The New Mutants (2020)

Last updated:
September 8, 2025

The New Mutants (2020) is one of those movies that had a famously rocky road to release, delayed multiple times due to production issues, Disney’s acquisition of Fox, and the pandemic. Directed by Josh Boone, the film is part of the X-Men universe but stands apart as a horror-tinged coming-of-age story.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Arrival at the Facility

The story begins with Danielle “Dani” Moonstar (Blu Hunt), who survives the destruction of her reservation after a mysterious attack. She awakens in a secluded medical facility run by Dr. Cecilia Reyes (Alice Braga). Dr. Reyes explains that Dani is a mutant and is being kept under observation until she can control her powers.

Meeting the Other Mutants

Dani meets other young mutants confined in the facility:

Illyana Rasputin (Anya Taylor-Joy), who can teleport and wields a mystical sword.
Rahne Sinclair (Maisie Williams), a shapeshifter with wolf-like abilities.
Sam Guthrie (Charlie Heaton), who can propel himself at jet speed.
Roberto da Costa (Henry Zaga), who can absorb and channel solar energy.

The group’s initial interactions are hostile—especially with Illyana, who mocks Dani—but they gradually bond over their shared circumstances.

Strange Occurrences

As Dani settles in, the mutants start experiencing nightmarish hallucinations. Each vision reflects their personal traumas:

Rahne sees visions of the priest who branded her as a witch.
Sam relives the mine collapse that killed his father and fellow workers.
Roberto faces the memory of burning his girlfriend alive.
Illyana is haunted by the “Smiling Men,” faceless demons tied to her past abuse.

The team realizes that these visions are not random—they are somehow linked to Dani.

Discovering Dani’s Power

It becomes clear that Dani’s mutant ability is to manifest people’s fears and trauma into reality. While untrained, her powers are causing chaos within the facility, and Dr. Reyes secretly reports back to an unknown superior (hinted to be Mr. Sinister’s Essex Corporation).

Movie Ending

In the climax, Dr. Reyes reveals her real orders: to assess Dani’s potential threat and eliminate her if she proves too dangerous. She places Dani in a forcefield to suffocate her. Meanwhile, the others confront her, realizing they’re not being trained for the X-Men but studied as potential weapons.

As Reyes tightens her control, Dani’s deepest fear manifests—the Demon Bear, a gigantic monstrous bear representing the destruction of her reservation and her unresolved grief. The Demon Bear begins destroying the facility, overwhelming everyone, including Reyes.

Reyes attempts to trap it with her shields but is ultimately killed by the beast. The other mutants try fighting it off but find themselves nearly powerless against its size and strength. Dani, unconscious, is urged by Rahne to face her fear. Through emotional resolve and acceptance of her powers, Dani awakens and calms the Demon Bear, shrinking it back into a smaller, manageable form of her childhood pet.

The facility is in ruins, Reyes is dead, and the mutants realize they are finally free. They walk beyond the facility’s gates together, uncertain of what awaits them in the outside world but united as a team.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, The New Mutants does not have any mid-credit or post-credit scenes. Despite being set in the X-Men universe, it deliberately avoids teasing sequels or direct connections, leaving the story self-contained.

Type of Movie

This is a superhero horror-thriller mixed with coming-of-age drama. It leans less on traditional comic book spectacle and more on psychological scares, character development, and a contained, almost claustrophobic setting.

Cast

Blu Hunt as Danielle “Dani” Moonstar
Maisie Williams as Rahne Sinclair / Wolfsbane
Anya Taylor-Joy as Illyana Rasputin / Magik
Charlie Heaton as Sam Guthrie / Cannonball
Henry Zaga as Roberto da Costa / Sunspot
Alice Braga as Dr. Cecilia Reyes

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Mark Snow, best known for his work on The X-Files. His atmospheric music underscores the horror elements, with eerie tones and suspenseful build-ups.

Filming Locations

Principal photography took place in Massachusetts, particularly in Medfield State Hospital, a real decommissioned psychiatric facility. The location adds a sense of authenticity and creepiness to the setting, emphasizing the film’s horror vibe.

Awards and Nominations

The New Mutants did not receive major awards. Its critical reception was mixed, and while praised for its ambition and some performances (notably Anya Taylor-Joy), it was criticized for uneven execution.

Behind the Scenes Insights

The movie went through several delays, reshoots, and studio changes. Originally set to release in 2018, it was postponed multiple times until its 2020 release.
The initial plan leaned much more heavily into horror, but studio interference toned down some of the scarier elements.
Director Josh Boone was heavily inspired by The Breakfast Club, aiming to combine superhero drama with teen angst.
The Demon Bear storyline comes directly from one of the most famous arcs in the New Mutants comics.

Inspirations and References

The movie draws heavily from the Marvel Comics New Mutants series, particularly Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz’s “Demon Bear Saga.” The setting’s mix of horror and youthful struggle was also influenced by Stephen King stories like Carrie and classic teen films.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There were reports of extensive planned reshoots that would have introduced more connections to the X-Men universe (including cameos), but these were never filmed after Disney acquired Fox. The released version is essentially the “original cut” Boone intended, albeit slightly altered.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The movie is not directly adapted from a book but pulls from the New Mutants comics. The biggest difference is the scale—in the comics, their adventures are often larger and intertwined with the wider Marvel world, while the movie keeps them isolated in one location with a narrow focus.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

Dani arriving at the facility and being told she’s the last survivor of her people.
The first terrifying appearance of the Smiling Men haunting Illyana.
Roberto’s poolside panic when his powers flare out of control.
The Demon Bear’s massive attack in the final act.

Iconic Quotes

Dr. Reyes: “You’re dangerous. Not just to others, but to yourself.”
Illyana: “This isn’t a hospital. It’s a cage.”
Rahne: “You have to wake up, Dani. You’re the only one who can stop this.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The Essex Corporation reference connects to Logan (2017), which also teased Mr. Sinister.
The film’s setting in a hospital for troubled youth echoes the X-Men theme of mutants as outsiders, with an added horror twist.
Illyana’s dragon puppet, Lockheed, is a nod to the character’s famous companion from the comics.

Trivia

This is technically the last X-Men-universe film produced under Fox before Disney took over.
Maisie Williams and Anya Taylor-Joy were cast early, before Game of Thrones and The Queen’s Gambit made them huge stars.
Director Josh Boone has said he wanted this film to kick off a trilogy, though sequels are now unlikely.

Why Watch?

If you’re curious about a different take on superhero stories that mixes horror with young adult drama, The New Mutants is worth your time. It’s a contained, character-driven film that doesn’t rely on massive world-ending battles but instead focuses on fear, trauma, and friendship.

Director’s Other Movies

The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
Stuck in Love (2012)

The New Mutants (2020)