X2: X-Men United
Movie, 2003, The Original Trilogy, Set in Early 2000s
X2: X-Men United is #3 of 18 in release order and #7 of 18 in chronological order in the X-Men.
The story
Professor Charles Xavier and his team of genetically gifted superheroes face a rising tide of anti-mutant sentiment led by Col. William Stryker. Storm, Wolverine and Jean Grey must join Magneto and Mystique to unhinge Stryker's scheme to exterminate all mutants.
X2: X-Men United recap
A mind-controlled Nightcrawler attacks the President in the White House, and military scientist William Stryker uses the attack to get approval to raid Xavier's school. Stryker captures Xavier and Cyclops, and his soldiers storm the mansion, but Logan escapes with Rogue, Iceman and Pyro. Logan learns that Stryker was behind the experiment that put metal on his bones. Mystique breaks Magneto out of his prison, and the X-Men reluctantly team up with him. Stryker is building a copy of Cerebro at a base under Alkali Lake, and he plans to use his mind-controlling son Jason and a brainwashed Xavier to kill every mutant on Earth. Logan fights Stryker's brainwashed assistant, Lady Deathstrike, inside the base, while Jean battles a brainwashed Cyclops.
X2: X-Men United ending explained
Magneto turns Stryker's machine around to kill every human instead, and Storm and Nightcrawler break Xavier free. The dam above the base bursts, and Jean stays behind to hold back the flood and lift the X-Men's jet into the air, drowning in the lake. Magneto leaves with Mystique and Pyro. The X-Men give the President evidence of Stryker's plan, and the film ends with the shape of a phoenix in the lake.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch X2: X-Men United
X2: X-Men United is streaming on Disney+ in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.4/10, Rotten Tomatoes 85%
Where it fits
- Release order: after X-Men, before X-Men: The Last Stand.
- Chronological order: after X-Men, before X-Men: The Last Stand.
What to watch before X2: X-Men United
X-Men (2000), which X2: X-Men United (2003) continues.
Cast
- Hugh Jackman as Logan / Wolverine
- Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier
- Ian McKellen as Eric Lehnsherr / Magneto
- James Marsden as Scott Summers / Cyclops
- Brian Cox as William Stryker
- Famke Janssen as Jean Grey
- Halle Berry as Ororo Munroe / Storm
- Alan Cumming as Kurt Wagner / Nightcrawler
- Aaron Stanford as John Allerdyce / Pyro
- Rebecca Romijn as Raven Darkholme / Mystique
- Shawn Ashmore as Bobby Drake / Ice Man
- Anna Paquin as Rogue
Directed by Bryan Singer.