These days, entries into the overcrowded superhero genre need to do more than just think up ever more powerful and unstoppable supervillains to vanquish. This one doesn’t change that, but it’s more coherent than those noisy Avengers flicks (not difficult), and the acting’s better.

It takes place about 10 years after Days of Future Past, and deals primarily with Magneto’s (Michael Fassbender) backstory. Origin stories are what you do when you have no ideas. James McAvoy gives Professor Xavier depth, Oscar Isaac effectively does the title supervillain honors, and Jennifer Lawrence aces Mystique. (144 min)