Made Jack Kirby And Stan LeeThe X-Men have been an integral part of Marvel since the 60s. After a string of animated adaptations by the team in the 80s and 90s, 20th Century Fox acquired the rights to the characters and bet on a real-time adaptation of the characters in 2000. Since then, we’ve been overwhelmed by the plethora of movies and shows featuring the powerful X-Men.

The film was a hit and spawned a franchise that ran for over 20 years and included over a dozen films and even several TV shows. In the movies, audiences and fans have seen great adaptations of their favorite X-Men and comic book villains, but which ones are the strongest?

10 Colossus

Colossus in Deadpool (2016)

Colossus, aka Pyotr Rasputin (Stefan Kapicic), is not the strongest X-Man, but his steel body makes him one of the most durable. Once he activates his mutant ability, his flesh is replaced with steel, giving him super strength and near invulnerability.

He’s perfect for rushing into battle and drawing enemy fire on him so his teammates can attack. His steel form also allows him to inflict his own punishments, using his immense strength to throw tanks and break through walls. In his armored form, few can match the Colossus for durability and strength. However, its capabilities are limited to close combat. If you need someone to get into the thick of things and crack open a few skulls, Colossus is your X-Man of choice.

9 Ice Man

Shawn Ashmore as Bobby Drake / Iceman in X-Men: Days of Future Past discusses strategies with the team.

Iceman aka Bobby DrakeSean Ashmore), has the ability to manipulate ice and snow. When his abilities first manifested, Bobby could hardly control them. But under the guidance of Professor X, he learned to use his gift.

Although Bobby plays a comic role at times, his powers are invaluable in combat. He can immobilize opponents by encasing them in ice, create icy force fields for protection, and even create ice clones of himself. During intense fights, Bobby’s ice slides give the X-Men the ability to quickly dodge and outmaneuver their rivals.

8 Mystic

Mystique (Rebecca Romijn)

Mystic (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos/Jennifer Lawrence) is one of the most cunning and manipulative mutants in the X-Men universe. Her power is the ability to transform into any humanoid form. She can flawlessly imitate the voices, mannerisms, and looks of anyone she chooses.

Mystic is a complex character who considers humans inferior to mutants. She believes that mutants should dominate humans and plays a key role in Magneto’s plot for mutant supremacy. However, she also shows moments of compassion, especially towards Rogue and Nightcrawler.

7 Cyclops

Tye Sheridan plays Cyclops/Scott Summers in the 2016 film X-Men: Apocalypse.
Image via 20th Century Fox

Cyclops aka Scott SummersJames Marsden/Ty Sheridan), is one of the first X-Men with a strength that makes him a formidable opponent. His ability to project powerful optical beams from his eyes gives the X-Men a tactical advantage in many situations.

Overall, Cyclops stands out due to his unique powers and leadership qualities. His role in leading and training other mutants reinforces his importance to the team.

6 Mercury

Evan Peters as Quicksilver from the X-Men franchise.
Image via 20th Century Fox

Mercury, aka Pietro MaximoffEvan Peters), capable of moving at supersonic speeds, perceiving the world in slow motion. In the movies, Quicksilver uses his power to joke around and have fun, but he can also be serious in combat.

IN X-Men: Days of Future PastQuicksilver demonstrates his speed by helping to break Magneto out of prison in breathtaking slow motion. He moves around the room, redirecting bullets and causing havoc, all the while listening to Jim Croce’s “Bottle Time”. His power comes in handy for comic relief and dazzling special effects.

5 Wolverine

Hugh Jackman as Wolverine
Image via 20th Century Fox

Wolverine aka Logan (Hugh Jackman), is one of the most popular characters in the X-Men and is widely regarded as one of the most powerful, appearing in various films. His mutant healing factor allows him to recover faster from almost any wound, disease, or toxin. This power essentially makes him immortal and invulnerable to anything but adamantium poisoning.

Combined with his adamantium claws and skeleton, Wolverine is a ruthless fighter with super strength and senses. His claws can cut through any substance and he can release them at lightning speed. He is a master of several fighting styles and a skilled tracker. His tenacity, ferocity and will to survive are unmatched. Combined with his sense of honor and duty to Professor X’s vision, Wolverine is the heart and soul of the X-Men.

4 Storm

Alexandra Shipp as Storm/Ororo Munroe in the 2016 film X-Men: Apocalypse.
Image via 20th Century Fox

As her name suggests, Storm/Ororo MunroHalle Berry/Alexandra Shipp) has the ability to manipulate weather conditions. She can conjure violent winds, massive lightning strikes, ice storms, or waves of scorching heat at will.

Born in Kenya, Storm first discovered her powers as a child. At first, she struggled to control her abilities, which often manifested during emotional outbursts. Under Xavier’s guidance, Storm gained confidence in her abilities and became a valued member of the group. She is able to create powerful gusts of wind to lift her into flight or knock back opponents. Her lightning strikes are intense and precise. The storm is even capable of changing barometric pressure and temperature, creating small, localized weather systems.

3 Magneto

Helmeted Michael Fassbender as Magneto in X-Men: Days of Future Past displays mutant power.
Image via 20th Century Fox

Magneto (Ian McKellen/Michael Fassbender) is one of the most powerful mutants in the X-Men film franchise. As his name suggests, he has the ability to manipulate magnetic fields and control metal. This allows him to do truly amazing and downright terrifying things, from lifting huge structures like the Golden Gate Bridge to extracting iron from a person’s bloodstream. His powers seem almost limitless.

Although his methods are often extreme, Magneto genuinely wants to protect his fellow mutants. He acts as a complex antagonist in films, reminding us that every story often has two sides. While Xavier believes that humans and mutants can live together, Magneto believes that this will only lead to more mutant violence and suffering. His immense strength, combined with his radical ideology, makes him an extremely formidable adversary for the X-Men.

2 Professor X

Patrick Stewart as Professor Xavier in X-Men: The Last Stand tries to get Jean back.

Professor X, aka Charles Xavier, is one of the most powerful mutants in the X-Men universe, played by James McAvoy And Patrick Stewart. As a telepath, he can read and manipulate minds. He founded the Xavier School for Gifted Children to train mutants in the use of their powers. At school, he helps students use their gifts and use them for good. With vast telepathic powers, Professor X is able to communicate with mutants all over the world. He can find new mutants, erase memories and create mental illusions.

Professor X’s telepathy allows him to get the better of opponents and turn them against each other. However, Professor X’s abilities also come with a great sense of responsibility, and he did make a few mistakes along the way. He believes that mutants and humans can live together in peace. Professor X fights for equality and justice, using empathy and compassion instead of force.

1 Phoenix

Poster depicting Famke Janssen as Jean Grey/Phoenix in X-Men
Image via 20th Century Studios

Phoenix, Jean Grey’s alternate personality (Famke Janssen/Sophie Turner) is arguably the most powerful mutant in the X-Men film franchise. When Jean taps into the Phoenix Force, her psychic abilities are enhanced indefinitely. She can manipulate matter and energy on both the molecular and cosmic scales.

Jin demonstrates the power of the Phoenix for the first time in X2: X-Men United. Under the influence of the Phoenix, Jean saves the X-Men by lifting their plane out of the freezing water. She proceeds to destroy Professor Stryker’s dam, displaying massive telekinetic energy. IN X-Men: The Last StandThe Phoenix fully reappears after the death of Cyclops. The now almost unstoppable Phoenix wipes out Professor Xavier and lifts an entire lake into the air, showing just how unstoppable she can be.