As perhaps the most famous superhero of them all, the Man of Steel has been around since 1938, when he first graced the pages of Action Comics. Since then, we’ve seen various incarnations of the character hit the big screen, with varying levels of success and critical acclaim.
Whether you’re an old-school purist or a new-school revisionist, there’s a movie out there for every kind of Superman fan. So, as we move ever closer to the character’s centenary, let’s run through all 12 live-action Superman films in order.
All Superman Films in Chronological Order
Jump to:
- Superman (1948)
- Atom Man vs. Superman (1950)
- Superman & The Mole Men (1951)
- Superman (1978)
- Superman II (1981)
- Superman III (1983)
- Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (1987)
- Superman Returns (2006)
- Man Of Steel (2013)
- Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016)
- Justice League (2017)
- Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
1. Superman (1948)
If you’re going watch the Superman films in order, it only makes sense to go back 75 years!
It took ten years after his initial appearance in the comic books for Superman to get live-action treatment. This 15-part film serial introduces the much-loved leading man Kirk Alyn as the Man of Steel. Focusing on his adventures on Earth as he battles the villain Spider Lady, the most iconic part of this series is seeing a flying Superman turn into a cartoon. This was because a ‘flying man’ was difficult to bring to life back then (think early CGI, if you will). But despite it being hindered by primitive special effects, this Superman movie is still a firm favorite amongst die-hard fans.
2. Atom Man vs. Superman (1950)
Following the success of the 1948 film series, Kirk Alyn returned in 1950 with another 15-part serial, Atom Man vs. Superman. Although not so well-received by the critics as its predecessor, Atom Man vs. Superman still pulled in the crowds. It also gave audiences the introduction of Lex Luthor (played by Lyle Talbot), who would go on to become Superman’s ultimate nemesis and the main antagonist in franchise lore. As described by this IMDB user, this film is “a little tacky by today’s standards, but quite innovative for it’s time given the limited budget and lack of technology.”
3. Superman & The Mole Men (1951)
In Superman’s first motion picture on the silver screen (and the first feature film treatment of any DC Comics character), George Reeves took over the leading man duties to rapturous response. Reeves would even go on to play Supes in a popular TV show modelled on the film’s success. With bold sci-fi elements, this 1951 film seems a little dated today, mainly due to the obvious influence taken from comic book pages. As mentioned by these movie critics, you’ll only enjoy it if you’re a massive Superman fan or just want a nostalgia kick. But, despite its shortcomings, Superman and the Mole Men still holds plenty of value for dedicated fans (regardless of its hilarious title).
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4. Superman (1978)
As the Superman character moved away from the comic book age and into the decade of the Hollywood blockbuster, lucky moviegoers were treated to their first snapshot of the Man of Steel we all know and love today. Christopher Reeve took to the iconic red and blue suit like a duck to water, adding a charming air of vulnerability to Clark Kent. Featuring stellar performances from Marlon Brando, Ned Beatty, and Gene Hackman, this Superman installment would breed a succession of sequels and imitations that continue to proliferate today. No surprise then, that even ScreenRant ranked it as the best Superman movie of all time.
5. Superman II (1981)
Superman II hit the big screen in 1981, and is still considered by many fans as one of the best cinematic entries in the franchise. Following on from the events in the Donner film (and featuring much of the same cast and crew), the movie focuses on the Man of Steel’s battle with Lex Luthor and the fearsome General Zod, who was previously imprisoned by Superman’s father. Featuring some memorable moments and action-packed set pieces, it’s clear that director Richard Lester put his expanded budget to good use with an all-out blockbuster that still stands up today.
Note: Another way of watching all the Superman films in order is to completely skip Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (due to their criticisms), and dive straight into Superman Returns, which acts a sequel to Superman II.
