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Credit: DC / Warner Bros.Adam West may have donned the cape and cowl as Batman in 1966, but it was Richard Donner’s Superman (1978) that marked the true beginning of the era of superheroes in film.
Now, with James Gunn’s Superman (2025) finally in theaters worldwide, it’s time to look at all 10 live-action movies featuring the Man of Steel.
10. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
It’s difficult to say if Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) is a widely hated movie, or whether people simply forget it exists. Either way, budget cuts led to gaping plot holes and terrible special effects (they use the same shot of Superman flying throughout the film).
Christopher Reeve (Clark Kent/Superman), Margot Kidder (Lois Lane), and Gene Hackman (Lex Luthor) are as charming as ever to watch, but they just aren’t enough to remedy the film’s many problems. But perhaps The Quest for Peace‘s worst sin is that it’s just so boring.
9. Superman III
Superman III (1983) is the third entry in the Christopher Reeve series, however, this time, Hackman’s Luthor is absent from the fold. Instead, late comedian Richard Pryor’s Gus Gorman, a computer hacker, is among the villains.
Though hardly the worst superhero movie of all time, Superman III makes the campy 1978 film in the series look like Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel (2013). The VFX were mostly well received (unlike Superman IV), but the slapstick remains a bone of contention for fans.
8. Justice League
We really wanted to put this movie at the bottom, and we’re sure that many Superman fans would have done just that. So let us us start by saying that Joss Whedon’s Justice League (2017) — which fans have since taken to calling “Joss-tice League” — is not a good movie.
It’s all over the place, the CGI is horrible, and then, of course, there’s Henry Cavill‘s moustache fiasco (if you’re unfamiliar, Cavill had to grow a beard for 2018’s Mission: Impossible — Fallout, and, as such, wasn’t allowed to shave for 2017’s Justice League).
But putting all that aside, Justice League does at least focus largely on the character of Clark Kent/Superman, even if he doesn’t actually show up until the third act.
7. Superman Returns
Superman Returns (2006) is something of an oddity. Is it a sequel? Is it a reboot? No, but it is a Superman movie, and seemingly follows the first four Reeve-led films. But given the fact that everyone has been recast — including the Man of Steel — then it’s also a remake.
Nevertheless, Returns is a better film than the last two Reeve entries — but that’s not saying much. While Brandon Routh shines as Clark Kent/Superman, everything else feels flat, with Kate Bosworth’s Lois Lane being the most dull portrayal in film.
6. Superman II
When it comes to the Christopher Reeve Superman movies, the 1980 original is the most beloved, but many fans have a lot of nostalgia for Superman II (1980), which sees the return of Reeve as the Man of Tomorrow. But this time, he must face General Zod (Terence Stamp).
Zod and his sidekicks Ursa (Sarah Douglas) and Non (Jack O’Halloran) are the most unsettling villains in the series, and it’s thrilling to watch Supes go up against his fellow Kryptonians. Superman II isn’t the best superhero sequel, but it did inspire Man of Steel.
Related: All Live-Action Batman Actors Ranked From Worst to Best
5. Zack Snyder’s Justice League
The fact that Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021) exists is still surreal, as it’s the first time a major Hollywood blockbuster has been given a reboot of sorts due to public demand. Within four years of release of the 2017 film, Zack Snyder gave us the film in his original vision.
As a superhero ensemble, Zack Snyder’s Justice League is everything the 2017 one wasn’t. As a Superman movie, it’s a solid trilogy-topper to Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), as the whole thing rests of Superman’s shoulders (he can take it).
It’s also great fun to see him team up with Bruce Wayne/Batman (Ben Affleck), Diana Prince/Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), Arthur Curry/Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Barry Allen/The Flash (Ezra Miller), and Victor Stone/Cyborg (Ray Fisher).
4. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Batman v Superman is widely considered something of a mixed bag, largely due to the fact that it’s often slaughtered by critics and defended by fans. While there’s a lot going on in the film, the “Ultimate Edition” does a lot to remedy some of those flaws — but not all of them.
The film still has its share of problems, but it’s wonderfully directed by Snyder (but not so well written) and incredibly entertaining nonetheless. And not only does Batman v Superman give us one of the best portrayals of Bruce Wayne/Batman in the form of Ben Affleck, it also serves as an excellent continuation to Man of Steel, as this time, the titular hero faces the repercussions of his world-changing actions in the 2013 film.
3. Superman (2025)
Superman (2025), written and directed by James Gunn (the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy), is finally out in theaters. So far, the film has grossed $217 million worldwide (per Variety) and is generally receiving positive reviews from audiences and critics. But is it actually any good? Was it worth all the hype that original, hair-raising trailer generated?
The short answer is yes. David Corenswet shines as the new Man of Steel, and Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane oozes charisma. Whenever Superman is on the screen doing his thing — whether that’s battling Kaiju monsters or saving children from falling debris, you’ll have a huge grin on your face.
Outside those scenes, you might struggle with the fact that Gunn can’t help himself from throwing in the usual Mötley Crüe antics (think Guardians, Peacemaker, Suicide Squad). Superman (2025) is no exception, but it is a huge amount of fun from beginning to end.
2. Superman
Superman (1978) is one of those movies that knows what it is — it’s camp, uplifting, and makes you believe a man can fly. While Tim Burton is often credited for paving the way for mainstream superhero movies with Batman (1989), it’s really Richard Donner’s 1978 classic that gave birth to the genre.
Christopher Reeve is a joy to watch as Clark Kent/Superman, and nails the character on both sides of the red cape and trunks to match. Margot Kidder is incredibly charming as Lois Lane, while Gene Hackman takes moustache-twirling villain to a whole new level.
Sure, the whole flying-around-the-world-to-reverse-time thing is very silly, but Richard Donner’s genre-defining movie is an absolute classic nonetheless.
1. Man of Steel
The first entry in the DCEU (DC Extended Universe) was 2013’s Man of Steel. But it isn’t just the title that separates this film from its predecessors — Snyder’s gritty vision gives even Batman a run for his money (something that would actually happen in the 2016 follow-up).
While essentially a remake of Superman II, Man of Steel breathes new life into the character, with an excellent performance from Henry Cavill. Snyder directs as if he’s tearing pages straight out of a graphic novel and throwing them at the screen, while Hans Zimmer’s score is utterly mesmerizing. These ingredients, along with the film’s ambitious scope and its constant sense of urgency, make Man of Steel the best Superman movie of all time.
How would you rank all the Superman movies? Let us know in the comments below!