X2: X-Men United

Movie review by Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
X2: X-Men United Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 12+

Fun but violent sequel has peril, cursing.

PG-13 2003 135 minutes
Rate movie

Parents say

age 12+

Based on 27 reviews

Kids say

age 11+

Based on 68 reviews

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate movie

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that X2: X-Men United is the action- and violence-packed second film in the X-Men blockbuster movie franchise. The action in the fight scenes is unrelenting and, though cartoonish and rooted in comic books, features moments where the president of the United States is pinned down on his Oval Office desk by a knife-wielding mutant, police officers are burned to a crisp, and soldiers are clawed to death by Wolverine. There's a scene of forced sexual coercion during which Mystique forces herself on a prison guard, where they end up in a bathroom -- the initiation of oral sex is strongly implied. At other moments, characters are kicked, thrown, and shot at. Teens smoke in a mall, and Wolverine is often seen with a cigar in his mouth. There's occasional profanity ("s--t," "ass," "t-t," "d--k," "hell") and some product placement as characters drink Dr. Pepper and Miller Genuine Draft. On a positive note, the X-Men are brave, devoted to their professor and school, and loyal to one another.

Community Reviews

monico
monico Adult
October 1, 2018
age 15+

For Kids 12-14yrs WITH Supervision & Scene-Skips, 15-18 w/Some Supervision

I think review written by TC on July 11, 2017 is right on. I agree. Plus adding my own hopefully-helpful tips. The movie is good (as far as xmen can be) but they have a few pretty adult scenes not only in visuals but especially in body language, intentions, and blatant emotional infidelity. We use amazon prime movies, so I sometimes try to "fast" watch and review the movies before I watch them with my 12/13 yr old girls...so that I can skip the inappropriate scenes while they close their eyes (my wife and I still have them close their eyes/ears). Below times are approximate, but hopefully they help others (1) Skip from 0:45:38 (parent cue: security guard sitting at table in bar) to 0:47:18 (parent cue: scene of water dam/mountains). This scene-skip is the one where mystique (in form of pretty girl) seduces security guard and they end up in the bathroom stall. Since this scene has a slightly important piece of information, I just tell my girls that this is the scene where she injects the guard with liquid metal that permeates his blood streams, which magneto uses later to both, kill the guard and to manipulate in to "buck shot" to break his glass prison etc. (2) Skip from 0:51:12 (parent cue: Logan is using a "cell phone" and says "Jean!") to 52:17 (parent cue: rogue says "I'm sorry" right after kissing and almost hurting "freeze" guy). This skip-scene is where freeze guy peeks at rogue changing clothes (not to mention why in the world she'd be changing with him in the room and why he doesn't step out). also after she changes, they have a pretty hot and heavy kiss. (3) Skip from 1:14:52 (parent cue: Logan lying in camping tent, looking at his dog tags) to 1:15:50 (parent cue: mystique and logan are talking after he pushes her way) This skip scene is where Dr. Grey (actually mystique) comes into logan's tent and starts kissing him (pretty passionately) while she's lying on top of him...not to mention after previously having a short talk about she can't be unfaithful to cyclops, etc. altho it ends up being an "ok" ish outcome, the movie dangerously flirts with audience's primal feelings of pleasures of the flesh in a very inappropriate situation.
3 people found this helpful.
swampfoxsouth
swampfoxsouth Adult
February 20, 2023
age 11+

Awesome sequel. Great for kids 11+

Violence 3/5: Comic book action. Romance, Nudity 2/5: Some kissing and Mystique looks like a nude woman in a costume, but no actual nudity. Language 2/5: “D--k,” is the first cuss word in the movie. Also, some uses of “s--t,” “ass,” “hell,” and “dammit.”

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
1 person found this helpful.
See all 27 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In X2: X-MEN UNITED, the ubiquitous Brian Cox (of Adaptation, The 25th Hour, The Ring, and The Rookie) as Colonel Stryker wants to wipe out the mutants. Stryker and his soldiers invade the school run by wise and benevolent mutant Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart). They capture Xavier and some of the students. Stryker plans to use Xavier's brain and the machine he developed to track down and destroy every mutant. Meanwhile, Magneto (Ian McKellen) is in an enormous plastic prison, unable to use his powers because they require metal. He is able to get out after metal is smuggled in to him, and must work with Xavier's mutants (the X-Men), his former enemies, to defeat Stryker.

Is It Any Good?

This sequel is bigger, badder, and better than the first film, bringing back the excellent special effects, attractive stars, and fun action sequences, and the perfect popcorn-movie tone. That said, while this movie is all about the action, there are so many characters that it's hard to include them all in anything meaningful, giving parts of X2: X-Men United the feel of a prolonged introduction.

The comic's fans want to see every character up on the screen, and the movie tries to make it happen. But the result is that it's hard for people who are not familiar with the stories to keep everyone straight or develop much of a commitment to any of them. Halle Berry and Anna Paquin in particular are still criminally underused. The most memorable character is Mystique, played by Rebecca Romjin-Stamos, who is so good that she can even act under all that blue paint and those sequin-like scales. Alan Cummings is a welcome addition as Nightcrawler, but his German accent and Biblical references seem out of place and attracted some laughter from the audience. This is handled with more sensitivity in the comic books, where he is portrayed as a devout Catholic.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the the mutants' fight for acceptance in X2: X-Men United mirrors the struggle to overcome racism and other forms of bigotry in our society. Is the metaphor effective?

  • If you saw the first X-Men movie in this series, which do you like better? How are they different?

  • How well do you think comic books translate to feature films? Which comics-based movies have made the best adaptations?

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

For kids who love comics and superheroes

Character Strengths

Find more movies that help kids build character.

  • Young girl playing
    Courage
    See all
  • Hands together
    Teamwork
    See all

Themes & Topics

Browse titles with similar subject matter.

  • Cartoon magic wand on orange background
    Magic and Fantasy
    See all
  • Cartoon superhero
    Superheroes
    See all
  • Cartoon hands high fiving
    Friendship
    See all
  • Cartoon picture of the side profile of a boy
    Great Boy Role Models
    See all

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate