Nightcrawler Movies in Order
Start with X2 and work down the list. All 3 films and shows below are in release order, and the list ends with Dark Phoenix. Kurt Wagner, Nightcrawler, appears in a handful of the Fox X-Men films.
The whole list runs about 6h 31m, with releases from 2003 to 2019.
Who is Nightcrawler?
Kurt Wagner, better known as Nightcrawler, was created by Dave Cockrum and debuted in Giant-Size X-Men #1 in 1975, as part of the international team that relaunched the X-Men. He's a German mutant who looks demonic, with blue fur and a prehensile tail, and he teleports with a trademark "Bamf!" and a whiff of brimstone. Underneath that look, he is one of the X-Men's warmest characters: a devout Catholic, a swashbuckler, and a prankster. He was also a founding member of Excalibur. In the comics, Mystique is his mother.
Fox's X-Men films gave him two live-action versions. Alan Cumming played him in X2 (2003), and Kodi Smit-McPhee played a younger Kurt in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) and Dark Phoenix (2019), plus a cameo in Deadpool 2. On the animated side, he was voiced by Adrian Hough in X-Men: The Animated Series and Brad Swaile in X-Men: Evolution.
Nightcrawler hasn't appeared in the MCU yet, but Alan Cumming is confirmed to reprise the role in Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for December 18, 2026, alongside other returning X-Men actors.
Nightcrawler in release order
- 1
StreamDisney+
- 2
StreamDisney+
- 3
StreamDisney+
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Nightcrawler FAQ
Is Nightcrawler a mutant?
Yes. Kurt Wagner is a mutant whose powers include teleportation, superhuman agility, and a prehensile tail.
Is Nightcrawler in Avengers: Doomsday?
Yes. Alan Cumming, who played him in X2, is confirmed to return in Avengers: Doomsday.
Who played Nightcrawler in the X-Men movies?
Alan Cumming played him in X2 (2003), and Kodi Smit-McPhee took over in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) and Dark Phoenix (2019).
What order should I watch Nightcrawler in?
Go top to bottom. For Nightcrawler, story order and release order are the same, so there’s nothing to rearrange. Start with X2 (2003) and work forward.
How many titles feature Nightcrawler?
3 so far, released from 2003 to 2019. That’s about 6h 31m of viewing.
How long does it take to watch every Nightcrawler appearance?
About 6h 31m for all 3 released titles. At two hours an evening, that’s roughly 4 sittings.
Do I need to watch the whole MCU to follow Nightcrawler?
No. These 3 titles tell the character’s own story. None of them are required for the main MCU story, so treat the list as optional viewing.