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What makes Superman a cinematic icon? Is it the swelling theme from John Williams? Is it the performers that have donned the cape and tights? Or is it just because he’s the ultimate symbol of the American Dream in action? Superman is an alien, an immigrant, and he encompasses everything about humanity that is just and right. Now, between 1978 when we got the first Superman film and this coming July with the release of Superman (2025), there have been several movies based on the DC Comics character. We’ve had silly entries, hopeful entries, entries that are way too dark, and some movies in the middle as well. What constitutes a Superman movie?
Well, we’re omitting the movie serials in Superman (1948) and Atom Man Vs. Superman (1951). Those aren’t feature films, but they’re still excellent early looks at what the Man of Steel would evolve into. The movie Superman and the Mole Men (1951) also doesn’t count because it’s not a feature film. This also doesn’t include Batman V. Superman: Dawn Of Justice. That movie does feature Superman, but he’s not the focus of the film. When we get to Man Of Steel, you’ll hear my thoughts on this one as they connect to one another. Same thing with Justice League (and the Snyder Cut).
We’re also not including animated movies because they don’t qualify as feature films due to their 70-ish minute runtimes. You might be surprised at the quality of the list of Superman movies, but there are still stinkers here.
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6. Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (1987)
This one might be the only consensus pick on the list. Those who were fans at the time might have a soft spot for The Quest For Peace, but this project suffered budget cuts, and even Christopher Reeve wanted to hang up the cape. The production had half the amount of money allotted to Superman III, with $17 million to make the fourth and final film. Director Sidney J. Furie at least crafted something that is watchable, albeit flawed. The visual effects really took a hit with that budget slashing.
This is your paint-by-numbers anti-nuclear kind of story with Lex Luthor returning to make a clone of Superman named Nuclear Man. It’s about as wacky as it sounds with Reeve putting in a professional performance but by this point, the magic had lost a bit of its luster. You’d think getting everyone from the first film back together, including Hackman and Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, would work wonders, but it doesn’t.
Superman IV: The Quest For Peace is silly, and while Superman should be more light-hearted than his other comic book counterparts, this is a far cry from the best films he’s starred in.
5. Superman III (1983)
What do you get when you combine Superman with the comedic magic of Richard Pryor? Well, you get Superman III. The film steers from the straight-up soaring action of the first two films with more comedic stylings that also, like Superman IV, end up feeling kind of goofy on a rewatch. Superman takes on a supercomputer that also leads to one of the most terrifying PG moments of all-time.
This had the budget to compete with other blockbuster movies, but everything feels like it’s lost a bit of luster. There are moments that are cool like Evil Superman vs. Clark Kent. It’s a strangely timely film as well with a focus on AI and the ability to control the weather. But this is nowhere near as magical as the following entries on the list.
But yeah, if you want some nightmare fuel, go watch that scene above. It’s one that traumatized an entire generation of Superman fans.
4. Superman II (1980)
So here’s some controversy on the list. Do you want to include the theatrical cut of Superman II or the much superior Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut? Because this movie was filmed alongside Superman 1978 but Richard Donner was fired after filming around 75% of the second film. His replacement Richard Lester, took the film in a much different direction tonally that clashes with the grandiose tone of the first film. Lester reshot scenes and added a more cartoonish approach to the proceedings.
This one has General Zod as the villain and his Kryptonian cronies Ursa and Non. They were imprisoned in the Phantom Zone but freed by a nuclear explosion in space (more nuclear stuff from Superman). They head to Earth to take revenge on Jor El’s son for their banishment, causing mass catastrophe to Earth.
If you’re watching the Donner Cut, this is a much better experience than the theatrical one. It’s still much better than the two sequels either way though.
3. Superman Returns (2006)
This was the return of Superman to the big screen after more than two decades. There was a close call with Nicolas Cage and Tim Burton doing a Superman film in the 90s, but Brandon Routh took up the cape and tights to take on Kevin Spacey’s Lex Luthor. Sure, this movie is long, it’s over 2 and a 1/2 hours. But this one does capture a bit of that Superman magic that had been missing from theaters for so long. The plot tasks Lex Luthor with stealing Kryptonian crystals that will make a new continent. So it’s some rich guy trying to make his own world, sound familiar?
This one does lack a bit of the action that modern superhero movies have, but Routh turns in a great performance against a script that could have used some polish. It also doesn’t help that this is yet another time we’ve had Lex Luthor as the villain and not one of the other bunch of great Superman villains in the gallery. This didn’t kick off a new age of Superman, we had to wait another seven years before we got to the next film…
2. Man Of Steel (2013)
Now we’ll get to the block of films known for their director, Zack Snyder. Contrary to popular belief, he got his own playground to work with in the DC Universe and this kicked it all off. Henry Cavill is about as perfect as it comes in casting for Superman. This has an all-timer soundtrack as well from Hans Zimmer that combines with the soaring intensity of Snyder’s vision. It pulled in a record-setting $670 million at the box office and was supposed to start a new decade-plus of domination for DC. This, however, didn’t really do that, as the Snyder verse petered off.
This led to Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League because DC couldn’t stand being patient and building out their universe; they jumped right into the team-up movies. Both of those films have their flaws and, in some cases, are better with the director’s cut. Justice League was hampered by Snyder leaving midway through to be replaced by Joss Whedon, who changed the tone of the film and cut out a lot of scenes that Snyder wanted.
The legacy of Man of Steel is the Snyderverse. The good and the bad, that’s what this movie brings with it. Superman should not be a dark and dreary character, he’s a symbol of hope across the universe. Here’s hoping James Gunn can capture that with his upcoming film.
1. Superman (1978)
Here we go, they absolutely knocked it out with their first try. Superman is the best interpretation of the character, nailing the everyman appeal while giving the best Superman in Christopher Reeve. Marlon Brando handles his role as Jor-El with style and elevates the proceedings. The scene where Reeve switches between Superman and Clark Kent still makes me tear up to this day. It’s why he WAS Superman in real life. Gene Hackman nailed Lex Luthor so hard that execs and whoever else felt the need to have him in every Superman after this one.
The, at the time, record-breaking budget of $55 million made this feel like a comic book coming to life. John Williams ties the entire thing together with his score. A soaring, majestic piece of music that only adds to the magic felt on screen. Everything we know about Superman on the big screen is owed to this movie. Directors to this day are trying to emulate what Richard Donner and the crew of this movie did. It’s that damn good.
Now we have Superman coming out later this year on July 11th, 2025. It stars David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. We’ll have to see where it ends up on the rankings when it comes out.
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