X2: X-Men United

Name: X2: X-Men United
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Released: May 2, 2003
Duration: 133 min
Rating: 68
Cast: Anna Paquin, Brian Cox, Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen

2003

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 744 Ratings

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8.7

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8.7	User Score Universal acclaim based on 744 Ratings

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X2: X-MEN UNITED

Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: May 2, 2003

Starring: Anna Paquin, Brian Cox, Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart

Summary: Mutants continue to struggle against a society that fears and distrusts them. Their cause becomes even more desperate following an incredible attack by an as yet undetermined assailant possessing extraordinary abilities. With the fates of mankind - and mutantkind - in their hands, the X-Men Face their most dangerous mission ever. [20th Century Fox]

Director: Bryan Singer

Genre(s): Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 133 min

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Awards & Rankings

15	#15 Most Discussed Movie of 2003
10	#10 Most Shared Movie of 2003

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Washington Post - Michael O'Sullivan

The fantastic and at times deliciously nihilistic world of X2 is fully, believably three-dimensional. Read full review

Premiere - Glenn Kenny

One of the things that makes this movie such a great rush is that while you’re watching it, it seems a good deal more subversive than it really is. Read full review

Slate - David Edelstein

My chief complaint is that these mutants are a little--well, vanilla. I wish the X-Men had a touch of kinkiness to go with their weird abilities. Read full review

Philadelphia Inquirer - Steven Rea

As it is, most of X2's action is restricted to the Northeast Corridor, with a climactic face-off in the western Rockies, where, in typical blockbuster fashion, everything goes kablooey and ka-bam. Read full review

Salon - Stephanie Zacharek

In some ways, X2 is an obvious improvement on its predecessor: It looks more expensive, and its special effects seem to swoop out of nowhere...But "X-Men" was undoubtedly the most elegiac comic-book adaptation of the past few years. Read full review

Boston Globe - Wesley Morris

It's scenic, confidently directed and performed, dutiful, faithful, revelatory, informative, and largely involving. Rarely, however, is it any fun. Read full review

San Francisco Chronicle - Mick LaSalle

The movie is overplotted, a soulless maze of special effects and relentless action. Read full review

SEE ALL 37 REVIEWS

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User Reviews

Thegodfatherson

Jul 29, 2013

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.

7 of 7 users found this helpful70

StevenF

May 25, 2013

There was just no wrong step taken with X2, the characters were interestingly developed, the set pieces were simply sublime and imaginative to the point of positive disbelief, and wonderfully emotional, funny and heartbreaking story was fleshed out in the two hours of this fantastic sequel.There was just no wrong step taken with X2, the characters were interestingly developed, the set pieces were simply sublime and imaginative to the point of positive disbelief, and wonderfully emotional, funny and heartbreaking story was fleshed out in the two hours of this fantastic sequel.
Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) returns to Xavier's school after searching for clues as to where he came from, and how he received his indestructible abilities, Xavier (Patrick Stewart) is reluctant to delve deeper into Wolverines past, but also has other matters to attend to. After an attack on the White House, carried out by a mutant, there is continuing pressure once again to go so far as to detain mutants.
But not forgetting minor characters from the first, Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) has a much more pivotal and expanded role in X2, she is still quite shaken from the events of the first film to the point where she is unable to concentrate on her powers, she truly is powerful, but unable to harness it.
With Magneto (Ian McKellan) in plastic solitary confinement, the master of metal continues to stand for what he truly believes in, his brotherhood of mutants, of how they are the next stage of evolution.
The story moves at a quick and action packed pace, as someone emerges from Wolverines past that he doesn't fully understand. He must search for answers, but a massive turn of events may soon change that.
The characters are on top form throughout this film, and it is remarkable to see so many exciting personalities all having their time to shine in 120 mins. Hugh Jackman continues to bring out the ruthless yet often caring Wolverine, also returning is Anna Paquin as Rogue, and also Iceman played in a bigger capacity from Shawn Ashmore.
This film continues to appear on many lists as one of the best superhero films, and for good reason. It has a mixture of interesting prospects, a riveting story, groundbreaking special effects and a cast that are simply too intriguing to ignore. Ian McKellan in particular delivers a thrilling performance as the anti-hero Magneto, along with Mystique and even a few familiar faces, they all must band together to save themselves from a much more mysterious foe, one who of course might just have more knowledge on the X-Men, and their capabilities, than they do themselves.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ShadowSect

Aug 21, 2017

How could I have possibly missed this movie?!? This is one of the best superhero movies I’ve watched. It’s emotional, it has great dialogue, it has some of the best acting in the franchise (yes, including the First Class trilogy and Wolverine trilogy), and it really hit on a lot of themes.How could I have possibly missed this movie?!? This is one of the best superhero movies I’ve watched. It’s emotional, it has great dialogue, it has some of the best acting in the franchise (yes, including the First Class trilogy and Wolverine trilogy), and it really hit on a lot of themes.

This is what I would reference as an X-Men movie, through and through. They stood together as a team, really pushed the themes of X-Men (equality, being different, the dangers and in-fighting of mutants, etc.), and it showed the dark and good parts of humanity. They characterized almost every character of the cast, and dang the choreography of the fights was epic. Mad props to the Wolverine vs. Yuriko. It was awesome and pretty gruesome for PG-13.

The casting was also excellent. Special props to Hugh Jackman once again, and Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler. Really stole the show, and was probably my favorite character other than Wolverine in this movie. The cinematography was also stellar, especially the transitions with the hallucination person.

What knocks this movie? The very end of this movie… it really didn’t make any sense. There’s also a few moments where suspension of disbelief is a thing, and this movie tends to focus more on Wolverine way more than the rest of the X-Men. Would still recommend this movie regardless. Buy it on Blu-Ray if possible.

Rating: A-… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

diogomendes

Jul 7, 2014

"X2: X-Men United" is slightly better than it's predecessor. The story is more entertaining, the action scenes are more exciting and characters are still likable.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SrPepe

Nov 13, 2017

Everything does feel a bit clockwork to be honest, there aren't any major surprises really (you can see things a mile off) but none the less it does hold your attention to the end.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Jacob

May 16, 2014

This is a pretty good sequel with a lot of the stuff I liked in the first film back in this one. The same likeable characters are still likeable and the ones that aren’t interesting are not that interesting but at least given some stuff to do. There are some cool new characters this timeThis is a pretty good sequel with a lot of the stuff I liked in the first film back in this one. The same likeable characters are still likeable and the ones that aren’t interesting are not that interesting but at least given some stuff to do. There are some cool new characters this time around like Nightcrawler. So why is this film better than the first? Well the first film needed lots of time to set up the characters but since the sequel doesn’t need to do that and it can just get right to the story. **** happens in this film and it is engaging and paced well much better than the first one. The film also has the alliance of convenience cliché, which I like. There is also a lot more action this time around and while it isn’t amazing or anything it is definitely a step above what we saw in the last X-Men film. If you liked the first film you’ll probably enjoy the second one a little bit more.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

JerkGuy

Oct 1, 2007

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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