--- title: "X-Men: Days of Future Past: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/x-men-days-of-future-past/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/x-men-days-of-future-past" critics_score: 73 critics_reviews: 25 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014): what the critics said Critics' score 73 from 25 reviews: 17 positive, 8 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics find X-Men: Days of Future Past an entertaining, ambitious entry, with praise concentrated on its central performances and inventive action. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender draw particular approval, while several reviews credit Bryan Singer with giving the sprawling story emotional weight. Quicksilver’s slow-motion sequence is the clearest point of agreement, winning over even critics less persuaded by the rest. The favourable reviews value the attention paid to characters amid the competing timelines. Reservations centre on crowded plotting, uneven urgency and the demands placed on audience familiarity with the series. The spread runs from enthusiastic approval to mixed responses, with no wholly negative verdicts in the supplied reviews. Slant Magazine finds the parallel storylines uninventive and the dialogue emotionally hollow. The Wrap finds the film entertaining but exhausting, with the bleak future scenes upsetting the balance; elsewhere, critics differ over whether Singer keeps the large cast and complicated story sufficiently focused. ## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey Fi1m's normalised score 86/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2014. Sharkey finds the film a deeper, richer adventure and calls it Singer’s best X-Men film. She especially praises the cast, singling out the electric performances of James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-x-men-days-review-20140523-column.html) ## Empire — William Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 12 May 2014. The review finds the film largely fantastic and calls it the best X-Men film since the second. It especially praises the inventive action, singling out Quicksilver’s slow-motion sequence as a highlight. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/x-men-days-future-past-review/) ## Little White Lies — Chris Blohm Rating 4/4/4. 21 May 2014. The critic calls it an ambitious, thrilling blockbuster, though its crowded cast weakens its focus. The review particularly praises Michael Fassbender’s performance and the film’s dazzling set-pieces. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/x-men-days-of-future-past) ## Radio Times — Jeremy Aspinall Rating 4/5. Aspinall calls Bryan Singer’s return triumphant and praises the ambitious, time-spanning story. The review also highlights how the film raises the stakes for the franchise. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-y7ng8x/xmen-days-of-future-past/) ## Total Film — Kevin Harley Rating 4/5. 13 May 2014. Harley praises the film as an assured, brisk revival that balances superhero thrills with emotional depth. He especially singles out Singer’s focus on Xavier and Mystique, alongside the cast’s performances and the inventive action. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/x-men-days-of-future-past-review/) ## Variety — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 12 May 2014. Chang finds the film an ambitious, emotionally resonant return to form for Bryan Singer. He especially praises the performances of McAvoy and Fassbender and the playful Quicksilver action sequence. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-x-men-days-of-future-past-1201177971/) ## The AV Club — Ignatiy Vishnevetsky Rating B. 22 May 2014. Vishnevetsky finds the film’s comics-style storytelling narratively satisfying, though potentially alienating to newcomers. He praises its extravagant effects sequences and its ability to use audience familiarity to move quickly across characters and timelines. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/x-men-days-of-future-past-embraces-geeky-comics-style-1798180528) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 27 May 2014. O'Sullivan finds the film witty, beautifully acted, and still ahead of its superhero competition, despite some confusing plotting. She praises the prison-break set piece but faults the underwritten Mystique, whose striking presence is not matched by a developed inner life. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/xmen-days-of-future-past-film-review-still-light-years-ahead-of-the-competition-9422594.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 12 May 2014. Rooney finds the film vigorously entertaining, though more dramatically diffuse than its predecessor and lacking a definitive villain. He especially praises Evan Peters’ Quicksilver, whose playful performance and brilliantly staged Pentagon sequence stand out. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/x-men-days-future-past-3-703209/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2014. Bradshaw finds the film chaotic but ultimately enjoyable, a dizzying ride that mostly escapes incoherence. He particularly praises Quicksilver’s exuberant, bullet-time Pentagon sequence, while noting that the later sections become muddled and portentous. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/may/22/xmen-days-of-future-past-review-hugh-jackman-peter-bradshaw) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 23 May 2014. Edelstein finds it a successful, entertaining superhero movie, though its commercial purpose and weak climax hold it back. He especially praises Jennifer Lawrence’s performance as Mystique, while also singling out the Quicksilver sequence as a standout set piece. