MOVIHERO
X2 movie poster used as film imagery for the Magneto guideFILM POSTER · X2

X-Men Collection

Magneto

Film watch order, starting point, and performer.

Magneto runs from X2 to X-Men: Days of Future Past with Ian McKellen carrying the role across 3 films. This guide also includes Michael Fassbender portraying Magneto in X-Men: Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix.

Release-order sequence · 5 films · 2003–2019 · 2 performersSee watch order

WATCH ORDER

Magneto movies in release order

Follow the 5 films in release order.

Release-order sequence · 5 films · 2003–2019Main sequence runtime: 10h 27m
About the scores

Scores shown are MoviHero movie-guide scores. Missing scores stay blank, and tied top scores remain tied.

  1. 01X2 poster
    Start hereX2

    2003 · 2h 13m

    Portrayed by Ian McKellen · screen performanceMovie guide
    MoviHero score83/100WORTH IT
  2. 02X-Men: The Last Stand poster
    X-Men: The Last Stand

    2006 · 1h 44m

    Portrayed by Ian McKellen · screen performanceMovie guide
    MoviHero score79/100WORTH IT
  3. 03X-Men: Days of Future Past poster
    X-Men: Days of Future Past

    2014 · 2h 12m

    Portrayed by Ian McKellen · screen performanceMovie guide
    MoviHero score88/100WORTH IT
  4. 04X-Men: Apocalypse poster
    X-Men: Apocalypse

    2016 · 2h 24m

    Portrayed by Michael Fassbender · screen performanceMovie guide
    MoviHero score80/100WORTH IT
  5. 05Dark Phoenix poster
    Dark Phoenix

    2019 · 1h 54m

    Portrayed by Michael Fassbender · screen performanceMovie guide
    MoviHero score76/100WORTH IT

THE PERFORMANCES

How the actors approach Magneto

See the verified performers, their linked-guide coverage, and supported portrayal differences.

Ian McKellen portraitIan McKellenscreen performance

Ian McKellen plays Magneto across 3 films in this screen run.

3 linked movie guides in this sequence
Michael Fassbender portraitMichael Fassbenderscreen performance

Michael Fassbender plays Magneto across 2 films in this screen run.

2 linked movie guides in this sequence

WHY THE CHARACTER WORKS

What defines Magneto

Ian McKellen provides the through-line for Magneto from X2 through X-Men: Days of Future Past. Release order is useful here because it lets the character’s screen role build from one film to the next without repeating the same introduction each time.

WHO TO EXPLORE NEXT

Characters connected on screen

Keep moving through the same films and screen world with a character who shares meaningful movie history.

Recurring co-star

Rogue

Magneto and Rogue share 3 films, including X2.

See X2
Recurring co-star

Storm

Magneto and Storm share 3 films, including X2.

See X2
Recurring co-star

Wolverine

Magneto and Wolverine share 3 films, including X2.

See X2
Recurring co-star

Cyclops

Magneto and Cyclops share 2 films, including X2.

See X2

KEEP EXPLORING

Start with X2.

Open X2 guide