6. Superman III (1983)
Richard Lester returned as director in 1983 for this sequel, which is marked by many as a turning point for the diminishing quality of the franchise. Whereas humor was an important draw for the first two Superman movies, the abundance of bad jokes and slapstick elements repelled many fans and critics, despite the inclusion of famous funny-man Richard Pryor. Aside from some memorable set-pieces (most notably the fight between Clark and ‘Evil Superman’) and fierce support from loyal fans, Superman III was widely panned for its shoddy screenplay and direction. Things can only get better, right?
7. Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (1987)
Directed by Sidney J. Furie and focused on the hot topic of nuclear disarmament, Superman IV: The Quest For Peace turned out to be an even bigger disappointment than its predecessor, much to the chagrin of production company The Cannon Group. Ranking on lists like the worst DC movies ever, and described by critics as “an absolute embarrassment,” the film garnered criticism for its special effects, script and often gaping plot holes. This installment proved so unsuccessful that it would mark the final nail in the coffin for this run of Superman movies, and the final time that Christopher Reeve would rock the cape.
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8. Superman Returns (2006)
Featuring Brandon Routh in the title role, Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor, and Brian Singer in the director’s chair, Superman Returns is widely considered a firm return to form for the franchise. Ignoring the lows of Superman III and Superman IV, this 2006 vehicle served as a heritage sequel that picked up directly from Superman II, much to the delight of hardcore fans. Focusing on our hero’s return to Metropolis following a five-year absence, this successful summer blockbuster is packed with big action set-pieces and remains faithful to classic Superman franchise lore.
9. Man Of Steel (2013)
Hollywood hunk Henry Cavill was the next actor to don the suit, with the smash-hit Man of Steel in 2013. This entry is perhaps most notable for re-introducing the antagonist General Zod, played with menacing zeal by Michael Shannon. For many fans and critics, Man of Steel served as an indication that the franchise was moving away from its colorful, campy beginnings and into a brave new world of darker, more challenging blockbusters. It also did spectacularly well at the box office, and remains the second highest-grossing Superman film ever released…which brings us to the highest-grossing installment…
10. Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016)
Given the financial and critical success of Man of Steel, it’s no surprise that Henry Cavill was once again enlisted to play Superman in the ‘superhero supergroup’ smash, Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice. Despite its ferocious success at the box office, the movie only has a 29% Tomatometer score and was subject to panning from critics and fans alike — this is largely due to some questionable casting decisions, most notably that of Ben Affleck as Batman and Jesse Eisenberg as a young Lex Luthor. While detractors remain, fan opinion has softened since the initial release — a controversial entry nevertheless.
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11. Justice League (2017)
Henry Cavill reprised his role as Superman a third time in this much-loved 2016 ‘superhero supergroup’ outing, which also featured popular characters such as Batman (again played by Ben Affleck), The Flash, Aquaman and Wonder Woman. Despite the top-billing list of heroes, Justice League suffered box office losses and was met with wildly mixed reviews from fans and critics. This film is perhaps most notable for dividing Superman films by age, with many younger viewers enjoying the movie and older, Reeves-era viewers casting aspersions. Only time will tell if this entry finds more favor with the next generation of fans.
12. Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
Our guide to the Superman films in order ends with Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Following the lukewarm financial and critical reaction to the 2017 movie, original director Zack Snyder decided to unveil his own cut, released in 2021. Interestingly, this is the first film in the Superman franchise that seems to have benefited the most from the rise of home streaming: it attracted 1.1 million Canadian viewers in its first week, with around 1.8 million American households tuning in in just three days in March. This director’s cut fared better than the original, with more emphasis on plot depth and character development, rather than action set-pieces alone.
It’s been a long and winding road for Superman — the much-loved character has undergone some major highs and lows over the years.
Regardless of your own take on the strengths and weaknesses of the Superman franchise, there’s no denying that our hero remains one of the most influential and iconic characters of his kind. Only time will tell what the future holds for Clark Kent, but the majority of fans believe that the only way is up!
What’s your favorite Superman movie? Let us know in the comments below!
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