The New Mutants (2020)
MovieOptionalLegacy
Five young mutants held in a secret hospital face their worst fears made real. This 2020 Marvel film was made outside Marvel Studios’ main MCU line-up, so it’s optional for the watch order and works fine on its own. At 1h 34m, it streams on Disney+ in the US.
| Directed by | Josh Boone |
|---|---|
| Starring | Maisie Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Heaton, Blu Hunt |
| Release date | August 28, 2020 |
| Runtime | 1h 34m |
| Age rating | PG-13, some material may be inappropriate for under 13 |
| IMDb rating | 5.3/10 |
| Box office | $49M worldwide |
| Series | Legacy Marvel films |
| Part of | X-Men movies in order |
| Post-credit scene | No |
Why it matters now
A horror-flavoured spin-off and the final Fox X-Men release. Optional.
About The New Mutants
The New Mutants turns the X-Men universe into a horror movie. After a tornado tears through her reservation, Dani Moonstar wakes up in a near-empty hospital run by Dr. Cecilia Reyes, who tells her she's a mutant and must stay until she can control her powers. Dani meets four other young patients, Illyana, Sam, Roberto and Rahne, each with a dangerous ability and a painful past. Soon all of them are haunted by terrifying visions, and they start to wonder what Reyes is really up to.
Josh Boone directed and co-wrote it with Knate Lee, with Blu Hunt as Dani, Anya Taylor-Joy as Illyana Rasputina (Magik), Charlie Heaton as Cannonball, Maisie Williams as Wolfsbane, Henry Zaga as Sunspot and Alice Braga as Reyes. Shot mostly at Medfield State Hospital, it was delayed repeatedly from its original April 2018 date, through Disney's purchase of Fox and the COVID-19 pandemic, before opening on August 28, 2020. Reviews were mixed, and it earned about $49 million worldwide.
Good to know
- It's the 13th and final film in Fox's X-Men series.
- Boone and Lee pitched a horror trilogy, with planned sequels involving an alien invasion featuring Warlock and an apocalyptic story inspired by the Inferno comics; neither was made.
- Its release date moved four times before COVID-19 pulled it from the schedule, and it finally opened in August 2020.
- Planned reshoots never happened; Boone finished the film without them after Disney's acquisition of Fox.
- Marilyn Manson voiced the creepy Smiling Men.
How to watch it
Watch it last in a Fox X-Men run, after Dark Phoenix, since it's the final film in that series, although its story stands alone and needs no prior viewing. Its links to the main X-Men films are light, so think of it as a teen horror film with mutants rather than a superhero movie. Horror fans and New Mutants readers will get the most out of it, along with anyone who wants to see Anya Taylor-Joy as Magik.
Where it fits in your watch
The New Mutants FAQ
Is The New Mutants connected to the X-Men movies?
Yes, it's part of Fox's X-Men film series, but it tells a self-contained story with no main X-Men characters in leading roles.
Why was The New Mutants delayed so many times?
It moved from April 2018 to several later dates, was caught up in Disney's acquisition of Fox, and was then pulled from the schedule in March 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic before finally opening in August 2020.
Will there be a New Mutants 2?
Unlikely. A trilogy was planned, but after Disney folded the X-Men into the MCU, the sequels were never made.
Can you skip The New Mutants?
Yes. It isn’t part of the MCU, so watch it for the characters’ history, not for MCU plot.
When was The New Mutants released?
The New Mutants was released on August 28, 2020.
Is The New Mutants part of the MCU?
No. The New Mutants is a Marvel film made outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so it isn’t on Marvel Studios’ official timeline.
Does The New Mutants have a post-credit scene?
No, The New Mutants has no post-credit scene.
Where to watch The New Mutants in the US
| Streaming (subscription) | Disney+ |
|---|---|
| Rent or buy | Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango at Home |
Where to watch The New Mutants outside the US
| Country | Stream | Other options |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Disney+ | Rent: Apple TV, Rakuten TV, Amazon |
| Canada | Disney+ | Rent: Apple TV, Amazon, CosmoGo |
| Australia | Disney+ | None needed |
| India | JioHotstar | None needed |
Streaming availability last verified: October 16, 2026
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