One of the most beloved X-Men characters of all time is Wolverine. With Hugh Jackman portraying this comic book character in nine out of the 13 X-Men franchise’s movies, fans have gotten to see a complete arc with his character. From his beginnings to his end, from love to loss, and from boneyclaws to adamantium-coated ones.
After the 2017 release of the hit conclusion Logan, Jackman hung up the claws and spiked hair, and was said to be done playing the beloved mutant. However, in very recent news, Deadpool 3 is set to feature Jackman’s return as Wolverine. In light of the excitement that his character will return to the big screen in a big way, here is a breakdown of Hugh Jackman’s best Wolverine moments of the franchise, ranked.
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10 Old Man Logan and Charles — Logan
20th Century Studios
In the movie Logan, an aging Wolverine takes up odd jobs to earn enough money to take care of Charles Xavier, whose mind has been lost to dementia. Although still rough around the edges, Logan risks his life over and over to make sure Charles gets the medication he needs. In a scene where Charles has an episode, he almost kills Logan before taking a pill. It is heart-wrenching to see both characters in their old and weakened states, but this moment proves that Logan is loyal until the end.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
9 Testing Out the New Claws — X-Men Origins: Wolverine
In X-Men Origins: Wolverine, after Logan discovers his claws are coated in Adamantium metal, he seeks revenge on his enemies. In an epic scene, Logan rides in on his vehicle of choice — a motorcycle, of course — and single-handedly destroys a tank, a helicopter, and an army caravan. He leaves without a scratch and uses his claws to strike a spark, leaving with an explosion as he walks away.
8 Wolverine Saves Yashida — The Wolverine
In The Wolverine, we are taken back to World War II, where Logan saves Yashida. After his men have seen the atomic bomb released, they choose to end their lives on their own terms. Logan is released and jumps into a manhole alongside Yashida. He covers him with his own body and the manhole cover, saving him from the blast of the atomic bomb, once again proving that under that hardened exterior, Wolverine has a heart.
7 Letting Out the Beast — X-Men: Apocalypse
Marvel Studios
In X-Men: Apocalypse, there is a brief Easter egg and epic scene for Wolverine. A young Jean Grey finds a captive Wolverine, who is lost inside his own mind. She gives him a piece of himself back, and frees him. Weapon X is then let loose in the compound, where the X-Men are being kept. The animal comes out, attacking anyone in his path, and ignites fear in a young Stryker’s heart. Inadvertently, Wolverine saves the X-Men and helps them escape before disappearing into the wilderness.
6 The Claw Reveal — X-Men
In X-Men, Logan gets into a bar fight. He pins one man up against a post, and for the first time in the film universe of the X-Men, we get to see Wolverine’s claws. In a slow, dramatic reveal, his claw comes out and threatens the two men. After slicing the bar owners shotgun in half, he leaves in a huff, showing mercy on the menaces.
5 Logan Takes Babysitting Seriously — X2: X-Men United
In X2, Storm, Jean, and Cyclops are tending to issues elsewhere, thus leaving Logan in charge of the X-Mansion. In the middle of the night, long-time villain Stryker attacks the sleeping kids. Wolverine single-handedly kills 90% of the task force in an epic action scene, even stabbing a soldier’s foot with his claws. He leaps from the balcony, baring his teeth and claws and making sure he saves the mutant kids.
4 “I Love You” — X-Men: The Last Stand
In X-Men: The Last Stand, Jean Grey is overtaken by the force called the Phoenix. She is driven to the edge by Magneto and begins destroying everything, including fellow mutants, and becomes too powerful. Wolverine approaches her, being able to heal almost as quickly as Jean tears him apart. In a moment of clarity, she begs him to save her. After telling her how he has felt all along, he kills the woman he loves, saving Jean, and everyone else, from the Phoenix.
3 First Introductions — X-Men: First Class
In a cameo in X-Men: First Class, a young Erik Lensherr and Charles Xavier seek to recruit mutants for the beginnings of their superhero team. They approach Logan in a bar, and before Charles is able to give him his speech, true to form, Wolverine gives the movie its PG-13 rating with its one use of the F-word.
2 The Wolverine is Born — X-Men Origins: Wolverine
In X-Men Origins: Wolverine, William Stryker has just completed the experimentation on Wolverine in a project called Weapon X. After grueling pain, coating his bones in the metal called adamantium and torturing him, they begin to erase his memory. Wolverine then erupts from the pool of water with a growl. He pushes a bullet out of his skull and escapes, now an near-indestructible beast.
1 Old Man Logan Saves Laura — Logan
20th Century Fox
In Logan, one of the most epic scenes in the movie is equally one of the saddest. Old Man Logan pumps himself full of a steroid, giving him ungodly strength but knowing it will destroy him. He does this to save Laura, aka X-23, a product of himself, with claws and an attitude like his own. He kills the men keeping her hostage and saves mutant children one last time, fighting a clone of himself that ends in his demise, sending off one of the greatest superhero characters of all time. And in a wink to a prophecy in The Wolverine, he died holding his heart in his hand, only it wasn’t literal, it was Laura.
