Movies

X-Men Fans Honor the 20th Anniversary of First Film Hitting Theaters

Throughout the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, comic book fans had seen their fair share of DC Comics heroes […]

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Throughout the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, comic book fans had seen their fair share of DC Comics heroes grace the big screen, with both Superman and Batman getting a number of feature films, but Marvel fans had to settle for small-screen adventures for decades. In 2000, things changed entirely for true believers, as 20th Century Fox delivered the live-action X-Men, having secured the rights from Marvel at a time when the comics publisher was struggling financially. While comic fans were well aware of the characters, the film’s success wasn’t a guarantee, marking an ambitious endeavor featuring somewhat obscure characters in an ensemble mostly comprised of lesser-known stars.

Videos by ComicBook.com

That gamble paid off both financially and critically, with X-Men going on to earn nearly $300 million worldwide on a budget of roughly $75 million, while the film sits at 81% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Not only was the film a success on its own merits, it also proved that Marvel characters had just as much big-screen potential as DC Comics characters, resulting in Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Ghost Rider, and Daredevil all getting their own films in subsequent years. Despite the 2000s seeing both highs and lows for superhero cinema, it was X-Men‘s effectiveness that paved the way for more Marvel films, eventually leading to the creation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In honor of the 20th anniversary of the release of X-Men, fans took to social media to share their appreciation for the certified game-changing superhero adventure.

Appreciation

Wait, Really?

Feels Like Yesterday

Most Important Movie

Collector Comic

Blade, Actually

Set the Tone

Risk Takers

A New Era

Happy 20th

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