8 Best Number 8 Films In A Franchise

There is a reason that we live inside the multi-gazillion dollar Marvel Cinematic Universe at the moment, and that reason is the X-Men. Bryan Singer's first foray into the world of mutants back in 2001, helped to kick-start the comic book movie renaissance. The X-Men franchise itself - through various spin-offs and alternate timelines - reached number eight in its canon with the excellent Deadpool.

Deadpool is a film that shouldn't really exist. 20th Century Fox had been sitting on the property ever since Ryan Reynolds played a disappointing version of 'Pool, in the even more disappointing X-Men Origins: Wolverine (a film seemingly determined to reduce interesting characters to one-dimensional cardboard cutouts).

But following the "leak" of a Deadpool sizzle reel that Reynolds had made, and the resulting internet explosion over it, Fox had no choice but to greenlight the film. And boy, are we all glad they did.

The decision to make Deadpool an 'adult' comic book film was the key choice in its success. It meant that everyone's favourite assassin needn't hold back with the violence and crudeness, which helped set the Deadpool comics apart from other more traditional Marvel properties.

Not placing restrictions meant the character could consistently do his own meta-thing, mocking the crazy comic book universe he finds himself in and relentlessly breaking the fourth wall. Always with maximum effort, of course.

Smart, witty, and fun as hell, Deadpool was the comic book film you didn't know you needed, but one that you (or Hollywood) can't imagine your life without now.