Deadpool (2016)
MovieOptionalLegacy
Wade Wilson survives a rogue experiment, gains a healing factor and hunts the man who scarred him. Released in 2016, it’s a Marvel film that isn’t part of the MCU timeline, so it’s optional and stands on its own. It runs 1h 48m and streams on Disney+ in the US.
| Directed by | Tim Miller |
|---|---|
| Starring | Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T.J. Miller |
| Release date | February 12, 2016 |
| Runtime | 1h 48m |
| Age rating | R, ages 17+ unless accompanied |
| IMDb rating | 8.0/10 |
| Box office | $783M worldwide |
| Series | Legacy Marvel films |
| Part of | Deadpool movies in order, X-Men movies in order |
| Post-credit scene | No |
Why it matters now
Set in the Fox X-Men world and the start of the Deadpool trilogy that ends in the MCU with Deadpool & Wolverine.
About Deadpool
Wade Wilson is a former special forces soldier working as a mercenary-for-hire when he falls for Vanessa, and then learns he has terminal cancer. A recruiter offers him an experimental cure, run by a man called Ajax and his enforcer Angel Dust. The procedure triggers mutant healing powers but leaves Wade badly scarred, so instead of going home to Vanessa he becomes Deadpool and hunts Ajax for a fix.
Tim Miller made his feature debut directing for 20th Century Fox, from a script by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. Ryan Reynolds stars, with Morena Baccarin as Vanessa, Ed Skrein as Ajax, T.J. Miller as Weasel, Gina Carano as Angel Dust, Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead and Stefan Kapičić voicing Colossus. Released on February 12, 2016, the 108-minute film cost $58 million and made about $782.6 million, becoming the top-grossing X-Men film and the biggest R-rated film to that point. It scored 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and earned two Golden Globe nominations.
Good to know
- Fox greenlit the film after test footage leaked online in July 2014; Reynolds later admitted he leaked it.
- Reynolds first played the character in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), a version this film deliberately moves away from.
- Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead tie it to Fox's X-Men films.
- It led to Deadpool 2 (2018) and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), which brought Wade into the MCU.
How to watch it
You don't need any X-Men films beforehand, though seeing X-Men Origins: Wolverine helps you get some of the jokes. Watch Deadpool 2 next, then Deadpool & Wolverine, which is part of the MCU but builds on both earlier films and the wider Fox Marvel era. It's R-rated for violence, language and sex, so it isn't a family pick.
Where it fits in your watch
Deadpool FAQ
Do I need to watch the X-Men movies before Deadpool?
No. Deadpool tells its own origin story. Knowing the X-Men films only adds context for a few jokes and cameos.
Why was Deadpool rated R?
The filmmakers wanted a version faithful to the comics, with graphic violence, swearing and sexual content, rather than the toned-down take from X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Who plays Colossus in Deadpool?
Stefan Kapičić voices the CGI Colossus.
Can you skip Deadpool?
Yes. It sits outside the MCU, so you’d watch it for the characters’ history, not for anything the MCU plot needs.
When was Deadpool released?
Deadpool was released on February 12, 2016.
Is Deadpool part of the MCU?
No. Deadpool is a Marvel film made outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so it isn’t on Marvel Studios’ official timeline.
Does Deadpool have a post-credit scene?
No, Deadpool has no post-credit scene.
Where to watch Deadpool in the US
| Streaming (subscription) | Disney+ |
|---|---|
| Rent or buy | Amazon, Fandango at Home, Apple TV |
Where to watch Deadpool 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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