Every Superman Movie, Ranked From Worst To Best

Key Takeaways

• Superman is arguably the most iconic superhero, embodying all the qualities of a great hero.
• Superman movies have had varied success, with some being plagued by behind-the-scenes issues.
• The original Superman movie starring Christopher Reeve remains unmatched in his portrayal of the iconic hero.

While Batman and Spider-Man could make a strong case, Superman is arguably the most iconic superhero ever created. He was the first modern superhero and still embodies all the tenets and characteristics that make a great superhero. He’s got a laundry list of superpowers and stands as the ultimate symbol of good and optimism in the public consciousness.

Updated December 10th, 2024 by Nathan Hilditch: For decades, DC was very protective of their paragon of truth and justice in media adaptations wanting the character to remain consistently pure across mediums. In more recent years though filmmakers have been given a lot more license to reinterpret popular superheroes with the burgeoning popularity of the genre.

Zak Synder has mainly spearheaded the more brooding and darker iterations of Superman providing a stark contrast to how he was viewed in the earlier Ricard Donner classic. Fans sadly will never get to see the infamous, canceled Nicholas Cage take on the Man of Steel, but of those who have had the honor to take up the iconic red cape, who wore it best? Answers below in this list of the best live-action Superman movies ranked from worst to best.

8 Superman 4: The Quest For Peace

Franchise Killer

• Release Date: 1987
• Cast: Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Jon Cryer, Jackie Cooper
• Director: Sidney J Furie
• Rating: PG
• Studio: Cannon Group Inc.

Superman 4: The Quest For Peace was plagued with off-screen problems that surely didn’t help the finished product. Due to the financial constraints of the production company, the budget was slashed shortly before production began and after overwhelming negative feedback from test screenings, it wasn’t just the budget that saw extensive cuts.

Following on from a bewildering third entry probably didn’t help either and what was intended as a thought-provoking commentary on nuclear proliferation ended up lackluster, unfocused, and put the franchise on ice for a couple of decades.

7 Superman 3

Not Another Superman Movie

• Release Date: 1983
• Cast: Christopher Reeve, Richard Pryor, Jackie Cooper
• Director: Richard Lester
• Rating: PG
• Studio: Dovemead Ltd.

It’s not clear what exactly the elevator pitch was for Superman 3 but somebody at the studio was certainly a big fan of Richard Pryor. The film spends an obscene amount of time with Pryor’s Gus Gorman whilst Superman is mainly occupied by busy work and fighting his evil inner-self.

The slapstick tone makes it almost a parody of the first two movies. It’s a goofy experience that doesn’t satisfy on any fronts. On paper, Superman 3 is probably the worst live-action Superman movie, saved only by the fact that it happened to come out before the unfortunate sequel that somehow performed even worse with fans and critics.

6 Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice

Crossover Event of The Summer

Probably the most divisive film on the list, Batman V Superman actually does deliver as a shlocky, over-the-top action spectacle that has become the trademark of director Zak Synder from his previous works like Dawn of the Dead and 300. It definitely fumbles the execution though and is far too concerned with franchise building.

Chasing the MCU’s coattails, the film features several underdeveloped characters that are glorified cameos intended for future sequels that will never come. The end product is again confused and unfocused and the similarity of parental names being the conclusion to the promised showdown was meme-worthy, to say the least.

5 Justice League

Super Friends Assemble

The troubles of Justice League are so well-documented, another Superman property that suffered behind-the-scenes turmoil. With Synder departing the project midway through, Joss Whedon joined on, a popular name in fandom but a director who had an entirely different vision for the movie. Whedon seemingly took inspiration from somewhere between Superman 3 and the MCU, opting for a more jovial tone in stark contrast to Synder’s notoriously moody vision.

What fans ended up with was the worst of both worlds and a shocking amount of Cyborg left on the cutting room floor meant the story that was intended to tie the franchise together made no sense as his character was central to it. Fans’ petitions did eventually pay dividends with a fabled Snyder cut that certainly made more sense but was probably not worth the wait.

4 Man Of Steel

Superman Dark

Synder’s best-received Superman flick is also the most controversial, accused of desperately chasing the gritty reboot trend set by Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. The problem was the property didn’t really suit that tone and it made for a shocking departure from the fan-favourite character.

From murdering his foe in cold blood to causing millions of dollars of reckless property damage. Snyder did attempt to address this as Batman’s motivation in Batman vs Superman, but it was a bad foot to start the new franchise on and perhaps those warnings should have been heeded to prevent the above.

3 Superman Returns

A Return To Form

• Release Date: 2006
• Cast: Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, James Marsden
• Director: Bryan Singer
• Rating: 12A
• Studio: Warner Bros.

Shockingly, a production featuring Bryan Singer and Kevin Spacey was not the most troubled Superman movie, but Joss Whedon really set a low bar. For all intents and purposes, there is no significant controversy surrounding Superman Returns aside from being associated with the notorious duo.

It’s a by-the-numbers return to form for the iconic hero, Lex Luthor wants to rule the world, Superman stops him and rekindles with Lois Lane. It delivers what it promises and is competent if unspectacular.

2 Superman 2

A Worthy Successor

Helming a Superman movie must be a poisoned chalice as this is yet another production with off-set problems, a directorial change, and extensive reshoots. This time it came with the added drama of legendary actor Marlon Brandon suing the studio for royalties on the first feature, resulting in his scenes being removed from the sequel.

Still, with the return of Terrance Stamp’s powerful antagonist, General Zod, the movie successfully upped the stakes and the spectacle of the original delivering a solid sequel that is still fondly remembered by fans.

1 Superman: The Movie

Man of Steel

Despite the advancements in cinema and technology, no Superman film can still hold a candle to the original Christopher Reeve-starring classic. The film hasn’t aged especially well, and not just in the special effects department but putting some issues down to the social norms of the time it’s still a fun family movie.

A familiar origin story, it chronicles Superman’s arrival and upbringing on Earth and his subsequent first showdown with arch-nemesis Lex Luthor. A definitive Superman tale that still stands unrivaled to this day.