While Marvel's popular mutants known as the X-Men only first hit theaters in 2000, a huge multi-movie franchise developed over the last two decades that explored quite a few characters and storylines, though the series infamously avoided the roster of the original five X-Men that were gathered by Professor Xavier in the comics.
While the original five-member team wasn't the focus of any of the franchises, each member of the team made their live-action debut at different points in the series, though some characters were given more of the spotlight than others. So today we are going to take a look at which members of the original roster of X-Men (including Professor X) had the most movie appearances.
6 Warren Worthington III/Angel Received The Least Attention With Only Two Live-Action Movie Appearances
Mirroring the comic character somewhat, Warren Worthington III/Angel didn't receive as much attention as the other members of the original five X-Men, though like the rest of his teammates, his live-action appearances were filled with tragic moments that were ripped straight from the comics.
Ben Foster played Worthington in 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand, whose mutant transformation served as the impetus for the development of the cure that threatened mutantkind. Foster did well as Angel in his few moments on the film, though the character never officially joined the team in the movie. Ben Hardy played a reimagined version of the character in 2016's X-Men: Apocalypse which explored his transformation into the metal-winged Archangel as one of Apocalypse's Horseman, though he also never joined the X-Men in the movie.
5 Bobby Drake/Iceman Starred In The Original Trilogy And Returned For The Fourth Time For Days Of Future Past
2000's X-Men didn't include Shawn Ashmore's Bobby Drake as Iceman on the official team, though he did appear as one of the mutant students at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Drake quickly befriended new student Rogue as she got used to the school, which developed into a lasting relationship that affected their characters throughout the original trilogy.
He suited up as Iceman for the first time in 2003's X2: X-Men United before fighting with the team in The Last Stand to round out the trilogy. Ashmore returned with other original trilogy stars for the time-traveling X-Men: Days of Future Past where his powerful ice form was on full display. While Iceman's place in the original five wasn't touched on in the movies, his importance to the team is reflected by his multiple appearances in the original trilogy and growth as a full-fledged member of the team.
4 Hank McCoy/Beast Has Appeared In Seven Movies Even Though He Didn't Fully Appear Until The Last Stand
It might be surprising to some fans that Hank McCoy has actually appeared in seven movies across the series, though he wasn't always in his usual loveable blue-furred Beast form that appeared in both trilogies of the cinematic franchise. Steve Bacic starred as Dr. McCoy in a brief cameo in a television discussion about mutants in X2: X-Men United before Kelsey Grammer took on the role for X-Men: The Last Stand.
Nicholas Hoult then starred as the brilliant young mutant in 2011's X-Men: First Class, which explored his further transformation into the Beast and introduced a romantic connection with Mystique. Hoult would help lead the second cinematic trilogy and he returned for 2019's X-Men: Dark Phoenix. Kelsey Grammer returned for a brief cameo as the original trilogy Beast in the final moments that revealed the happier new timeline of Days of Future Past.
3 Jean Grey Has Appeared In Seven Films Across Two Trilogies That Have Explored The Dark Phoenix Saga Twice
The character of Jean Grey has not only had some of the most live-action appearances in the X-Men franchise but also received the most development as one of her biggest storylines served as the central focus of both trilogies. Famke Janssen first appeared as Jean Grey in the original X-Men before carrying X2: X-Men United. The Last Stand reimagined the saga and blended elements with other storylines. She returned for a brief cameo in 2013's The Wolverine as well as a final appearance in the new timeline from Days of Future Past.
Sophie Turner portrayed a younger version of Jean Grey in X-Men: Apocalypse that once again teased her increasing powers, though 2019's Dark Phoenix added a cosmic element to the new adaptation that further developed Jean Grey's origins while also closing off Fox's long-running X-Men franchise.
2 Scott Summers/Cyclops Has Appeared in Eight Movies That Explored Different Ages Of The Mutant Leader
James Marsden portrayed Cyclops throughout the original trilogy, though his role was reduced with each subsequent movie that didn't fit well with the comic's central role for the characters as the team's leader and Professor X's first and most loyal student. Cyclops was unceremoniously killed off in The Last Stand, though Marsden did return to the role for a brief cameo in Days of Future Past along with the rest of the original trilogy cast.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine introduced a younger version of the character played by Tim Pocock whose powers were just beginning to manifest, making him a target for William Stryker and Sabretooth. Tye Sheridan then took on the role to join the new younger team in X-Men: Apocalypse before returning for Dark Phoenix. Sheridan was also the only original member of the comic book X-Men to feature in the team cameo from 2018's Deadpool 2.
1 Professor X Is The Most Prolific Cinematic Member Of The X-Men With Eleven Live-Action Appearances
It's not surprising that Professor Xavier has the most live-action appearances in the cinematic franchise as he is the creator of the X-Men and his long history with Magneto served as the foundation for both trilogies that carried the character into other spin-offs as well. Patrick Stewart iconically played the role in the original trilogy as well as Days of Future Past, which blended the characters from both trilogies. He appeared in a post-credit scene of The Wolverine before starring in 2017's Logan, which closed off that trilogy.
James McAvoy took over the role for the follow-up prequel trilogy that focused on the beginning of Xavier's friendship with Magneto and their formation of the X-Men in First Class that continued with Days of Future Past where he met his future self. X-Men: Apocalypse saw him begin to gather another new class of recognizable X-Men that appeared alongside him in Dark Phoenix. McAvoy also appeared as Professor X in the X-Men's brief but comedic cameo from Deadpool 2.