With the latest Superman movie set to release on July 10, there’s no better time to dive into the Man of Steel’s cinematic legacy. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer hoping to catch up before the Superman (2025) premiere, directed by James Gunn with David Corenswet donning the red cape, this guide will help you skip the misfires so you can get right to the best Superman films.
Best Superman movies as of 2025
While Superman has appeared in film since the 1940s, the number of standout feature films is surprisingly limited. Technically, his big-screen debut came with Superman (1948) and Atom Man vs. Superman (1950), though those were serials rather than standalone movies. Superman and the Mole Men (1951) arguably qualifies as a feature, but with its 60-minute runtime, it straddles the line between short film and full-length.
That said, if you’re a completist or a die-hard fan, those early works are still worth a look.
Since the release of Superman: The Movie in 1978, the Last Son of Krypton has soared through some of the genre’s highest highs and, unfortunately, a few of its lowest lows — Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987), we’re looking at you. But for this list, we’re focusing on the ones that we think got it at least mostly right. Here are the best Superman films to date.
Superman (1978)
We’ve got to start with not just the best film on this list, but arguably one of the greatest superhero movies ever made and maybe even one of the best genre films of its era. In terms of style, cinematography, direction, and, most importantly, superb casting — Christopher Reeves really set the standard for any portrayal of this character — Superman easily belongs in the same cinematic conversation as Star Wars.
Directed by Richard Donner, Superman (1978) is the origin story of Clark Kent, the child sent from a dying planet to Earth, where he’s raised by a couple in Kansas. As he grows, his adoptive parents come to realize their son has extraordinary abilities. Eventually, Clark learns who he truly is and must embrace his destiny as Superman.
Not only does this film stand the test of time (the late 1970s CGI holds up, if in a classic, charming way), but it is also satisfying to watch and has a hugely impactful effect, influencing other superheroes across different franchises. Director Sam Raimi, for example, arguably borrowed a lot of Superman’s structure and tone when crafting his first Spider-Man movie, which, in turn, helped shape every Spider-Man film that came after. If you’ve only been watching the newer versions of this character, start here.
Superman 2 (1980)
A direct sequel to its predecessor, Superman II sees Christopher Reeve reprising his role as the Man of Steel. This time, Superman faces off against General Zod and his cronies, who are accidentally released from the Phantom Zone, a prison created by Kryptonians. Seeking revenge, they come to Earth to conquer it and destroy its last son, Kal-El. As Superman faces off against these villains, he also has to grapple with the weight of his dual identity, torn between saving the world and simply living a quiet life with Lois Lane and a steady job at the Daily Planet.
While the film was ultimately a critical success, its production was pretty rocky throughout. Creative tensions between the studio and original director Richard Donner — who had been filming Superman I and II simultaneously — led to his dismissal, with director Richard Lester stepping in to finish the sequel. Years later, in 2006, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut was released, presenting the film closer to Donner’s original vision.
Superman Returns (2006)
After a long gap following the critical and financial failure of The Quest for Peace (1987), Superman Returns attempted to revive the franchise by serving as a direct sequel to Superman I and II, essentially pretending (like some of us) that Superman III and Supergirl never happened. Picking up after the events of Superman II, the film finds Superman returning to Earth after a five-year absence spent searching for the remains of Krypton. When he arrives, he discovers that Lois Lane is engaged and has a five-year-old son. On top of that personal gut punch, Lex Luthor is once again scheming.
The film was received relatively well, currently sitting at a solid 74% on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to Man of Steel’s 57%. While Rotten Tomatoes isn’t the final word on quality, it does give a valuable snapshot of general critical reception. Brandon Routh had to step into some very big red boots, even with somewhat mediocre writing, but ended up doing a very admirable job of channeling the essence of Christopher Reeve, bringing a mix of earnest good-guy energy and small-town charm. Plus, just the right amount of awkwardness to the role.
Man of Steel (2013)
After the poor return — okay, poor by producer’s standards — on Superman Returns led to the sequel being scrapped, the studio decided to take things in a different direction with Man of Steel, Zack Snyder’s more modern, VFX-enhanced reimagining of Superman’s origin story. While there’s definitely mixed feedback on whether we really needed another origin story, this one gave audiences a very different take. Even in Act I, as we watch the destruction of Krypton, it’s clear this isn’t the Superman movie we’re used to. Beyond the entire tone of the film, the contrast in the portrayal of our titular character re-adapts the approach to the story. Christopher Reeve’s Superman was the charming, all-around good guy; Henry Cavill’s version is more powerful, more serious. And that’s not exactly to everyone’s liking.
One of the bigger criticisms of Man of Steel is that the writing and direction leaned too heavily into the tone of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, which makes sense since Christopher Nolan served as executive producer. Ultimately, this Superman feels just a little too dark and moody. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; it just takes away from some of the spunk of Superman. Still, in terms of the quality of this one, there’s no denying what landmark progress in VFX can do for a superhero film — and Henry Cavill is, well, Henry Cavill. No complaints there.
Beyond the film itself, Man of Steel also marked the official beginning of the extended DC Universe (DCEU).
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
In Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, we get an epic and uncomfortable showdown between two of the most iconic heroes in comic book history. Inspired in part by Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, the film has a solid premise, even if the plot ends up feeling a bit drawn out. At its core, all you really need to know is that criminal mastermind Lex Luthor manipulates events (and each hero’s personal bias) to make Batman and Superman view each other as the enemy.
With Henry Cavill as Superman, Ben Affleck as Batman, and Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is worth watching for the cast alone.
Directed once again by Zack Snyder, the film delivers an epic crossover between heroes. It also introduces the refreshing neutrality — and the first live-action portrayal — of Wonder Woman, played by Gal Gadot. While Batman v Superman opened with a record-breaking box office debut, it experienced a steep drop in the weeks that followed. Still, it went on to gross $874.4 million worldwide.
Despite the strong commercial performance, the film received very mixed reactions from both audiences and critics. Even so, Snyder’s stylized vision laid the groundwork for what would become the Justice League in 2017, officially cementing Batman v Superman as a key chapter in what fans now call the Snyderverse. So even if it’s not the strongest entry in the Superman universe, it’s found a home of its own within another, albeit unofficial, corner of the multiverse.
How we chose the best Superman movies
We picked the best Superman movies based on a mix of critic and audience consensus, as well as how each film contributed to the progression of the franchise. Of course, with a new Superman movie hitting theaters next month, we may have to revisit our rankings.
