X-Men: First Class (2011)
87%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: 21 wins & 39 nominations
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
X-Men: First Class” is like a groovy time machine that takes you back to the 60s, complete with retro style and Rat Pack cool. The special effects are impressive, and the acting is top-notch, except for Xavier’s cringey attempts at hitting on women. But overall, it’s an immensely fun and engaging superhero film that’s perfect for a night of popcorn and entertainment. And if you’re a fan of the franchise, you’ll appreciate the origins of your favorite characters. So grab some mutant popcorn and settle in for a wild ride through time and space.
Production Company(ies)
Toho Company, Kurosawa Production Co.,
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Englefield House, Theale, Reading, Berkshire, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, some sexual content including brief partial nudity and language
Year of Release
2011
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby SDDS Datasat Dolby Surround 7.1
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:2h 6m
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Language(s):English, German, French, Spanish, Russian
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 3, 2011 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 9, 2011
Genre(s)
Action/Adventure
Keyword(s)
starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Rose Byrne, Jennifer Lawrence, January Jones, Nicholas Hoult, Kevin Bacon, Oliver Platt, Caleb Landry Jones, Lucas Till, Edi Gathegi, Jason Flemyng, Zoe Kravitz, Bill Milner, Morgan Lily, Laurence Belcher, Beth Goddard, Glenn Morshower, Matt Craven, Alex Gonzalez, Rade Serbedzija, Ray Wise, James Remar, Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Romijn, directed by Matthew Vaughn, written by Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz, Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn, produced by Bryan Singer, Lauren Shuler Donner, Simon Kinberg, Gregory Goodman, action, adventure, fantasy, PG-13, box office, budget, reviewed by Jarrah E Hodge, Shubhra Gupta, Candice Frederick, Kim Newman, Donald Clarke, Kate Muir, Cory Woodroof, Don Shanahan, Mike Massie, Richard Propes, James McAvoy as Charles Xavier, Michael Fassbender as Erik Lehnsherr, Rose Byrne as Moira MacTaggert, Jennifer Lawrence as Raven, Mystique, January Jones as Emma Frost, Nicholas Hoult as Hank, Beast
Worldwide gross: $352,616,690
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $464,219,123
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 312
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 50,623,678
US/Canada gross: $146,408,305
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $192,746,222
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 369
US/Canada opening weekend: $55,101,604
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $72,541,145
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 126
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $160,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $210,639,660
Production budget ranking: 102
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $113,429,457
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $140,150,006
ROI to date (est.): 43%
ROI ranking: 1,183
Michael Fassbender – Erik Lehnsherr
Rose Byrne – Moira MacTaggert
Jennifer Lawrence – Raven, Mystique
January Jones – Emma Frost
Nicholas Hoult – Hank, Beast
Director(s)
Matthew Vaughn
Writer(s)
Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz, Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn
Producer(s)
Bryan Singer, Lauren Shuler Donner, Simon Kinberg, Gregory Goodman
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
21 wins & 39 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (299) | Top Critics (74) | Fresh (256) | Rotten (43)
The acting, special effects, and writing were excellent, except possibly the two times Xavier tries to hit on women in bars by saying they have “groovy mutation[s]”.
January 7, 2021
Jarrah E Hodge
Bitch Media
TOP CRITIC
First Class can safely be watched by first-timers, but old faithfuls of the franchise will get a little more, tracing the origins of their favourite characters.
April 2, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Shubhra Gupta
The Indian Express
TOP CRITIC
If you didn’t see the previous movies, you may not be able to appreciate some of the subtle references, but that won’t make you enjoy the movie any less. Check it out.
September 8, 2017 | Rating: B
Candice Frederick
Reel Talk Online
TOP CRITIC
For reasons arising from the way the X-Men film franchise has developed, this is the first Marvel movie set in the period when the characters were created, and thus able to embrace the Rat Pack cool that was part of their original charm.
July 14, 2015
Kim Newman
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
In truth, the film is a very conventional summer potboiler repackaged in reasonably pretty, moderately crisp wrapping paper. In short, not quite groovy enough.
July 14, 2015
Donald Clarke
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
In some glorious zone between Mad Men and Thunderbirds comes this X-Men prequel, as kinetic as it is character-driven, and full of ridiculous retro pleasures.
July 14, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
Kate Muir
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
This is an immensely fun, engaging, stylish superhero film that I fully recommend for your viewing pleasure.
February 11, 2022
Cory Woodroof
Lumination Network
“X-Men: First Class” crafts this engaging story, spy-film look, and retro style with enough action and tricks to impress those still looking for a comic book movie.
April 12, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Don Shanahan
Every Movie Has a Lesson
The oftentimes explosive action sequences can’t mask the silliness and pointlessness of many of the newly introduced mutants.
November 30, 2020 | Rating: 5/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
A smarter and more stylish superhero movie.
September 27, 2020 | Rating: 3.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
If you’re looking for a well-made popcorn movie to see in theaters, let this one be it.
August 6, 2020 | Rating: B+
Allen Almachar
The MacGuffin
As summer entertainment, it has speed and energy accompanied by amazing visual effects, charismatic characters and the evident style of Vaughn. [Full review in Spanish]
June 24, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Yasser Medina
Cinemaficionados…
Plot
Before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were archenemies, they were closest of friends, working together, with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known. In the process, a rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto’s Brotherhood and Professor X’s X-MEN.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy’s performances as Magneto and Professor X, respectively, are praised for their depth and complexity.
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