Dark Phoenix

During a space salvage operation the X-Men try to recover a damaged shuttle and its crew, but Jean Grey is struck by an unknown cosmic force that nearly kills her. She comes back altered, her abilities amplified and her emotions volatile. As Jean struggles to control an expanding, destructive power, the team splits between protecting her and preventing catastrophe. Charles Xavier works to guide her, while old alliances strain and new threats emerge that want to exploit her strength. The plot balances intense action with personal conflict, focusing on how love, loyalty, and fear shape the team's effort to keep Jean from becoming the weapon others seek.

Directed by Simon Kinberg and released in 2019, the film adapts elements of Marvel's X-Men comics, notably the Dark Phoenix storyline, and reunites much of the newer X-Men cast including Sophie Turner and James McAvoy.

The movie opened amid studio uncertainty and ultimately underperformed relative to franchise expectations. Its commercial shortfall prompted industry conversation about the film's execution and the viability of future standalone X-Men projects at that time.

As the last major Fox-era X-Men release before the studio's characters moved toward Disney-led films, Dark Phoenix provoked steady fan and press debate. Viewers discussed casting choices, tone shifts, and whether a long-running comic arc could be condensed into a single blockbuster, making the film a frequent reference point in conversations about franchise fatigue and adaptation choices.

Critical and audience reaction skewed mixed to negative, reflected in an average user score around 5.96 out of 10. Reviewers tended to praise certain performances while criticizing the screenplay, pacing, and character development. The film centers on themes of power and identity, the strain that secrecy and protection put on relationships, and the moral costs of trying to shield someone whose abilities exceed understanding.