These 7 Superman villains from movies gave the Man of Steel a really hard time

Superman has always been seen as the strongest hero on the planet. He can fly at impossible speeds, shoot heat from his eyes, and survive almost any attack. People believe nothing can stop him. But every version of Superman eventually runs into someone who proves that even he can struggle. Over the years, in different movies we have watched villains who pushed him past his breaking point.

Some came from Krypton and could match his powers. Others had no powers at all but used intelligence and manipulation to wear him down. A few of them forced him to choose between saving lives and staying true to his beliefs. These enemies did not just fight him physically. They forced him to ask himself who he was and what kind of hero he wanted to be.

The damage they caused stayed with him long after the battle ended. These seven villains were not just obstacles in the story. They were turning points. Each of them brought something new that the Man of Steel had to survive and understand. Their impact changed him in ways that lasted. This list looks at the ones who hit hardest and left the biggest mark.

These 7 Superman villains from movies gave the Man of Steel a really hard time

1. General Zod – Man of Steel (2013)

Man of Steel (Image via Warner Bros. Pictures)

Zod was a soldier created to protect Krypton by any means. He was born with a single purpose which was to ensure the survival of his race. That drive never changed, even when Krypton was gone.

When he arrived on Earth he saw humans as disposable. He wanted to build a new Krypton on Earth and wipe out humanity in the process. Superman had to choose between the world that raised him and the world that gave him life.

Their final fight devastated much of Metropolis. Superman killed Zod to stop him from murdering innocent people. That moment changed the Man of Steel forever. Zod’s defeat came at the cost of the Man of Steel’s innocence. It marked the first time he truly understood what being Earth’s protector meant. Zod didn’t just test Superman’s strength. He forced him to define who he was and what he was willing to do to protect this planet.

2. Lex Luthor – Superman (1978), Batman v Superman (2016)

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

Lex Luthor never needed powers to cause destruction. He used planning and manipulation to attack the Man of Steel in ways that were harder to see. His goals always looked selfish, but his methods were dangerous.

In 1978, he tried to sink part of California to raise the value of his land. In Batman v Superman, he pitted Bruce Wayne against the Man of Steel. He created Doomsday using Zod’s remains and let chaos follow.

Lex doesn’t want power for its own sake—he wants to prove that the Man of Steel can't be trusted. He sees the Man of Steel as a threat to human freedom. His actions always carry long-term damage. He does not need to fight with fists because he fights with ideas. Lex forces the Man of Steel to question himself. Every time they face off the damage goes far beyond buildings. Lex’s greatest strength is how he turns the Man of Steel’s hope into doubt and leaves him to pick up the pieces.

3. Doomsday – Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Doomsday was not a villain with a plan. He was made in a lab from Kryptonian DNA. Lex Luthor wanted a weapon, so he created one with no control or conscience.

Doomsday was a monster that evolved during battle. He could regenerate. He could absorb energy. The more he got hit, the more powerful he became. Superman was forced into a last stand and gave his life to stop him.

The death of the Man of Steel stunned the world. It made people realize that even he could fall. That loss helped form the Justice League and changed how heroes operated. Doomsday did not speak. He had no motive. That made him scarier. He was a force of destruction that made the Man of Steel sacrifice everything. It wasn’t about who was stronger. It was about who would go further. Superman went as far as anyone could go. That made the impact lasting and real.

4. Nuclear Man – Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)

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

Nuclear Man was created from Superman’s DNA and solar energy. Lex Luthor used one of the Man of Steel’s hairs and launched it into space. The result was a being powered by solar radiation.

His appearance was brief but destructive—fast, chaotic, and dangerously powerful. He clawed the Man of Steel and infected him with radiation. That injury left the Man of Steel weak for most of the film. Their fight covered cities and space.

The movie tried to deliver a message about nuclear disarmament. Nuclear Man was the symbol of that fear. He was a product of science without ethics. Though the movie struggled with tone and effects, his role still mattered. He made the Man of Steel look inward. He pushed him to act beyond just physical strength. Nuclear Man may not be a fan favorite, but the fact that he was born from Superman’s own cells gave their fight personal weight. That idea still holds.

5. Ursa – Superman II (1980)

Ursa was not just a sidekick to Zod. She had her own strength and cruelty. She escaped from the Phantom Zone and gained powers equal to the Man of Steel under Earth’s yellow sun.

She took part in destroying Metropolis. She took joy in punishing humans and did not hesitate during combat. She was cold and efficient. Her partnership with Zod helped raise the threat level. Their group moved like an army.

Ursa’s role in the story gave the conflict more depth. She brought a different kind of danger. She was ruthless and smart. She did not just follow orders. She made choices. Her presence expanded the idea of Kryptonian villains. She was one of the first female supervillains in superhero films who could challenge the hero physically. Her attitude and violence showed that not all threats need to shout. Sometimes they walk in and do damage without ever needing to prove anything.

6. Non – Superman II (1980)

Non barely spoke, but he unleashed physical terror wherever he went. He was the muscle of Zod’s team. He had the same Kryptonian powers as the Man of Steel but none of the restraint.

In Metropolis, he lifted buses. He smashed buildings. He fought with brute force and little strategy. That made him dangerous. He didn’t care where he was or who got hurt. He followed destruction like a shadow.

What made Non stand out was his confusion. He looked like a monster but sometimes acted like a child. He watched Zod for guidance. He learned from what he saw. That made him unpredictable. Superman could not reason with him. He could only survive himself. Non’s raw power turned every fight into chaos. He wasn’t a planner or a leader. But he turned every moment into a physical nightmare. That made him a vital part of why the Man of Steel struggled in every scene.

7. Faora-Ul – Man of Steel (2013)

Faora was trained to fight from birth. She came from Krypton’s military caste and never questioned orders. When she landed on Earth, she followed Zod but acted on her own skill.

In Smallville, she fought the Man of Steel hand-to-hand. She used speed and precision. She dodged punches and landed her own before the Man of Steel could react. Her movements were controlled and deadly. She was not reckless.

Faora’s fighting style brought a distinct edge to Man of Steel’s battle scenes. She wasn’t loud or emotional. She treated combat like routine. That made her scenes intense. Her silence said more than dialogue ever could. She showed the Man of Steel what real training looked like. She didn’t just want to beat him. She wanted him to feel overwhelmed. That sense of helplessness added real weight to the battle. Faora may not have been the main villain, but she proved that a secondary figure can still define the tone.