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Summary
Supermanis one ofDC ’s most famous dimension with a chronology of live - natural process movies whose release dates span decades , with several reboots begging the question of how to watch them in order . With modern comic book moving picture being so fertile , Superman gasconade a condition as one of the most iconic originator , withDC champion in oecumenical being the most prevalentin early decades . While theSuperhero genre may stoke debateamong film - goer today , Superman ’s prevalence in medium demonstrate just how influential superheroes have been in cinema since as betimes as the 1940s .
It is n’t heavy to see why Superman has such a well - establish back catalog give the spectacle the role tender a adult - screen version . His cinematic outings are often facilitators of cutting - edge especial burden as adaptation depictSuperman ’s vast regalia of superpowersfrom flying to rut imaginativeness . This account is poised to continue with Superman give up off a new geological era of DC in cinema with the DCU with 2025’sSuperman , which front a challenge in bringing something unique to a character that has appear so frequently on the big screen thus far .
The first major superhero to be created , Superman is one of pop acculturation ’s biggest icons , and here are all the actors who ’ve played him in live - action .
Every Superman Movie In Order
With a cinematic legacy that began in the forties , Superman boasts one of the oldest filmographies in the superhero movie genre . His ill-tempered - generational legacy also boasts the accolade of boast the first lineament - length movie of any superhero , which would give way to full cinematic franchise . These franchises would comprise the first two of Superman ’s cinematic career before the DCU debuts his third withSupermanin 2025 and subsequent as - yet - unannounced sequels . Until then , these are the 13 movies that asterisk Superman in order of their release dates .
flick Name
class of Release
Superman
1948
Atom Man vs. Superman
1950
Superman and the Mole - Men
1951
Custom Image by Yeider Chacon
1978
Superman II
1981
Superman III
1983
Superman IV : The Quest For Peace
Custom image by Ollie Bradley
1987
Superman Returns
2006
Superman II : The Richard Donner Cut
Man of Steel
2013
Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justice
2016
Justice League
2017
Zack Snyder ’s Justice League
2021
The Best Order To Watch Superman Movies (& Which To Skip)
The determinate list of Superman movies be just 7 of his 13 - movie back catalog . These motion picture span three franchises and lead four actors in the eponymous theatrical 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 junket being largely lambasted for neglect the bull’s eye - something which the Brandon Routh - frontedSuperman Returnshelped to remediate in 2006 .
Two of Superman ’s cinematic releases are Directors ' cuts intended to bestow more economic value to the originals in the shape of added prospect and a more accurate depiction of the original creative vision . The earliest live - military action depictions of Superman , meanwhile , are potentially too dated to be thoroughly enjoyed by advanced audiences , whileSuperman and the Mole Menoffers the definitive example of Superman in his earliest guise . For the most rewarding Superman endurance contest , however , these are the salutary to view in chronological order .
Superman And The Mole Men (1951)
The first feature of speech - length appearance of a DC hero in celluloid sport one of themost laughable - exact renditions of Superman in live - actionthanks to George Reeves . Though the black - and - white film fall short of doing Superman ’s famously vibrant outfit Department of Justice , this unrecorded - action line drawing of Superman in the tail - last of the Golden Age of Comic Books like an expert depicted a more lighthearted epoch as he confronts a peculiarly hammy age bracket of villains . The movie was ahead of its sentence as it ultimately deliver a substance rally against prejudice , turning the titular Mole Men into some of the earliestsympathetic villain in mirthful rule book movies .
Superman (1978)
Cast
To date , Reeve ’s debut remains the best - rated Superman movie and stands as a paradigm for subsequent movies to fall out .
The first moving picture to star Christopher Reeve in the eponymic function remains the good of his tenure , with even less favorable reviews adduce his delineation of Superman as a high spot . In many way , Supermanis the definitive cinematic take on the hero , debut such implanted 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 escort , it remain thebest - order Superman movieand stand up as a paradigm for subsequent movie to surveil .
Superman II (1981)
The firstSupermansequel experienced some developmental issues as the original movie ’s director , Richard Donner , was fired part - way through output , with Richard Lester taking the reins in his lieu . This led to re - shoots , resulting in a new commencement and ending for the movie , while several cast and crew departed in protestation . Thankfully , the switch - up did not handicap the last product , with Lester ’s visual modality ofSuperman IIhousing some of the mostmemorable moments in Superman ’s cinematic career , including his amnesia - inducing candy kiss and the more or less inconvenient deployment of a cellophane " S " symbol .
The Donner Cut ofSuperman IIis also deserving a scout for fans of the film director ’s original vision , thoughSuperman IIhas had a capital impingement on Superman ’s cinematic bequest .
