Deadpool and Wolverine has come up as the biggest movie of 2024. While most of us have watched the movie in theaters, if you are one of the few who still have not watched it and are waiting for it to arrive on OTT platforms, let’s take a look at some movies that will help you relate to and understand the references and easter eggs in Deadpool 3. So, here are the movies and TV shows that you should watch before Deadpool 3.
1. X-Men (2000)
X-Men (2000) was the first live-action adaptation of X-Men and was also the movie that brought us Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. This movie is special because a lot of recurring characters in the X-Men franchise made their debut with this movie and are to date fan favorites.
Now you might ask why we need to watch this before Deadpool 3. The answer to that is quite simple, this movie is the place where it all began. To understand the X-Men movies timeline, which is now being merged into the MCU, you need to know where it came from. Hence, this movie comes into the picture.
2. X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Hugh Jackman’s debut as Wolverine was so successful that he got his standalone movie. X-Men Origins: Wolverine is one movie you should watch before you delve into the Deadpool franchise altogether let alone Deadpool 3. The reason for this is simple, this movie is where it all began.
This film is where the first ever appearance of Deadpool was made with Ryan Reynolds. This adaptation was so trashy that Ryan Reynolds took it personally to show Deadpool in his prime, thus, giving birth to the Deadpool franchise. A lot of jokes in Deadpool movies referenced this movie, and in Deadpool 2, Wade literally went back in time to kill this version of Deadpool. So, as far as I think, you guys should give it a watch if you already haven’t.
3. X-Men: Days of Future Past
Watching X-Men: Days of Future Past is essential to understanding the character development Wolverine went through. This movie revolves around a dystopian future where mutants are almost extinct. Using Kitty’s abilities to phase someone through time, Wolverine travels back in time to prevent the events that would lead to such a future.
As far as I think, this movie features one of the best representations of the depth the character of Logan carries. The sole purpose of my suggesting this movie to you guys is to sum up the gradual character development seen in Wolverine.
In the first X-Men film, we see him as a mindless and angry brute, whereas X2 shows us his capability of being a leader. However, this movie puts him in the place of a leader, and it’s rather beautifully portrayed in my opinion.
4. Deadpool
Now if you are planning to watch Deadpool 3, you most probably have already watched the first Deadpool movie. This movie is arguably the best anti-hero movie I have ever seen. I have said it once and I will say it again, no one in this world can play Deadpool better than Ryan Reynolds.
This movie serves as an origin story for the hero and is probably the first time we have seen a Marvel character break the fourth wall in live-action. Deadpool is technically the first time the X-Men universe was revived since we got to see Negasonic Teenage Warhead and Colossus trying to mentor Deadpool in the movie.
5. Logan
Logan is one of those movies that’s extremely close to my heart. Logan is one of the best Superhero movies out there. This film shows us an old Wolverine who stumbles upon a young X-23, genetically mutated with Logan’s DNA. This gives her the same powers as he does and technically makes her his daughter. This girl was portrayed by Dafne Keen who is now confirmed to make a comeback in Deadpool and Wolverine. It is super exciting since no one expected to see Jackman return in this role.
If you are someone who has not watched Logan, I insist that you watch it to have an understanding of Dafne Keen’s role in the upcoming Deadpool 3 and also the very opening of Deadpool and Wolverine.
6. Deadpool 2
Of course, if you are going to watch Deadpool 3, you should watch Deadpool 2. Towards the end of Deadpool 2, we see Yukio and Negasonic Teenage Warhead fix Cable’s time-traveling device for Deadpool. He uses it to go back in time and change a lot of things. He saves his girlfriend from dying, he kills the inferior version of Deadpool, and a lot more stuff.
Even though Deadpool 3 does not carry forward a lot of things from Deadpool 2, this is a movie you should not miss out on.
7. Loki (Seasons 1 & 2)
Now I know that we were talking about movies in this article but this series is crucial to watch before you watch Deadpool and Wolverine. Loki introduces us to the Time Variance Authority (TVA). It was an organization that prevented the formation of multiple timelines removing the possibility of a multiverse.
However, by the end of Loki Season 2, the TVA became an organization that took up the task of protecting multiple timelines from imminent threats. That said, characters such as Hunter B-15, Alioth, and the secondary antagonist, Mr. Paradox appear in Deadpool & Wolverine. Therefore, watching Loki is essential before you watch Deadpool 3.
Aparna Ukil
