X-Men: First Class
2011, Adventure/Fantasy, 2h 6m
299 Reviews 100,000+ RatingsWhat to know
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. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
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.
Cast & Crew
James McAvoy
Charles Xavier
Charles Xavier
Michael Fassbender
Erik Lehnsherr
Erik Lehnsherr
Rose Byrne
Moira MacTaggert
Moira MacTaggert
Jennifer Lawrence
Raven, Mystique
Raven, Mystique
January Jones
Emma Frost
Emma Frost
Nicholas Hoult
Hank, Beast
Hank, Beast
Critic Reviews for X-Men: First Class
Audience Reviews for X-Men: First Class
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Aug 17, 2021Probably the first purely fun X-Men movie, First Class really feels like a comic book movie, for better or worse. Some of the lingering drama of the earlier entries has been lost, but an unrelenting sense of speed and fun has replaced it. There's still drama sure, but it's supervillain drama. We do get some solid hints of something deeper with our villain and his holocaust history, and I could watch Fassbender and McAvoy debate ethics of evolution over a chessboard for an entire movie. But make no mistake, this is a comic book movie, yellow spandex and all. It's a great entry in the series.Michael M Super Reviewer
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Mar 09, 2017With Matthew Vaughn at the helm, X-Men: First Class is a classy, fun time that brings the best out of it's strong cast. The action scenes and dialogue pop with a ferocity, and breaths life into a incredibly engaging storyline.Matthew M Super Reviewer
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Mar 03, 2017There are a lot of great things about First Class, but I think the one that sticks out to me the most (even after years and tons of viewings) is that it works as both a reboot and prequel. Even though the continuity has since been mingled with even more, this film did such a great job of resetting the universe without tarnishing what came before. In large part, the strengths of the film lie with Matthew Vaughn's direction. Up to this point, I liked most of the X-Men films, but even the people who have loved the series would say that there wasn't much "fun" to be had. The original X-Men trilogy took itself very seriously and rightfully so. But there's something to be said for a mutant story that poses similar thought provoking questions and themes like before, while also making a fun adventure out of it. Vaughn does a wonderful job balancing the two. Setting an X-Men film in the 1960's meant having to recast all of the recurring characters. Luckily, casting was something 20th Century Fox had no problem with. I don't think we could have dreamed of a better pairing to take over the roles of Professor X and Magneto than James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender. Perhaps, some would say that the two of them have outdone their counterparts, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan (I, myself being one of those people). Much like the film itself, McAvoy and Fassbender put their own spin on the characters, but bring enough similarity in their performance to understand the connective tissue between the pairs. Something the new trilogy of X-Men films does incredibly well is use the decade the films are set in to enhance the overall story they were going for. First Class is set in the 60's, and uses the Cuban Missile Crisis as the film's climatic sequence. But it uses it in a way that doesn't exploit that event, instead, gives a reason for there to be tension between Charles & Erik. This film and Days of Future Past nail the relationship between those two more so than any X-Men film to date. Going back to the fun stuff though, the rest of the mutants are made up of mostly throw away heroes and villains. No one was really asking for characters like Azazel, Riptide, Angel Salvadore, Havoc, Darwin, Banshee, or even more Mystique. But even as much as these characters could have felt like throwaway characters, Vaughn managed to build them into the story in a creative way. Everyone has their own arc and moment to shine. In fact, my favorite part of the film involves Charles & Erik recruiting, and subsequently training everyone. It's classic superhero stuff. Overall, First Class makes good with its new cast and setting. Matthew Vaughn transitioned what was originally planned as a Magneto origin story into a wonderfully balanced comic-book adaptation. One that nails the characters motivations and mindsets in a refreshing but respectful and realistic way. +Charles & Erik +Recruiting & Training +Score +Vaughn's directing +Setting adds to the story 9.4/10Thomas D Super Reviewer
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Oct 02, 2016whilst not stepping back up to the dizzy heights of x-men 1 or 2 or even reaching the somewhat solid level of the last stand, it is a must see for all x-fans! james mcavoy and michael fassbender make it worth your time. some mild comedy moments also make it worth the while.Sanity Assassin ! Super Reviewer
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