Hugh Jackman has been synonymous with Wolverine for over two decades, but his journey with the clawed mutant took a surprising turn when he finally entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2024. Now, as the clock ticks down to Avengers: Doomsday, fans are rediscovering one of his most underrated solo adventures, and it's making a serious splash on streaming.
Jackman first bared his claws in 2000's X-Men, and since then, he's suited up as Logan a total of ten times. After what was supposed to be a definitive farewell in 2017's Logan, he shocked audiences by returning alongside Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool & Wolverine. With Avengers: Doomsday looming, Marvel has included several of his films in its recommended viewing list, but it's his 2013 solo film that's currently stealing the spotlight.
The Wolverine finds Jackman's Logan still grappling with the guilt of having killed Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) to save the world. Haunted and living as a hermit, he's tracked down by a mutant named Yukio (Rila Fukushima), who brings him to Japan. There, he meets Ichirō Yashida (Haruhiko Yamanouchi), a former soldier he saved during World War II, who offers him a chance to shed his immortality. It's a deeply personal, character-driven story that stands apart from the typical superhero spectacle.
This week, The Wolverine has clawed its way to No. 6 on HBO Max's Top 10 Movies chart in the U.S., nestled between Project X and The Predator. The surge in viewership is a testament to the film's enduring appeal, with fans taking to social media to call it one of the most underrated entries in the X-Men franchise. The movie was a commercial hit upon release, grossing $414.8 million worldwide, and it holds a 70% critics' score and 69% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The renewed interest comes as Marvel Studios assembles its upcoming X-Men reboot, which has already announced a star-studded cast including Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, and Christopher Abbott as Charles Xavier. Notably absent from the lineup is a new Wolverine, leaving fans to speculate who might fill Jackman's iconic shoes. Names like Taron Egerton and The Bear's Jeremy Allen White have been floated, but nothing is confirmed.
While Jackman hasn't officially confirmed his involvement in Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars, he's teased interest at Disney's D23 event. Until then, fans can revisit his greatest hits, and The Wolverine is proving to be a perfect pick for those craving a more introspective take on the character. If you're in the mood for another underrated gem, check out Kevin Costner's Wyatt Earp or Tom Hardy's Locke for more streaming discoveries.
As the MCU hurtles toward its next big crossover, The Wolverine's streaming resurgence is a reminder that sometimes the best superhero stories are the ones that focus on the person behind the mask. Whether Jackman returns or a new actor takes up the claws, his legacy as Wolverine remains untouchable.
