(Photo by Marvel/Courtesy Everett Collection. (Deadpool & Wolverine.))
Like Robert Downey Jr. and Tony Stark, or Patrick Stewart and fellow X-Men favorite Professor Xavier, it’s near impossible to separate Hugh Jackman from Wolverine, the comic book character he helped immortalize on the big screen, so let’s just get that right out of the way. Jackman will forever be associated with the self-healing mutant with the adamantium claws, and now that he’s officially done playing the character, good luck to whoever attempts to fill his shoes next.
Outside of the X-Men universe, though, Jackman has also proven to be a multi-faceted leading man, starring in romantic comedies (Kate & Leopold, Scoop), sweeping adventures (Australia, Pan), family films (Happy Feet, Real Steel), musicals (Les Misérables, The Greatest Showman), mysteries (The Prestige, Prisoners), and just about everything in between. It’s no wonder some of the biggest directors working today, from Christopher Nolan to Darren Aronofsky to Denis Villeneuve, have sought his talents for their films. And in 2024, he returned to his iconic Wolverine role in Deadpool and Wolverine.
#1
Adjusted Score: 101629%
Critics Consensus: Anchored by an outstanding Hugh Jackman, Bad Education finds absurd laughs — and a worthy message — in the aftermath of a real-life scandal.
#2
Adjusted Score: 117186%
Critics Consensus: Hugh Jackman makes the most of his final outing as Wolverine with a gritty, nuanced performance in a violent but surprisingly thoughtful superhero action film that defies genre conventions.
#3
Adjusted Score: 106158%
Critics Consensus: X-Men: Days of Future Past combines the best elements of the series to produce a satisfyingly fast-paced outing that ranks among the franchise’s finest installments.
#4
Adjusted Score: 96520%
Critics Consensus: Another beautifully animated triumph for Laika, Missing Link is a visual treat with lots of humor, plenty of heart, and even a little food for thought.
#5
Adjusted Score: 93953%
Critics Consensus: Tightly scripted, solidly acted, and impressively ambitious, X2: X-Men United is bigger and better than its predecessor — and a benchmark for comic sequels in general.
#6
Adjusted Score: 89095%
Critics Consensus: Faithful to the comics and filled with action, X-Men brings a crowded slate of classic Marvel characters to the screen with a talented ensemble cast and surprisingly sharp narrative focus.
#7
Adjusted Score: 91446%
Critics Consensus: Eddie the Eagle‘s amiable sweetness can’t disguise its story’s many inspirational clichés — but for many viewers, it will be more than enough to make up for them.
#8
Adjusted Score: 92773%
Critics Consensus: Prisoners has an emotional complexity and a sense of dread that makes for absorbing (and disturbing) viewing.
#9
Adjusted Score: 100085%
Critics Consensus: Ryan Reynolds makes himself at home in the MCU with acerbic wit while Hugh Jackman provides an Adamantium backbone to proceedings in Deadpool & Wolverine, an irreverent romp with a surprising soft spot for a bygone era of superhero movies.
#10
Adjusted Score: 85433%
Critics Consensus: Full of twists and turns, The Prestige is a dazzling period piece that never stops challenging the audience.
#11
Adjusted Score: 82785%
Critics Consensus: Visually dazzling, with a thoughtful storyline and catchy musical numbers, Happy Feet marks a successful animated debut from the makers of Babe.
#12
Adjusted Score: 81301%
Critics Consensus: A sort of Avengers for the elementary school set, Rise of the Guardians is wonderfully animated and briskly paced, but it’s only so-so in the storytelling department.
#13
Adjusted Score: 78365%
Critics Consensus: Clever and appealing for both children and adults, Flushed Away marks a successful entry into digital animated features for Aardman Animations.
#14
Adjusted Score: 83135%
Critics Consensus: Although its final act succumbs to the usual cartoonish antics, The Wolverine is one superhero movie that manages to stay true to the comics while keeping casual viewers entertained.
#15
Adjusted Score: 82250%
Critics Consensus: Impeccably mounted but occasionally bombastic, Les Misérables largely succeeds thanks to bravura performances from its distinguished cast.
#16
Adjusted Score: 69439%
Critics Consensus: Silly premise notwithstanding, this is a well-made Hollywood movie: Thrilling and exciting action with just enough characterization.
#17
Adjusted Score: 70477%
Critics Consensus: The Front Runner exhumes the wreckage of a political campaign with well-acted wit, even if it neglects to truly analyze the issues it raises.
#18
Adjusted Score: 67036%
Critics Consensus: X-Men: The Last Stand provides plenty of mutant action for fans of the franchise, even if it does so at the expense of its predecessors’ deeper character moments.
#19
Adjusted Score: 71521%
Critics Consensus: The Greatest Showman tries hard to dazzle the audience with a Barnum-style sense of wonder — but at the expense of its complex subject’s far more intriguing real-life story.
#20
Adjusted Score: 62998%
Critics Consensus: Built on lavish vistas and impeccable production, Australia is unfortunately burdened with thinly drawn characters and a lack of originality.
#21
Adjusted Score: 61433%
Critics Consensus: The Fountain — a movie about metaphysics, universal patterns, Biblical symbolism, and boundless love spread across one thousand years — is visually rich but suffers from its own unfocused ambitions.
#22
Adjusted Score: 56566%
Critics Consensus: Though Jackman charms, Kate and Leopold is bland and predictable, and the time travel scenario lacks inner logic.
#23
Adjusted Score: 45985%
Critics Consensus: A light and predictable, if somewhat shallow, romantic comedy that’s easy to sit through because of the charming leads.
#24
Adjusted Score: 46777%
Critics Consensus: Rehashing old plot lines and characters, Scoop is a tiresome dipper and another disappointing addition to Woody Allen’s repertoire.
#25
Adjusted Score: 48636%
Critics Consensus: Though Hugh Jackman gives his all, he can’t help X-Men Origins: Wolverine overcome a cliche-ridden script and familiar narrative.
#26
Adjusted Score: 45864%
Critics Consensus: Although Reminiscence isn’t lacking narrative ambition, its uncertain blend of sci-fi action and noir thriller mostly provokes memories of better films.
#27
Adjusted Score: 35951%
Critics Consensus: Despite its talented cast and a few funny moments, Butter’s satirical aims are largely undone by a lack of subtlety and air of smugness.
#28
Adjusted Score: 42811%
Critics Consensus: Chappie boasts more of the big ideas and visual panache that director Neill Blomkamp has become known for — and, sadly, more of the narrative shortcomings.
#29
Adjusted Score: 38821%
Critics Consensus: Despite reliably solid work from Laura Dern and Hugh Jackman, The Son remains mired in off-puttingly aggressive melodrama.
#30
Adjusted Score: 35557%
Critics Consensus: Pan finds a few bursts of magic in its prequel treatment of classic characters, though not enough to offset the rushed plot and shrill, CGI-fueled action.
#31
Adjusted Score: 30774%
Critics Consensus: Swordfish is big on explosions, but critics dislike how it skimps on plot and logic. Also, the sight of a person typing at a computer just isn’t that interesting.
#32
Adjusted Score: 31520%
Critics Consensus: A hollow creature feature that suffers from CGI overload.
#33
Adjusted Score: 24965%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#34
Adjusted Score: 14459%
Critics Consensus: Deception is a middling, predictable potboiler with mediocre dialogue and ludicrous plot twists.