Superman is easily one of the most iconic superheroes of all time. The imagery of a man in a cape and red and blue suit is so iconic that Superman is even considered by many to be the definitive superhero. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster in the late 1930s, the character has made his way into many live-action films throughout the years.

Update October 24, 2023: Following the news of James Gunn's new Superman movie, Superman: Legacy, this article has been updated with more details on each cinematic Superman movie as well as where you can stream them.

After a decade of Henry Cavill being the Man of Steel for a generation, David Corenswet will take over the role of Superman in James Gunn's Superman: Legacy. The arrival of a new cinematic Superman is always a big deal, as he is the most popular and iconic superhero of all time. Even though he might not have the strong cinematic track record of Batman or Spider-Man, there is no denying that Superman's movies reach a wide audience and leave an impact. Here is every live-action Superman movie ranked.

9 Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)

While Christopher Reeve is a fantastic Superman, even he was unable to save Superman IV from making its way onto lists of the worst films ever made. The film suffers from a plot that fails to engage audiences, action scenes that fail to impress, poor special effects, and the inability to understand or capture the joy of the first two Superman films.

Reeve's final appearance as Superman is, unfortunately in the worst Superman film. After Superman IV: The Quest for Peace was released in 1987, no new Superman films were released for nineteen years.

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8 Superman III (1983)

Superman III is better than Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, but that's not saying much. The tone is overwhelmingly campy, with the film even splitting Clark Kent into two beings to feature a fight between Clark Kent and an evil Superman. Inconsistencies that break viewer immersion also plague the film, including Superman having difficulty breathing inside a bubble when he is able to fly in space.

Reeve's third Superman film refuses to take itself seriously. It additionally lacks connective tissue to the previous two Superman films. Lex Luthor, or a suitable replacement villain, is completely absent, Lois Lane occupies a very minimal role, Gus Gorman is poorly written, and neither the script nor the story is strong enough to do Superman justice.

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

Director Zack Snyder describes Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice as being a deconstruction of two of the most iconic superheroes: Batman and Superman. The film became very divisive as fans praised Snyder's take on the heroes while others expressed their disapproval of the film. Many fans were excited to see Batman and Superman finally share the screen. However, some of them did not get what they wanted as they wanted to see the classic iconic versions rather than a new deconstructive take on their heroes.

Batman v. Superman is a film with incredible cinematography, an excellent score by Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL, and an exploration into relationships with power and the light and darkness that both exist within humanity. Yet it also seems to be a movie that either does not get Superman or even likes him and treats his presence in the film as a burden because it would rather focus on Batman. While the director's cut is an improvement over the theatrical cut, it is clear why this was the wrong move for Warner Bros. to bet their entire cinematic universe on.

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6 Justice League (2017)

The theatrical version of Justice League is the result of studio interference and a well-documented troubled production. Despite referring to itself as a "Zack Snyder film" in the intro, director Zack Snyder has yet to see the film. Snyder was unaware of the entire plot threads and scenes that are present in the theatrical release.

Justice League begins with an uncanny valley effect with very noticeable visual effects work done on Superman's upper lip. As Superman actor Henry Cavill was shooting Mission Impossible: Fallout during Justice League reshoots, Cavill's mustache had to be digitally removed from Justice League. Justice League is a confused corporate product that serves only as Warner Bros.' attempt to course-correct after the mixed reception to Batman v. Superman.

Yet paradoxically, it is a much better representation of Superman than the previous entries as it showcased the more classic sweetheart nature that fans had come to love. It is a great lesson that even something seen as a disaster can have some positive elements.

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5 Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)

Although Superman is absent for half of the movie, Zack Snyder's Justice League is the third installment in an originally planned five-film arc centering on Superman. Zack Snyder's Justice League is a massive, four-hour superhero epic that balances joy, fun, and humor with seriousness and world-ending stakes.

Superman is a hero who inspires, and Zack Snyder's Justice League examines the impact Superman has on other people, including superheroes. It is fantastic seeing Superman inspire and save the world with the Justice League. Despite some issues with the film's treatment of Superman, from putting him in the black suit for the iconic Justice League shot or the fact that the "evil" Superman is wearing the classic outfit, this was a much better display of not only his powers but also how he impacts the DCEU.

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4 Man of Steel (2013)

Man of Steel takes the character of Superman and tells a story within a more grounded, realistic world. In the world Zack Snyder created, there are great consequences to being a superhero and many things one has to learn on the road to becoming a hero. While Snyder is tasked with many things, the one major accomplishment he does is making the audiences relate to Clark Kent by showing what it is like for somebody like him.

The movie features incredible action scenes that still, to this daym rank as among the best in the superhero genre. Yet despite their technical marvels and aesthetic brilliance, they also are a major problem with the movie as Superman does not seem to be concerned with saving people. It wants to make Superman cool for a modern audience but sometimes forgets what audiences love about him. Snapping Zod's neck was a bold creative choice and a controversial one the series never recovered from, but it is hard to deny in 2013 when Man of Steel came out, there was an exciting future ahead of Superman and the DCEU.

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3 Superman II (1980)

The sequel to the successful Superman: The Movie, Superman II is undoubtedly one of the most iconic superhero films of the 80s. A focal point of Superman II is Clark's struggle as he tries to manage a dual identity between Clark Kent and his Superman alter-ego. Clark is continuously challenged throughout the film as his responsibilities come into conflict with his desire to live a normal life.

Superman II manages to take a larger-than-life character like Superman and humanize him, allowing the character to resonate strongly with audiences. It set a template for superhero sequels that has been followed from Spider-Man 2 to Wonder Woman 1984. Superman II is iconic and also features two different cuts. While the Richard Donner's director cut is the superior version, the theatrical cut is still a great deal of fun.

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2 Superman Returns (2006)

Brandon Routh's Superman film, Superman Returns, marks the return of Superman to the big screen after the critically panned Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. Superman Returns is clearly designed to pay homage to Christopher Reeve's first two Superman films. Despite an over-reliance on nostalgia, the film successfully emulates some of what made audiences fall in love with Superman in the first place.

A fantastic Lex Luthor, solid visual effects, a new story, and the talent of Brandon Routh allow Returns to be a strong Superman film. However, the lack of action sequences fails to provide the superhero thrills that after nineteen years since Superman IV, modern audiences have come to want and expect from a superhero film. Yet now, years after Man of Steel's overt destruction, Superman Returns feels like a true modern update on what people love about Superman. This is one that aged better with time.

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1 Superman: The Movie (1978)

Superhero origin stories don't get much better than Superman: The Movie. Christopher Reeve's casting as Clark/Superman is a stroke of pure genius, and that casting would contribute to making one of the greatest superhero movies of all time. The film is ultimately timeless, featuring amazing scenes such as Superman saving all of the people on a plane when a lightning strike destroys an engine.

John Williams' wonderful Superman theme is implemented in a joyous film with so much heart. The film is such a great source of inspiration that Marvel Studios president and producer Kevin Feige watches the film before working on any of his Marvel Studios projects. David Corenswet may carry the Superman baton in the upcoming Superman: Legacy film, but the incredible legacy of Superman begins with Christopher Reeve in Superman: The Movie.

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