Best Superman Movies (Updated: August 2025)

Many people are arguing about which Superman movie is the best following James Gunn’s reinterpretation of the Man of Steel. Superman’s big-screen adventures have seen their share of victories and defeats, with some movies being so bad they make you want to escape faster than a speeding bullet. However, there are several films worth watching that are listed below.

Best Superman movies as of 2025

Superman first made his big-screen debut back in 1948 with movie serials. In 1951, he had a 60-minute short titled “Superman and the Mole Men.” It took another 27 years before they released a full-length film starring Superman.

The initial Superman film series kicked off spectacularly, as both Superman: The Movie and Superman II garnered acclaim. Regrettably, Superman III and IV fell short of fan expectations. Unfortunately, subsequent Superman films have their share of problems. Nonetheless, the following ones are recommended for hardcore superhero enthusiasts.

Superman (2025)

James Gunn’s film about Superman is one of the most well-liked Superman movies to date. Unlike the Snyderverse, it has a different feel and concentrates on the human side and cosmic role of Superman. It serves as the basis for the new DC Universe and takes an enthusiastic approach to the character rather than focusing on cynical deconstruction.

In the 2025 version of Superman, there’s a sense that you might have skipped a movie or two. Although it effectively sets up Superman, it isn’t an origin story. Instead, Superman is already established at the start of the film, with only minimal text-based flashbacks in the opening credits to fill in some gaps. The movie also throws a multitude of characters into the mix without providing adequate development for all of them. However, despite these shortcomings, it manages to excite us about the DCU’s future and leaves us eagerly anticipating Gunn’s work on other DC properties.

Superman (1978)

Beginning our discussion, we’re talking about a film not just at the top of this list, but one that could be considered among the greatest superhero movies ever made, perhaps even one of the best genre films of its time. In terms of aesthetic, cinematography, direction, and especially acting – Christopher Reeve truly set the bar for any portrayal of Superman. On par with Star Wars in the cinematic conversation, Superman is definitely worth a spot.

Under the guidance of director Richard Donner, the film Superman (1978) portrays the backstory of Clark Kent, an alien baby sent to Earth from a dying planet and adopted by a couple in Kansas. As Clark matures, his adoptive parents become aware of his extraordinary powers. Over time, Clark discovers his true identity and is compelled to accept his role as Superman.

This movie remains relevant even today, as its 1970s CGI retains a timeless, endearing quality. Watching it is not just enjoyable, but it also carries a powerful impact, influencing various superhero franchises significantly. For instance, director Sam Raimi appears to have drawn heavily from Superman’s structure and mood when creating the first Spider-Man film, which in turn set the tone for every subsequent Spider-Man production. If you’ve been sticking with more recent adaptations of this character, it would be beneficial to start with this one.

Superman 2 (1980)

In the following, Superman II serves as a continuation of its earlier version, with Christopher Reeve once again portraying Superman, also known as the Man of Steel. This new adventure finds Superman in conflict with General Zod and his associates, who are accidentally unleashed from the Phantom Zone – a jail cell crafted by Kryptonians. With vengeance on their minds, they arrive on Earth with the intent to rule it and annihilate its final Kryptonian, Kal-El. As Superman battles these antagonists, he simultaneously wrestles with the complexity of his dual persona, struggling between protecting the world and enjoying a peaceful life with Lois Lane, while maintaining employment at the Daily Planet.

Although the movie received positive reviews overall, its production process was quite turbulent. There were creative disputes between the studio and initial director Richard Donner, who was also working on Superman I and II concurrently, which eventually led to his dismissal. Later, Richard Lester took over to complete the sequel. In 2006, a version of Superman II called “The Richard Donner Cut” came out, giving us a picture closer to Donner’s original concept.

Superman Returns (2006)

Following a significant break, taking place post the disappointing critical and financial performance of The Quest for Peace (1987), Superman Returns aimed to rejuvenate the series by functioning as a follow-up to Superman I and II, effectively ignoring (akin to many of us) the existence of Superman III and Supergirl. Set in the wake of Superman II’s events, the movie finds Superman back on Earth after five years spent searching for remnants of Krypton. Upon his return, he learns that Lois Lane is engaged with a child of five, which is quite a shock to him on a personal level. To make matters worse, Lex Luthor is up to no good again.

The movie was generally well-liked, with an impressive 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This is contrasted with Man of Steel’s score of 57%. While Rotten Tomatoes doesn’t determine the ultimate quality, it provides a useful overview of widespread critical reviews. Despite facing the challenge of filling large red boots with somewhat ordinary scriptwriting, Brandon Routh delivered an admirable performance, successfully capturing the spirit of Christopher Reeve. His portrayal was a blend of sincere good-heartedness and small-town appeal. Additionally, he added the right dose of awkwardness to the character.

Man of Steel (2013)

Following a subpar performance of Superman Returns, which underperformed according to the producer’s expectations and halted plans for a sequel, the studio opted for a change in direction with Man of Steel. This film, helmed by Zack Snyder and featuring advanced visual effects, represented a contemporary reinterpretation of Superman’s origin tale. Despite some criticism about whether another origin story was necessary, this version offered a fresh perspective. From the opening scenes depicting the destruction of Krypton, it was evident that this wasn’t the traditional Superman movie. The film’s overall tone and the transformation in the portrayal of our main character significantly altered the approach to the story. While Christopher Reeve’s Superman was a charming, wholesome hero, Henry Cavill’s portrayal is more powerful and serious, a shift not universally appreciated.

One common criticism about Man of Steel is that it resembled Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy in its tone, given that he served as an executive producer. This Superman movie seemed to be somewhat overly serious and somber, lacking some of the traditional cheerfulness associated with Superman. While a darker tone isn’t inherently negative, it did diminish the character’s usual charm. However, it cannot be denied that the exceptional visual effects in this film significantly elevated the quality of a superhero movie, and Henry Cavill delivered a stellar performance as Superman – no arguments there.

The release of Man of Steel signified not just a standalone movie, but also the commencement of the broader DC Universe (DCEU) on an ongoing basis.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

In the movie “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”, we witness a grand and tense confrontation between two legendary comic book characters, Batman and Superman. Drawing inspiration from Frank Miller’s “The Dark Knight Returns”, the film presents an intriguing premise, although it tends to drag on at times. Essentially, the narrative revolves around Lex Luthor orchestrating situations and exploiting each hero’s personal prejudices, causing Batman and Superman to perceive each other as adversaries.

Watching “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” becomes a must, simply for its star-studded cast featuring Henry Cavill as Superman, Ben Affleck as Batman, and Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor.

Under Zack Snyder’s direction again, this film showcases an epic collaboration among various superheroes. Additionally, it offers a new perspective – and Gal Gadot’s live-action portrayal as Wonder Woman – that brings a fresh twist to the story. Despite Batman v Superman enjoying a groundbreaking opening at the box office, its subsequent weeks saw a significant decline. However, it managed to make $874.4 million worldwide in total.

Although the movie had impressive commercial success, it garnered quite diverse responses from viewers and reviewers alike. Yet, Snyder’s distinctive style paved the way for what eventually unfolded as the Justice League in 2017, thus solidifying Batman v Superman as a pivotal piece in what fans now refer to as the Snyderverse. Despite not being the top-tier entry in the Superman universe, it has carved its unique niche within another, though unofficial, realm of the multiverse.

How we chose the best Superman movies

We selected our top-choice Superman films by considering both critical acclaim and public approval, along with each movie’s impact on the development of the series. However, since a new Superman film is set to premiere in theaters next month, there might be a need for us to reassess our current rankings.

2025-08-21 05:49