The Superman Films Ranked

Superman, the original comic book superhero, is one of the most important characters in the history of popular culture, and the character’s transition from comic books to live-action films has captivated audiences for decades. The first major big screen portrayal came with Superman: The Movie in 1978, starring Christopher Reeve as the iconic hero. Directed by Richard Donner, this film is celebrated for its groundbreaking special effects and earnest storytelling, which set the standard for superhero films. Reeve’s heartfelt performance won over both critics and moviegoers, cementing Superman’s status as a beloved icon. The film’s success spawned several sequels, though the quality dropped of dramatically after Superman II.

After Bryan Singer failed to revitalise the character with 2006’s Superman Returns, Warners looked to copy Marvel’s success by created the DC Extended Universe. The task was given to Zack Snyder to reimagined the character for this new cinematic universe, with the result being the divisive Man of Steel (2013) starring Henry Cavill. This film offered a modern take on Superman’s origin story, presenting a darker and more complex interpretation of the character. Cavill’s performance received praise for its intensity and nuance, aligning with the contemporary trend of more serious and intricate superhero narratives. But, once again, the quality quickly dropped of due to studio infighting and a lack of clear direction.

The DCEU died and this lead the the creation of DC Studios, lead by James Gunn and Peter Safran. Once again this new universe will begin with the reimagining of the character with the release of Superman (2025), written and directed by Gunn.

Here is our ranking of the live action Superman films (note – Black Adam is not included due to it being a brief cameo).

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