X-Men: Dark Phoenix, released internationally as Dark Phoenix, follows X-Men: Apocalypse, standing as the tenth entry in the X-Men film saga and the last of the prequel series. This installment is particularly notable for being the first X-Men movie to exclude Hugh Jackman’s iconic Wolverine (apart from the Deadpool spin-offs). Simon Kinberg took the helm as producer, writer, and director for his directorial debut. The film boasts an impressive cast, including James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, and Jessica Chastain.

At the heart of the film is Jean Grey, played by Sophie Turner. On a perilous space mission, Jean is hit by a cosmic force that not only enhances her psychic powers but also resurrects her past traumas, leading to a dangerous instability. Her struggle with these overwhelming forces inadvertently threatens to destroy the X-Men family and the planet.

X-Men: Dark Phoenix revisits the renowned Dark Phoenix Saga by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, a narrative previously explored in 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand, which had a polarized reception. Kinberg’s version strives for a more faithful retelling, setting itself apart from its predecessor. The film intricately portrays Jean Grey’s metamorphosis into the formidable and unpredictable Phoenix, weaving through complex themes of mental health, control, and sacrifice.

The X-Men movie series concluded for a variety of reasons, ultimately leading to the mutants’ integration into the Marvel Cinematic Universe… all thanks to their beloved Merc with a Mouth.

In the year 1975, a tragic car accident revealed the extraordinary telekinetic powers of eight-year-old Jean Grey, leaving her an orphan. She found a new home at Professor Charles Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, where she was promised guidance to harness her unique abilities.

Fast forward to 1992, the X-Men face a daring rescue mission to save astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, compromised by a mysterious solar flare-like energy. During the operation, Jean is engulfed by this energy, which magnifies her psychic powers but also makes them increasingly difficult to control, leading to a decline in her emotional stability. Professor Xavier confesses that he had previously contained Jean’s memories of inadvertently causing the car crash that orphaned her, to protect her from psychological trauma. However, her newfound power begins to dismantle these mental barriers, triggering symptoms of PTSD and a loss of control over her abilities.

Haunted by visions of her father, Jean returns to her childhood home, only to discover he is alive, having abandoned her after the accident. Her full memories return, and with them, the realization that her uncontrolled powers were responsible for the crash that took her mother’s life. As the X-Men converge to intervene, a confrontation ensues, resulting in Peter Maximoff‘s injury. In a desperate attempt to calm the situation, Xavier immobilizes everyone, allowing Raven Darkhölme to reach out to Jean. Tragically, a surge of Jean’s volatile telekinetic power results in Raven’s accidental death.

Seeking refuge on the island of Genosha, governed by Erik Lehnsherr, Jean seeks his aid to manage her fury. However, when military forces demand her surrender, her response leads to her expulsion by an irate Erik. Vuk, the leader of the shape-shifting D’Bari, finds Jean and reveals the cosmic force she harbours destroyed their world. Vuk offers to guide Jean in harnessing this power safely.

Hank McCoy, holding Charles Xavier responsible for Raven’s demise, departs from the school and joins forces with Erik’s mutants to confront Jean in New York City. Upon discovering Erik’s intent, Kurt Wagner teleports the X-Men to intervene. As the mutants clash, Jean, empowered, overcomes Erik. Xavier then helps Jean reconnect with her true self through shared memories. When Vuk tries to extract the Phoenix Force from Jean, Scott Summers intervenes, revealing the D’Bari’s malicious plans for Earth. The government detains all of the mutants, but they soon face an assault by Vuk and the D’Bari.

Imprisoned on a train, the mutants are set free during the D’Bari onslaught. Charles, Scott, Hank, Erik, and their allies rally together to protect Jean. In a mental communion, Jean forgives Charles, preventing a catastrophe and vanquishing the D’Bari. Vuk makes a final attempt to siphon the Phoenix Force, but Jean ascends to space, releasing her full might and annihilating Vuk, metamorphosing into a Phoenix of pure energy.

The school is rechristened as the “Jean Grey School for Gifted Youngsters,” with Hank succeeding Charles as the head. Charles finds himself in Paris, where Erik greets him with an invitation to a congenial chess match. Above them, the sky is set ablaze with the image of a flaming phoenix, a sight to behold.