Superman Returns (2006)
Superman Returnsis a soft reboot of the original franchise , keep on the story fromSuperman IIand ignoring the consequence ofSuperman IIIandSuperman IV : The Quest For Peace , which were far less well - received than Reeve ’s preceding movies . Brandon Routh was cast out of yard of actors and would collect significant praise for his enactment as Superman returning to Earth after a five - twelvemonth absence . Superman Returnssucceeds in stay true to the original moving-picture show while capitalizing on the special effects of the earned run average , rounding out the first franchise in a more square manner than Reeve ’s final two portrayal .
Routh would go on to reprize his role in the Arrowverse ’s Crisis on Infinite Earths adaptation .
Man Of Steel (2013)
Though it was n’t intended at the time , Man of Steelwould kick off the DCEU with an all - Modern retelling of Superman ’s iconic origin story . Henry Cavill in the first place auditioned for the eponymic role in Bryan Singer’sSuperman Returns , though it fell toMan of Steelto vindicate his efforts as he drew substantial praise for his nuanced take on the character . Man of Steelwould set the coloured tone for which the DCEU would become knownand boast the controversial decision to have Superman kill in his debut flick . Despite this , it persist one of thebest - blackleg DCEU movies .
Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016)
The DCEU ’s 2nd movie drew a substantial layer of criticism for being overstuffed and failing to win over superfans of its main characters for refutable characterization decisions . Despite this , Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justiceoffers a emphatically off - piste take on the nominal poor boy that warrant a watch , and plenteousness of visual spectacles distinctive of Director Zack Snyder ’s distinctive style . Batman v Supermanis evidently plan to be one part of a sprawling franchise that debut three member of the Justice League , but the movie was notwithstanding a compelling portrayal of an counter Superman .
Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
The theatrical release ofJustice Leaguewas criticizedfor tonal repugnance , though the permutation to Joss Whedon as director was hard to head off . gratefully , the cacophony of call option for the " Snyder Cut " would endure fruit and give way to the definitive take that isZack Snyder ’s Justice League , in whichSuperman ’s unique enactment is vindicated in a darker moving picture more tonally reproducible with his previous two DCEU outing . The picture show is bulkier by some margin , giving the titular team the sprawling epic they deserved before they were forced to disband withthe DCEU ’s dying .
Superman’s 4 Movie Timelines Explained
Several reboots and alternate timelines have guarantee an graspable spirit level of muddiness when it comes to Superman ’s cinematic persistence . With two directors ' cuts and one alternative sequel , it can be hard to guess where one dealership ends and the other begins . Generally mouth , however , there are three Superman franchises and one standalone movie so far , beforethe DCU’sSupermangives rise to a fourth franchise .
The Original Superman Serial Timeline
The original Superman series debuted with 1948’sSupermanand 1950’sAtom Man vs. Superman . Kirk Alyn asterisk in both serials , which were each composed of 15 chapter that amount 244 and 252 hour , respectively , and featured Superman ’s origin story and encounters with Lex Luthor . A timeline of feature length Superman movies would n’t come along until three decade later , with Christopher Reeve in the starring theatrical role .
The Standalone George Reeves Timeline
The standalone movieSuperman and the Mole Mendoes not limn a Superman descent narrative and mold on the premiss that audiences are generally conversant with the character . dedicate the movie let go just one twelvemonth after the Alyn - asterisk serial , this is n’t too surprising , though it was never bill as a straight sequel to the serial . Nevertheless , this is perhaps the neatest of Superman ’s timeline insofar as it contain just one movie without any alternative subsequence or director ' cuts to muddy up the waters .
The Christopher Reeve Timeline
The Christopher Reeve franchise of Superman is possibly the most confusing owe to the Brandon Routh - fronted reboot of 2006.Superman Returnsis apparently the third sequel to 1978 ’s Superman , offering a branching timeline of subsequent events followingSuperman II.Superman IIIandSuperman IV : The Quest For Peace , meanwhile , are the original continuations of this same story , ostensibly leaving it up to the spectator to spot which branch of the Christopher Reeve timeline they would prefer to accept as canon .
The DCEU Timeline
The DCEU timeline include all of Henry Cavill ’s show as Superman . These includeMan of Steel , Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justice , andJustice League , whileZack Snyder ’s Justice Leagueoffers a dissimilar interlingual rendition of event in yet another branching timeline . Although the DCEU would fizzle out before a directJustice Leaguesequel could come forth , The Flashwould establishZack Snyder ’s Justice Leagueas being prescribed DCEU canon , which leaves the canonicity of the theatricalJustice Leagueup for debate . What is n’t in question is the fact that Henry Cavill’sSupermanwill not be canon in the forthcoming DCU reboot .
Upcoming DC Movies
Release Date
Joker : Folie à Deux
October 4 , 2024
July 11 , 2025
The Batman - Part II
October 2 , 2026
