Every Superman movie ranked: From timeless classics to total misfires

Superman’s movie history has gone in every direction possible. He has flown high in some films and crashed hard in others. Some movies earned praise and stayed in people’s minds for decades. Others left the audience disappointed and confused.

The character has seen new actors, new suits, and new tones almost every decade. But no matter how often the formula changes, people still care about Superman. He stands for hope and strength and the idea that someone will always try to do the right thing even when it is hard.

Each version tells us something about the time it came out. Some films felt honest and connected with people. Others tried to go bigger and louder and lost what made Superman matter in the first place. This list does not rank the movies by visual effects or box office numbers.

It focuses on what each film tried to say and whether it stayed true to who Superman is. You will see classics that still hold up and misfires that missed the mark completely. From the original blockbuster to the upcoming reboot this is how every Superman movie stacks up against the rest with nothing sugarcoated.

Every Superman movie ranked: From timeless classics to total misfires

1. Superman (1978)

The first film showed what superhero stories could be when taken seriously. Richard Donner treated the character with care and set a tone that still works. Christopher Reeve gave Superman heart and charm without ever making him feel corny. John Williams’ music became part of the character’s identity.

Krypton felt alien but real. Smallville felt quiet but meaningful. Metropolis felt alive. The flight effects were practical but effective. Lex Luthor was clever but not cartoonish. Everything was simple but worked. No Superman movie has balanced sincerity and scale this well. It became the standard that others chase and rarely match.

2. Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

Zack Snyder’s Justice League (Image via Warner Bros. Pictures)

This version fixed everything the original cut got wrong. Superman’s return had weight and made sense. His resurrection took time and was driven by real stakes. Cavill wore the black suit to reflect change and recovery.

Superman’s impact on the team was clear. His entrance during the final battle felt like a moment earned through buildup and loss. The visual tone stayed consistent. Lois Lane had more to do and added emotional grounding. The film gave Superman a proper arc and showed him as a force of calm and strength. Fans didn’t just get more time—they got the right time.

3. Man of Steel (2013)

Man of Steel (Image via Warner Bros. Pictures)

This was the first Superman story that fully leaned into the question of alien identity. Clark grew up afraid of his powers and unsure of where he belonged. Kevin Costner’s Jonathan Kent told him the world might not be ready.

Zod came to Earth looking for control, not peace. Their final battle destroyed Metropolis and forced Clark to kill. That decision caused debate, but it shaped the next phase of Superman’s story. The film made Krypton detailed and tragic. Cavill played him as distant but trying. The tone was serious because the world around him was full of fear and doubt.

4. Superman II (1981)

This sequel lets Superman face someone just as powerful. General Zod and his followers wanted to rule Earth. Clark gave up his powers for love but realized he had to choose responsibility instead. That choice drove the film’s emotional pull.

The director's swap created shifts in tone. Donner shot serious scenes with weight. Lester added camp. Even with the split style, the core still worked. Superman had to trick Zod instead of overpowering him. Lois learned the truth and lost it. It showed that strength alone was not enough. Superman had to carry sacrifice and loneliness in equal measure.

5. Superman Returns (2006)

Superman Returns (Image via Warner Bros)

Brandon Routh brought back Reeve’s Superman without trying to copy him. The film was quiet and more reflective. Superman returned after years away and found the world had moved on. Lois had a child. Lex was free and starting over.

The plane rescue was sharp and well-made. The rest dragged. Lex’s land plot felt small after two decades of superhero growth. The movie honored past films but forgot to push forward. It looked good but lacked tension. Superman felt like a visitor, not a leader. It tried to be respectful, and it was, but that came at the cost of energy.

6. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (Image via Warner Bros)

This film picked up where Man of Steel left off. Metropolis was still wrecked. Bruce Wayne watched it fall and saw Superman as a danger. Clark became a symbol that no one agreed on. Some feared him. Some followed him.

The film had too much happening. Superman barely got to lead his own story. Lex Luthor manipulated events but felt out of place. Doomsday was rushed. Superman died but didn’t have enough time to connect with the people he saved. His death looked important but felt cold. There were big ideas here but the script never gave Superman enough space.

7. Justice League (2017)

This version combined Snyder’s early footage with Whedon’s lighter tone. It never blended well. Superman came back to life too fast and acted like a different person. His scenes felt short and disconnected from the rest of the team.

The CGI was inconsistent. Cavill’s digitally erased mustache stood out in a bad way. His lines sounded forced. There was no build-up to his return. The final fight ended with Superman showing up and saving the day too easily. Nothing landed emotionally. This film made Superman look like a shortcut rather than a leader. Fans rejected it almost instantly.

8. Superman III (1983)

This movie turned Superman into background noise. The focus shifted to Gus Gorman, a computer genius who gets hired to control satellites and weather. His boss wants power. None of it fits Superman’s world.

The one part that stuck was Evil Superman. He turned cold. He fought his moral self in a junkyard. That scene was bold and strange but it stood out. Lana Lang replaced Lois. Richard Pryor added laughs but didn’t belong. The film lost the heart of the series. It looked more like a comedy with Superman dropped into it than a real Superman story.

9. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (Image via Warner Bros)

Christopher Reeve wanted to make a Superman movie with a message. He helped write the script. The idea was simple. Superman would rid the world of nuclear weapons. The budget was not enough to support it.

Cannon Films cut corners everywhere. Special effects looked unfinished. Nuclear Man was made from Superman’s DNA but never felt threatening. Scenes were edited poorly. Sets were reused. Dialogues felt forced. Nothing came together. The film didn’t give Reeve the ending he deserved. It closed the chapter with a whimper. The idea had potential but it never made it past the first draft.