriters know the value of a surprise and they deliver their share without dipping into the absurd. The result is a movie that surpasses expectations, a superhero flick that can rightfully take its place alongside the best.

August 5, 2007 Full Review Source: Bangor Daily News (Maine) | Comment
Bangor Daily News (Maine)

Bryan Singer ... makes sure the animating theme of this series -- the freedom to be different in the face of intolerant authority -- doesn't get lost in the din of battle.

July 23, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | Comment
eFilmCritic.com

Possibly one of the best superhero franchises in history, X2 is thoroughly engaging, well acted and well plotted. Bryan Singer is a master of the genre.

August 8, 2006 Full Review Source: Oscar Guy | Comment
Oscar Guy

The emotional spectrum has widened, too, encompassing buoyant mirth and heroic tragedy.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

Les mutants reviennent sur nos écrans en très grande forme

October 2, 2005 Full Review Source: Panorama | Comment

A bigger and better sequel to the 2000 original.

July 5, 2005 Full Review Source: Bullz-Eye.com | Comment
Bullz-Eye.com

During shooting, Singer constantly referred to The Empire Strikes Back as his template -- and, by jove, he's made a movie that's worthy of the comparison.

April 2, 2005 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | Comment
Empire Magazine

Like the first film, this one once again failed me to draw me into the world of the X-Men.

March 5, 2005 Full Review Source: NYC Film Critic | Comment
NYC Film Critic

As a big screen comic book, X2 is the most rewarding I have yet seen.

January 15, 2005 Full Review Source: Looking Closer | Comment
Looking Closer
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for X2: X-Men United

To be completely honest, X2: X-MEN UNITED truly is not that much more superior compared to the first X-MEN film, but it is still great. The problem that holds this one back from perfection is that it holds on to a balance between full-blown, ultra-combustive intensity that is much more powerful than we saw in the

June 28, 2011
spielberg00
Alexander Diminiano

Super Reviewer

The ball keeps rolling after the first X-Men, with arguably an even better plot.

July 31, 2011
Eric Alvarez

Super Reviewer

    1. Dr. Jean Grey: I keep feeling something bad is supposed to happen.
    – Submitted by Lea L (8 months ago)
    1. Kurt Wagner AKA Nightcrawler: The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of the death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.
    – Submitted by Lea L (8 months ago)
    1. Dr. Jean Grey: Girls flirt with the dangerous guy, they don't bring him home, they marry the good guy.
    – Submitted by Lea L (8 months ago)
    1. Wolverine: She did make a choice, Scott. It was you.
    – Submitted by Lea L (8 months ago)
    1. John/Pyro: You know all those dangerous mutants you hear about in the news? I'm the worst one.
    – Submitted by Lea L (8 months ago)

Latest News for X2: X-Men United

June 1, 2011:
Marvel Movie Madness! Part 11: X2: X-Men United
Alex: X2 comes out and makes $30 million more opening weekend than X-Men. Suddenly, everybody...

May 31, 2011:
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Foreign Titles

  • X2 (DE)
  • X-Men 2 (UK)
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