Summary

• Superman's rich cinematic history showcases cutting-edge special effects and a legacy spanning multiple reboots and adaptations over the years.
• From George Reeves to Henry Cavill, Superman's iconic character has been portrayed by several actors, each leaving their mark on the superhero genre.
• The DCEU's Superman movies, including Man of Steel and Batman v Superman, have redefined the character for modern audiences, setting a darker tone.

Superman is one of DC's most illustrious properties with a chronology of live-action movies whose release dates span decades, with several reboots begging the question of how to watch them in order. With modern comic book movies being so prolific, Superman boasts a status as one of the most iconic originators, with DC heroes in general being the most prevalent in earlier decades. While the Superhero genre may stoke debate among cinema-goers nowadays, Superman's prevalence in media proves just how influential superheroes have been in cinema since as early as the 1940s.

It isn't hard to see why Superman has such a well-established back catalog given the spectacle the character offers a big-screen adaptation. His cinematic outings are often facilitators of cutting-edge special effects as adaptations depict Superman's vast array of superpowers from flight to heat vision. This history is poised to continue with Superman kicking off a new era of DC in cinema with the DCU with 2025's Superman, which faces a challenge in bringing something unique to a character that has appeared so frequently on the big screen thus far.

Every Superman Movie In Order

With a cinematic legacy that began in the 1940s, Superman boasts one of the oldest filmographies in the superhero movie genre. His cross-generational legacy also boasts the accolade of featuring the first feature-length movie of any superhero, which would give way to entire cinematic franchises. These franchises would comprise the first two of Superman's cinematic career before the DCU debuts his third with Superman in 2025 and subsequent as-yet-unannounced sequels. Until then, these are the 13 movies that star Superman in order of their release dates.

The Best Order To Watch Superman Movies (& Which To Skip)

The definitive list of Superman movies comprises just 7 of his 13-movie back catalog. These movies span three franchises and star four actors in the eponymous role, with each garnering a loyal fanbase for their faithful and nuanced depictions of the Man of Steel. Much like the eponymous hero, Superman movies are far from infallible, with Reeves' lattermost two outings being largely lambasted for missing the mark - something which the Brandon Routh-fronted Superman Returns helped to rectify in 2006.

Two of Superman's cinematic releases are Directors' cuts intended to add more value to the originals in the form of added scenes and a more accurate depiction of the original creative vision. The earliest live-action depictions of Superman, meanwhile, are potentially too dated to be thoroughly enjoyed by modern audiences, while Superman and the Mole Men offers the definitive example of Superman in his earliest guise. For the most rewarding Superman marathon, however, these are the best to watch in chronological order.

Superman And The Mole Men (1951)

The first feature-length appearance of a DC hero in cinema features one of the most comic-accurate renditions of Superman in live-action thanks to George Reeves. Though the black-and-white movie falls short of doing Superman's famously vibrant outfit justice, this live-action depiction of Superman in the tail-end of the Golden Age of Comic Books expertly depicted a more lighthearted era as he confronts a particularly hammy cohort of villains. The movie was ahead of its time as it ultimately delivers a message rallying against prejudice, turning the titular Mole Men into some of the earliest sympathetic villains in comic book movies.

Superman (1978)

To date, Reeve's debut remains the best-rated Superman movie and stands as a paradigm for subsequent movies to follow.

The first movie to star Christopher Reeve in the eponymous role remains the best of his tenure, with even less favorable reviews citing his depiction of Superman as a highlight. In many ways, Superman is the definitive cinematic take on the hero, debuting such ingrained features of Superman's mythos on the big screen as Lex Luthor and the Fortress of Solitude in the first of his origin stories to be committed to a feature-length movie. To date, it remains the best-rated Superman movie and stands as a paradigm for subsequent movies to follow.

Superman II (1981)

The first Superman sequel experienced some developmental issues as the original movie's director, Richard Donner, was fired part-way through production, with Richard Lester taking the reins in his stead. This led to re-shoots, resulting in a new beginning and ending for the movie, while several cast and crew departed in protest. Thankfully, the switch-up did not hamper the final product, with Lester's vision of Superman II housing some of the most memorable moments in Superman's cinematic career, including his amnesia-inducing kiss and the slightly inconvenient deployment of a cellophane "S" symbol.

The Donner Cut of Superman II is also worth a watch for fans of the director's original vision, though Superman II has had a greater impact on Superman's cinematic legacy.

Superman Returns (2006)