(1) In the film, Jean Grey narrates both the opening and closing segments. In the comics, the traumatic event of her best friend Annie being struck by a car triggered Jean’s powers, as she experienced the incident telepathically. Although Jean’s attempt to keep Annie’s essence alive was unsuccessful, it drew the attention of the Phoenix Entity due to the immense power she exhibited.

(2) Jean’s parents, Dr. John and Elaine Grey, are portrayed as supportive figures in the comics, first appearing in Uncanny X-Men #5. Their characters meet a tragic end at the hands of Shi’ar Death Troopers who are intent on eradicating Jean’s family from existence in the End of Greys storyline in Uncanny X-Men #466.

(3) Charles Xavier intervenes early in Jean’s life to place mental barriers that shield her from the truth about her father’s survival and the accident, as well as her extensive psychic abilities. This is similar to the events in the film X-Men: The Last Stand. Unlike in the films where she is unaware of these barriers, the comic book version of Jean is cognizant of them, and they dissipate as her powers mature. In X-Men: The Last Stand, Charles meets a young Jean with Erik by his side, differing from the revised timeline.

(4) Xavier escorts Jean to the Xavier Institute in his iconic Rolls Royce.

(5) The X-Men’s mission uniforms in the film take inspiration from the Grant Morrison era in the New X-Men series.

(6) The film depicts Jean’s physical healing when she is struck by the Phoenix. In contrast, the comics portray a dialogue between the Phoenix and a deteriorating Jean as she succumbs to radiation in Classic X-Men #8.

(7) Raven’s criticism of Charles for using young mutants as soldiers echoes similar disputes he had with Moira MacTaggert in the comics, particularly following the events of X-Men: Deadly Genesis.

(8) The D’Bari in the film bear little resemblance to their comic counterparts, except that their planet was also destroyed by Dark Phoenix in Uncanny X-Men #135.

(9) Dazzler makes a brief appearance at the students’ campfire, donning her disco attire from her debut in Uncanny X-Men #130.

(10) Moira once believed the ‘X’ in ‘X-Men’ stood for Xavier, as per Uncanny X-Men #300. However, he clarified it was named after the X-Gene.

(11) Jean echoes the line “Get out of my head” to Charles, reminiscent of her words in X-Men: The Last Stand. She also expels him from her mind as in the film. The setting returns to Jean Grey’s childhood home in Annadale-on-Hudson, the site of a pivotal battle between Dark Phoenix and the X-Men across various media.

(12) Storm alludes to her past as a Horseman of Apocalypse, as depicted in the preceding movie.

(13) The film doesn’t name the island granted to Erik for mutants, but the credits identify it as Genosha. The UN awarded Magneto sovereignty over it in X-Men #87, primarily to keep him preoccupied.

(14) Hank’s departure from the X-Men to side with Magneto following a dispute over moral decisions mirrors events with other characters in different media, such as Colossus in Uncanny X-Men #304 and Rogue and Sunspot in X-Men ’97‘s Tolerance for Extinction (Part 2).

(15) In the comics, Vuk has previously pursued the Phoenix, or Jean, seeking vengeance. Their appearance in the comics is strikingly different from Jessica Chastain’s portrayal in the film.

(16) Erik observes the Blackbird’s arrival at Genosha in a manner reminiscent of his actions in the X-Men finale, Graduation Day.

(17) The mansion Vuk brings Jean to in New York echoes the Hellfire Club Mansion from the comics, which was a setting for the Dark Phoenix Saga chapter in Uncanny X-Men #132.

(18) Inhibitor collars, designed to dampen mutant abilities, are employed to detain the X-Men and the Brotherhood, akin to those featured in the Slave Island episode of X-Men, complete with red lights.

(19) Magneto isolates Cyclops, Jean, and Charles from Vuk on the train, mirroring the actions of his future self in X-Men: Days of Future Past to protect Kitty from the Sentinels.

(20) As Jean’s powers intensify, she starts to disintegrate people by altering their molecular structure, reminiscent of X-Men: The Last Stand. However, in this film, Scott’s love for Jean shields him and ultimately saves her rather than killing him.

(21) The school is rechristened as The Jean Grey School for Gifted Youngsters. Following the Schism event, Headmaster Logan renames the school to The Jean Grey Institute for Higher Learning in Wolverine and the X-Men #1.