"X-Men: First Class" is a 2011 superhero film directed by Matthew Vaughn and produced by Bryan Singer. It serves as a prequel to the original "X-Men" film trilogy and is the fifth installment in the "X-Men" film series.
Set primarily in the 1960s during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the film explores the early years of the mutant superhero team, the X-Men, and the formation of their adversarial counterpart, the Brotherhood of Mutants. The story follows the young Professor Charles Xavier (played by James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr, later known as Magneto (played by Michael Fassbender), as they discover their powers and form a bond while working together to stop the threat of nuclear war. However, their differing ideologies eventually lead them to become enemies.
The film also features a cast of younger versions of familiar characters from the "X-Men" universe, including Mystique (played by Jennifer Lawrence), Beast (played by Nicholas Hoult), and several others.
"X-Men: First Class" received positive reviews from critics, who praised its performances, direction, and exploration of the characters' origins. It was a commercial success, grossing over $350 million worldwide, and it revitalized the "X-Men" film franchise, leading to additional sequels and spin-offs.