X-Men: Days of Future Past
A 2014 superhero film about time travel and mutant survival.
X-Men: Days of Future Past is a 2014 superhero movie based on the Marvel Comics X-Men. It is the seventh film in the X-Men series, acting as a sequel to *X-Men: First Class* (2011) and *The Wolverine* (2013), while retconning the events of *X-Men: The Last Stand* (2006) through time travel. Bryan Singer directed it, with a script by Simon Kinberg. The cast includes Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry, Anna Paquin, Elliot Page, Peter Dinklage, Ian McKellen, and Patrick Stewart. The story draws from the 1981 *Uncanny X-Men* comic storyline "Days of Future Past" by Chris Claremont and John Byrne. It jumps between two time periods: Logan travels back to 1973 to alter history and stop an event that leads to catastrophic destruction for humans and mutants alike.
Matthew Vaughn, who directed *X-Men: First Class*, was originally set to return for this film but left to work on *Kingsman: The Secret Service* and served as a producer on the 2015 *Fantastic Four*. Singer, who directed the first two X-Men films and produced *First Class*, took over as director and brought back much of the crew from those earlier movies. The budget was $205 million. Principal photography started in Montreal, Quebec, in April 2013 and wrapped in August, with additional filming and pick-ups in November 2013 and February 2014. Twelve visual effects companies worked on the film.
*X-Men: Days of Future Past* premiered in New York City on May 10, 2014, and hit U.S. theaters on May 23, distributed by 20th Century Fox. Critics praised it, calling it one of the best entries in the series. It earned $746 million worldwide, making it the sixth highest-grossing film of 2014, and got an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects. A sequel, *X-Men: Apocalypse*, came out in 2016.
**Plot**
In a grim 2023, robots called Sentinels hunt and kill mutants, along with humans who might have mutant children or try to protect them. In Moscow, Sentinels attack the X-Men survivors Kitty Pryde, Colossus, Blink, Warpath, Bishop, Iceman, and Sunspot. The mutants sacrifice themselves so Kitty can send Bishop’s consciousness a few minutes back in time to warn the others and help them survive.
After dodging that attack, the group hides in a remote Chinese temple. Storm, Logan, Magneto, and a restored Charles Xavier join them. Xavier explains that the Sentinel program
- release_year
- 2014
- director
- Bryan Singer
- budget
- $205 million
- box_office
- $746 million
- academy_award_nomination
- Best Visual Effects
- based_on
- 1981 Uncanny X-Men storyline 'Days of Future Past' by Chris Claremont and John Byrne
Lore & Background
The story focuses on two time periods, with Logan traveling back in time to 1973 to change history and prevent an event that results in unspeakable destruction for both humans and mutants. In a dystopian 2023, robots called Sentinels hunt and kill mutants, as well as humans who either possess the genetic potential to have mutant offspring or try to protect them. The mutants sacrifice themselves to buy Kitty Pryde enough time to send Bishop's consciousness a few minutes into the past to warn the others of the coming attack. Having averted the attack, the group retreats to a remote Chinese temple and are joined by Storm, Logan, Magneto, and the restored Charles Xavier. Xavier explains that the Sentinel program was originally conceived by Bolivar Trask, a weapons designer whom Mystique assa
Reader's Guide
X-Men: Days of Future Past is significant as a crossover sequel that unified the timelines of the original X-Men trilogy and the prequel series. The film grossed $746 million, making it the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2014, and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects. It was praised by critics as one of the finest in the series. The film's narrative, inspired by the 1981 Uncanny X-Men storyline, allowed for the erasure of the dark future of 2023 and the resurrection of characters like Jean Grey and Scott Summers. Its success led to a sequel, X-Men: Apocalypse, released in 2016. The production involved a budget of $205 million, principal photography in Montreal, Quebec, from April to August 2013, with additional filming in November 2013 and February 2014. Twelve companies handled the visual effects.
Did You Know?
- Matthew Vaughn was originally set to direct but left for Kingsman: The Secret Service and the 2015 version of Fantastic Four.
- Halle Berry's pregnancy limited her role as Storm, with her ever-growing belly posing a constant challenge.
- Jennifer Lawrence's Mystique makeup process was reduced from eight hours to three by using a bodysuit with digitally removed zippers.
- The post-credits scene set in ancient Egypt features En Sabah Nur telekinetically elevating rocks to build pyramids.
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