Marvel Has Adapted The Best X-Men Story 4 Times, But Which Is Best?

The most famous X-Men story has been adapted four times in movies and television series, with very mixed results. Marvel’s The Dark Phoenix Saga is celebrated as one of the greatest comic stories of all time. It depicts Jean Grey being possessed by an immense cosmic power, known as the Phoenix Force. The acclaimed X-Men narrative has been depicted several times, each of which was either celebrated or derided.

The Dark Phoenix Saga had huge ramifications for the X-Men world and has become an essential element of the wider backstory. It was also therefore hinted at in X-Men: Evolution and the X-Men anime series, though neither depicted it directly. As mutants are poised to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s likely The Dark Phoenix Saga could also be revisited in the MCU’s future.

4 X-Men: The Last Stand Squandered The Storyline

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

X-Men: The Last Stand has often been criticized for mishandling The Dark Phoenix Saga, as the movie falls short of capturing the depth and complexity of Jean Grey’s transformation into the powerful and destructive entity known as the Dark Phoenix. Instead, the film truncates the intricate story, squeezing it into the narrative alongside the mutant cure storyline – which was far stronger. Jean’s internal conflict and moral dilemmas associated with her transformation and her actions were intermittent, robbing the character of the emotional depth inherent in the source material.

Moreover, X-Men: The Last Stand‘s portrayal of the Dark Phoenix lacks the cosmic grandeur that is central to the original comic book. In Marvel Comics, Jean’s transformation is linked to the Phoenix Force, a powerful cosmic entity. However, the film omits this aspect completely and depicts Phoenix as an extension of Jean Grey’s psyche. To make things worse, the Phoenix’s design was pretty bland, lacking any dynamic elements, and only linked to the original design through the shade of red.

Ultimately, X-Men: The Last Stand diluted the Dark Phoenix story too much while also diverting away from the source material, making the movie feel anticlimactic and aimless as the disjointed execution diminishes the emotional resonance that should accompany Jean Grey’s transformation. The movie was a missed opportunity for a faithful and compelling adaptation using Famke Janssen’s established and praised version of Jean Grey. X-Men: The Last Stand squandered the story, and, as a result, produced the worst Dark Phoenix adaptation.

3 Dark Phoenix Was Better But Still Felt Rushed

Dark Phoenix (2019)

Though Dark Phoenix was critically panned, it delivered a better adaption of The Dark Phoenix Saga. Most notably, the movie introduced a space connection, exploring the cosmic origin of the Phoenix Force. This was far more faithful to the original story, during which Jean Grey is possessed by the powerful cosmic entity while on a space mission with the X-Men. However, it’s worth noting that this characterization completely contradicts events in X-Men: Apocalypse, creating a rather muddled premise.

The thrilling train scene stands out as a highlight in Dark Phoenix and is one of the strongest in the franchise. The visual spectacle and intense action in this sequence captured the magnitude of the Dark Phoenix’s story, while also functioning as an analog to the X-Men’s fight to save Jean Grey during the battle on the moon. Dark Phoenix also deserves praise for dedicating the entire narrative to the Dark Phoenix story, lingering on Jean Grey’s emotional turmoil.

Though Dark Phoenix deserves praise for depicting Phoenix as a cosmic entity, its murderous exploits pre-date its connection with Jean Grey – relinquishing Jean Grey of any moral culpability, and thus weakening the emotional stakes. Additionally, the emotional impact of Jean’s transformation suffered due to the limited development of her character throughout the X-Men prequels. Part of the original story’s success was in depicting the wholesome X-Men member being corrupted by an awesome power. As Sophie Turner had only appeared in one movie previously, her Jean Grey lacked the emotional connection to the audience necessary for delivering the story’s resonance.

2 Wolverine and the X-Men Provided Elaboration On The Classic Story

Wolverine And The X-Men (2009)

Wolverine and the X-Men presented an impressive adaptation of The Dark Phoenix Saga, managing to capture the cosmic scale and emotional intensity of the storyline, showcasing the full magnitude of Jean Grey’s transformation with cinematic flair. One notable strength lies in how the series expanded the narrative beyond what was already known from the comics and previous adaptations.

Wolverine and the X-Men skillfully wove new layers into the story, offering fresh perspectives and unexpected twists. This approach was engaging and added an unpredictable element to the well-known arc. As a loose continuation of the acclaimed X-Men: The Animated Series, Wolverine and the X-Men proffered a spiritual sequel, connecting the two series through thematic and narrative threads.

Wolverine and the X-Men opened with a cataclysmic event revealed to have been triggered by Jean’s transformation, creating an overarching narrative that hinged on the Phoenix story. The Phoenix saga in particular functioned as a continuation of the earlier series, exploring the explosive return of the Phoenix Force. Through its commitment to both the grandeur of The Dark Phoenix Saga and the evolution of the narrative, Wolverine and the X-Men stands out as a commendable and well-executed animated adaptation that pays homage to the source material while adding its own creative elements to the beloved story.

1 X-Men: The Animated Series Is The Greatest Dark Phoenix Adaptation

X-Men: The Animated Series (1992-1997)

The absolute best adaptation of The Dark Phoenix Saga was during X-Men: The Animated Series. The adaptation’s faithfulness to the source material is a notable feature, as the series closely follows the intricate narrative of the original comics, only really making changes to the X-Men line-up. The cosmic and emotional elements of Jean Grey’s transformation into the Dark Phoenix are captured with remarkable accuracy, showcasing the depth and complexity of the iconic storyline.

X-Men: The Animated Series also excelled in the faithful representation of the character’s costumes, staying true to the iconic designs. The series even recreated the comic book scene where Jean Grey wore her classic Marvel Girl costume for the battle on the moon. This attention to detail enhanced the visual appeal of the adaptation and resonated with those familiar with the original comic, blending perfectly with how X-Men: The Animated Series captured the emotional gravity of the story.

With the animated Jean Grey being such an established character – with very comparable personality traits to the comic book – the impact of her descent into madness and villainy was truly conveyed in this adaptation, allowing the voice acting, animation, and storytelling to create a narrative far more poignant than one might expect from a comic book story. As such, The Dark Phoenix Saga was perfectly adapted in the series, with a perfect emotional punch that helps the X-Men: The Animated Series instalment remain the pinnacle depiction of the X-Men‘s best storyline.