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2014/05/movie-review-x-men-days-of-future-past.html) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). The URL identifies this as a RogerEbert.com review, but the page content is blocked. Its verdict and any specific praise or criticism cannot be verified. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/x-men-days-of-future-past-2014) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 12 May 2014. The critic’s verdict cannot be determined from the accessible page. The paywall also hides what the review singles out for praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/x-men-days-of-future-past/5071565.article) ## The New Yorker Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). The capsule presents the film as entertaining, mixing apocalyptic stakes with wit and playful effects. It particularly praises the 3-D set pieces and Jennifer Lawrence’s screen presence. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/x-men-days-of-future-past-2) ## Time Out — Cath Clarke Rating 3/5. 12 May 2014. The three-star rating suggests a mixed verdict. The available description pokes fun at Fassbender’s silly headgear, but the review text is unavailable to confirm further details. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/x-men-days-of-future-past) ## Slant Magazine — Chris Cabin Rating 2/4. 22 May 2014. Cabin finds the film weighed down by uninventive parallel storylines and emotionally hollow dialogue. He singles out Quicksilver’s Pentagon escape as a lively sequence that captures the characters’ wit and powers. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/x-men-days-of-future-past/) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 4.5/5. 23 May 2014. Crow calls the film a franchise miracle and possibly the best X-Men movie, praising its ambitious storytelling and character work. He singles out James McAvoy’s performance as Xavier as the film’s emotional heart. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/comics/x-men-days-of-future-past-review/) ## Paste — Scott Wold Rating 8.5. 23 May 2014. Wold praises the film as an ambitious, entertaining blockbuster that balances its sprawling story with genuine heart. He singles out Singer’s skill at managing the large cast and complex plot while giving the characters’ themes room to breathe. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/x-men/x-men-days-of-future-past) ## HeyUGuys — Amon Warmann Rating 4/5. 13 May 2014. The critic calls it one of the year’s best blockbusters and arguably the franchise’s best installment. They praise the strong central performances and the character-focused story, while noting some lapses in the future timeline’s urgency. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/x-men-days-future-past-review/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B. 22 May 2014. Goldberg finds the film uplifting and a strong return to form for the franchise, despite some shortcomings in action, visuals, and pacing. He especially praises its emphasis on empathy and Quicksilver’s standout action scene. [Read the review](https://collider.com/x-men-days-of-future-past-review/) ## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 12 May 2014. The critic finds it an ambitious, entertaining entry that combines spectacle with strong performances, though the stakes sometimes feel too low. Evan Peters’s Quicksilver sequence is singled out as a standout action highlight. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a570383/x-men-days-of-future-past-review-nostalgia-and-new-frontier/) ## /Film — Russ Fischer Rating 7.5/10. 23 May 2014. Fischer calls it a speedy, character-oriented action film and one of the better X-Men movies. He praises the clear, energetic editing and Quicksilver’s memorable action sequence, while noting an ending that complicates earlier films’ emotional victories. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/531585/x-men-days-of-future-past-review/) ## Eye for Film — Michael Pattison Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2014. Pattison finds the film enjoyable overall, despite several pointed reservations. He singles out the chemistry among the ensemble and the lively, comparatively restrained action sequences for praise. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/x-men-days-of-future-past-2014-film-review-by-michael-pattison) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The URL identifies this as a review of the 2014 film, but the page content is blocked. The critic’s verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be determined. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-x-men-days-of-future-past-starring-michael-fassbender-james-mcavoy-hugh-jackman-20140521/) ## The Wrap — Alonso Duralde Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 12 May 2014. The critic finds the film entertaining but ultimately more exhausting than exuberant and not fully satisfying on its own. They praise Quicksilver’s action sequence and Singer’s brisk handling of the sprawling story, while faulting the imbalance created by the bleak future scenes. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/x-men-days-future-past-review-mutant-saga-crosses-streams-old-school-newer-characters/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/x-men-days-of-future-past.md