12 Movies Like X-Men '97 You Need to Watch
Find animated and live-action picks with mutant action, sci-fi stakes, and '90s energy, including X-Men, Spawn, Earth: Final Conflict, and more.
If you’re searching for movies like X-Men '97, you probably want more than just capes and comic-book names — you want the same mix of mutant politics, sharp action, and character drama. A great place to start is X-Men (1992), which set the tone for the animated team stories that made the revival feel so familiar. From there, X2: X-Men United and X-Men: Apocalypse bring bigger stakes and heavier sci-fi energy, while Spawn and Earth: Final Conflict lean into darker, more serious world-building. If you want something a little stranger, Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation and Extreme Dinosaurs deliver retro action with a bold Saturday-morning spirit.
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01
Spawn
animation · action · adventure · crime · drama · fantasy · horror · mystery · romance · sci-fi · thriller
Todd McFarlane's Spawn is an animated television series which aired on HBO from 1997 through 1999. It is also released on DVD as a film series. It is based on the Spawn comic series from Image Comics, and was nominated for and won an Emmy in 1999 for Outstanding Animation Program. An unrelated series titled Spawn: The Animation is in production since 2009, with Keith David reprising his role as the titular character. Like the comic book, the series features graphic violence, sexual scenes, and extensive use of profanity. Todd McFarlane's Spawn was ranked 5th on IGN's list of The Greatest Comic Book Cartoons Of All Time.
Directed by Eric Radomski, Jennifer Yuh Nelson, John Hays, Mike Vosburg, Thomas A. NelsonCast Keith David, Richard Dysart, Dominique Jennings, James Keane, Michael McShaneMax -
02
X-Men
animation · action · adventure · family · sci-fi
The X-Men are an elite team of mutants, genetically gifted human beings with superpowers, sworn to fight for mutant rights against hostile Government agencies, whilst at the same time protecting mankind from mutant supremacist Magneto who seeks to destroy the human race in return for the atrocities committed against mutant kind.
Directed by Larry Houston, Fred Miller, Richard Bowman, Frank SquillaceCast Cedric Smith, George Buza, Cal Dodd, Norm Spencer, Alyson CourtDisney Plus -
03
Earth: Final Conflict
action · drama · mystery · sci-fi
When an alien species comes to Earth bearing gifts for humanity, a few suspicious humans seek to discover and resist the newcomers' true designs.
Directed by Brenton Spencer, Ross Clyde, Andrew Potter, James Head, David WinningCast Von Flores, Leni Parker, Anita La Selva, Richard Chevolleau, David HemblenAmazon Prime VideoFreevee -
04
Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation
action · adventure · comedy · family · sci-fi
Everyone's favorite teenage mutants are back in live action to fight crime with help from a new ninja turtle -- a female named Venus De Milo.
Directed by Robert Lee, Iain Paterson, Rob Stewart, David Straiton, Clay BorrisCast Jarred Blancard, Mitchell A. Lee Yuen, Dean Choe, Richard Yee, Gabe KhouthAmazon Prime Video -
05
X-Men: Apocalypse
action · adventure · sci-fi
After the re-emergence of the world's first mutant, world-destroyer Apocalypse, the X-Men must unite to defeat his extinction level plan.
Directed by Bryan SingerCast James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Oscar IsaacDisney Plus -
06
X2: X-Men United
action · sci-fi · thriller
Professor Charles Xavier and his team of genetically gifted superheroes face a rising tide of anti-mutant sentiment led by Col. William Stryker. Storm, Wolverine and Jean Grey must join their usual nemeses—Magneto and Mystique—to unhinge Stryker's scheme to exterminate all mutants.
Directed by Bryan SingerCast Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Famke JanssenDisney Plus -
07
Extreme Dinosaurs
animation · action · adventure · crime · family · sci-fi
In the present a team of four anthropomorphic dinosaurs, created by aliens, must stop three anthropomorphic velociraptors who want to cause a cataclysm that would speed up global warming and make Earth's climate pleasant for dinosaurs again.
Directed by Richard TruebloodCast Scott McNeil, Cusse Mankuma, Garry Chalk, Terry Klassen, Lee TockarFreevee -
08
Pokémon
action & adventure · science-fiction · animation · comedy · kids & family · fantasy
Join Ash accompanied by his partner Pikachu, as he travels through many regions, meets new friends and faces new challenges on his quest to become a Pokémon Master.
NetflixHuluDisney Plus -
09
The Gifted
action · fantasy · sci-fi
A suburban couple's ordinary lives are rocked by the sudden discovery that their children possess mutant powers. Forced to go on the run from a hostile government, the family joins up with an underground network of mutants and must fight to survive.
Directed by Scott Peters, Stephen Surjik, Robert Duncan McNeill, Steven DePaul, Craig SiebelsCast Stephen Moyer, Amy Acker, Sean Teale, Natalie Alyn Lind, Percy Hynes WhiteHulu -
10
X-Men
action · adventure · sci-fi
Two mutants, Rogue and Wolverine, come to a private academy for their kind whose resident superhero team, the X-Men, must oppose a terrorist organization with similar powers.
Directed by Bryan SingerCast Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen, James MarsdenDisney Plus -
11
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
action · adventure · fantasy · sci-fi · thriller
A group of heroic warriors has only six days to save the planet in "Mortal Kombat Annihilation." To succeed they must survive the most spectacular series of challenges any human, or god, has ever encountered as they battle an evil warlord bent on taking control of Earth.
Directed by John R. LeonettiCast Robin Shou, Talisa Soto, James Remar, Sandra Hess, Lynn 'Red' WilliamsMax -
12
Starship Troopers
action · adventure · sci-fi · thriller
Set in the future, the story follows a young soldier named Johnny Rico and his exploits in the Mobile Infantry. Rico's military career progresses from recruit to non-commissioned officer and finally to officer against the backdrop of an interstellar war between mankind and an arachnoid species known as "the Bugs."
Directed by Paul VerhoevenCast Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer, Denise Richards, Jake Busey, Neil Patrick HarrisNetflix
Wrapping Up
These picks cover the full range of what makes mutant stories work: fast action, ensemble drama, sci-fi ideas, and animated energy that still holds up. Whether you want classic Marvel continuity, live-action spectacle, or a more offbeat '90s vibe, there’s something here worth adding to your watchlist. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you want a fresh recommendation, because it’s updated regularly as new titles and fan favorites are added. That makes it easy to keep finding the next series or film that scratches the same itch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to X-Men '97?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.
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Last updated: September 4, 2026