Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Wolverine is legendary, but certain scenes from his Marvel movie history have not aged well. Jackman’s Wolverine became the central figure in the X-Men franchise, spanning multiple films in ensemble X-Men movies and solo adventures. However, not every moment of his time as Wolverine holds up to modern scrutiny. Some scenes, once considered iconic, now feel outdated or inconsistent.
As superhero films have evolved, Jackman’s moments as Wolverine have failed to keep up with the genre’s maturation. Scenes such as Wolverine stealing Cyclops’ motorbike in X-Men (2000) stand out as an early attempt to make the character feel rebellious and cool, but they now come across as silly and juvenile. The comedic tone and exaggerated actions feel forced, making the moment seem out of place in a film that would later explore deeper emotional themes.
Another moment that fails to hold up is Hugh Jackman’s first shirtless scene, which was poorly thought out in X-Men (2000) and X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009). The plot device involving Wolverine losing his memory in X-Men Origins is also problematic, with the idea of an adamantium bullet causing amnesia feeling contrived and out of place with the character’s regenerative healing factor.
The final scene that sticks out is a line of dialogue in X-Men (2000) where Wolverine quips about the X-Men’s black leather uniforms, prompting Cyclops to ask “What would you prefer? Yellow spandex?” While meant to be a playful jab at the idea of translating the comic book costumes to the big screen, the line now feels like an admission of the filmmakers’ reluctance to fully embrace the comic book aesthetic.
These moments are reminders of the growing pains superhero films faced in their early days. While Jackman’s performance is largely celebrated, these scenes detract from the otherwise iconic status of his portrayal of the mutant anti-hero.