The cinematic adaptations of X-Men brought the beloved mutant heroes from Marvel Comics to life, yet they were not without their share of narrative inconsistencies. While these films garnered significant box office success over two decades with a total of 13 installments, they have developed a reputation for inconsistency in storytelling and quality. Despite the franchise’s popularity, many glaring plot holes remain unaddressed and largely overlooked by audiences.
The troubled continuity within Fox’s X-Men universe has drawn attention from fans and critics alike. With the series officially concluded, these unresolved plot holes are destined to linger in the minds of fans. Below, we explore ten such narrative discrepancies that may have slipped under the radar in the original X-Men films.
10 Magneto’s Forgotten Fame
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
In the realm of Marvel mutants, Magneto is one of the most dynamic and formidable characters, and his moments on-screen are often highlights. Yet, in X-Men: Days of Future Past, a significant plot hole emerges regarding his grand declaration to the world. Despite the film acting as a prequel, Magneto’s public display of power, including lifting an entire stadium, contradicts the established narrative in earlier films where mutants remain largely hidden from the public eye.His visible identity and actions make the events of the prequel incompatible with the earlier timeline where mutants are not widely recognized.
9 Professor Xavier’s First Class
X-Men: First Class (2011)
When the franchise kickstarted with the 2000 film X-Men, it introduced notable characters such as Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Storm as Charles Xavier’s initial pupils. This premise, however, takes a hit when X-Men: First Class presents a different narrative. There, a new set of characters, who do not include Cyclops or Storm, are depicted as Xavier’s first training group.This contradiction creates significant confusion regarding the timeline and backstory of these iconic characters.
8 The Stryker Confusion
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
A perplexing plot hole arises during a moment in X-Men: Days of Future Past, where Mystique masquerades as William Stryker to take Logan into custody. In the subsequent film, X-Men: Apocalypse, the storyline neglects to address Mystique’s involvement, leading to several unanswered questions about how Stryker reacquired Wolverine for the Weapon X project.This disjoint between films highlights an oversight in continuity and narrative coherence.
7 The Unkillable Mutant Was Unceremoniously Killed First
X-Men: First Class (2011)
X-Men: First Class introduced us to Armando Muñoz, known as Darwin, whose mutant power allows him to adapt effectively to any threat, supposedly rendering him nearly invincible. However, the film paradoxically shows him getting killed by Sebastian Shaw’s energy blast.This mishandling of a character designed to be unkillable raises eyebrows and perpetuates a plot hole surrounding Darwin’s abilities.
6 Bolivar Trask Hunted The Wrong Mutant
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
In X-Men: Days of Future Past, Bolivar Trask devises the Sentinels to target mutants, specifically indicating his need for Mystique’s DNA due to her adaptability. However, this raises a crucial issue: Mystique’s powers do not grant her the ability to mimic other mutants’ specific abilities.Even within the expanded Rogue Cut of Days of Future Past, it is suggested that Rogue would have been a more suitable candidate for Trask’s needs, illustrating a critical oversight in the character’s representation.
5 Cerebro’s Multiple Origins
X-Men: First Class (2011)
A notable inconsistency involves Cerebro, the device used to locate mutants. In X-Men, it’s implied that Magneto co-developed Cerebro with Xavier. Yet, X-Men: First Class reveals that it was Hank McCoy who predominantly designed the technology.This revelation undermines earlier statements and creates confusion regarding Cerebro’s true origin.
4 Wolverine’s Selective Memory Loss
The Wolverine (2013)
Wolverine’s backstory should ideally be straightforward, yet The Wolverine introduces a frustrating plot point concerning his selective memory loss. The film allows Logan to recall significant events from World War II, despite his historical amnesia established in earlier films.This selective recall contradicts the pivotal aspects of his character history, adding unnecessary complications to his storyline.
3 Cyclops’ Inconsistent Age
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
Cyclops’ portrayal within the franchise raises questions regarding age consistency. Three actors bring him to life across various timelines, but discrepancies abound between his portrayal in X-Men as a young adult and his high school-age appearance in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.This age inconsistency leaves audiences to grapple with a timeline that feels fragmented, especially considering Cyclops’ age should have been more aligned with the early 2000s setting.
2 Wolverine Regained His Adamantium Claws
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
Logan’s storyline is pivotal to the X-Men series, making inconsistencies especially frustrating. At the end of The Wolverine, he loses his adamantium claws, only for the subsequent film, Days of Future Past, to show him with them intact without any explanation.This oversight flies in the face of established character development, leaving a significant narrative gap that begs for clarification.
1 Mystique’s Death In Dark Phoenix
Dark Phoenix (2019)
As the franchise closed with Dark Phoenix, several plot holes came to light, among the most impactful being Mystique’s unexpected death at the hands of Jean Grey. Given that this film serves as a prequel, the loss of such a key character raises significant concerns about continuity, as Mystique’s role was pivotal in the original trilogy.This development not only undermines her character arc but introduces a glaring inconsistency that tarnishes the series’ legacy, despite its overall popularity.
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