The X-Men franchise is successfully revived in the series prequel, “X-Men: First Class.” Starring James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender as Professor X and Magneto respectively, the film is a first rate outing that masterfully explores the beauty of youth and the pain of needing to grow up fast in a dangerous world. “X-Men: First Class” works well to introduce new audiences to the fictional world the X-Men inhabit, with characters thoroughly developed and the science/fiction mined enough to create compelling action sequences and provoke debate among fans. Kevin Bacon lends an expert hand as an ageless Nazi villain who adopts the esthetics of the swinging 60s, adding an intriguing splash of hipster-cool to the film.
“X-Men: First Class” took the No. 1 spot at the worldwide box office after selling about $120 million worth of tickets, distributor 20th Century Fox said on Sunday. It opened at No. 1 across the United States and Canada with $56 million — fulfilling the studio’s expectations, even if some analysts were predicting a $60 million start. “We have successfully launched a brand new chapter of this franchise,” said Chris Aronson, senior vice president for domestic distribution at the News Corp unit. “X-Men: First Class” reportedly cost about $160 million to make.