9. X2: X-Men United (2003) (Justin Matchick)

Why I Love It: After the resounding success of the first X-Men movie helped kick off the comic book movie phenomenon, there was an intense pressure to deliver a satisfying sequel. X2 was not only able to defy expectations and surpass the success of the first film, it brought deeper themes of prejudice, family, and using terrorism as a means to an end.

X2 became a benchmark for comic book films to strive for, a perfect blend of summer blockbuster action, carefully crafted references to the source material, and a gripping story. Director Bryan Singer was able to reign in an ever growing cast of mutants to give each character their own moment to shine, including newcomers Nightcrawler and Lady Deathstrike. To this day it remains one of my favorite comic book movies, and is the perfect example of how to make a comic book movie more than the sum of its parts.

Favorite Line: From Nightcrawler, a perfect encapsulation of the series’ theme of prejudice:

“You know, outside the circus, most people were afraid of me. But I didn’t hate them. I pitied them. Do you know why? Because most people will never know anything beyond what they see with their own two eyes.”

Favorite Scene: Jean Grey sacrificing her life at the end of the film was not only a shocking and emotionally draining moment, but one that would have a ripple effect on the franchise that is still being felt today. It marked a tragic end to the love triangle between her, Wolverine and Cyclops and showed just how attached we had become to these characters.

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