I’ve watched 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past nearly ten times now, and I still can’t get over how incredible this film is. Heck, even on a long flight last month, I rewatched it—it’s that good. As a fan of the X-Men franchise, we’ve been pretty spoiled with a total of 13 movies so far. But let’s be honest: the quality varies. And while X-Men paved the way for other comic book adaptations, the early films didn’t always hit the mark.

A Perfect Blend of Past and Future

That’s exactly why Days of Future Past stands out as my favorite entry in the franchise. It masterfully blends two generations of X-Men actors into a single narrative, with Wolverine traveling back in time to the Cold War era. That premise alone is already promising, but when combined with the present-day dystopian setting—where mutants are being hunted to extinction—the stakes become even higher.

So Much to Love About This Movie

This film packs so much into its runtime. A brilliant villain in Bolivar Trask, played by Peter Dinklage. Recurring historical references, including the assassination of JFK. And of course, the mind-blowing scene where Magneto is freed from his prison, thanks to Quicksilver (Evan Peters) turning everything upside down—literally. Plus, we get to see some X-Men for the first time, while others make their long-awaited return. What a movie!

A Must-Watch for Any X-Men Fan

I could go on for hours about why this is the ultimate X-Men film, featuring an impressive lineup of mutants. But really, you should just watch it yourself (available on Disney+). Only then will you see how a great comic book adaptation should be done—without falling victim to Marvel fatigue. Speaking of which, when will the X-Men finally join the almost infinite Marvel Cinematic Universe? As long as it’s as epic as Days of Future Past, I’m all in.

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