Superman is one of the most iconic figures in pop culture history. Since his debut in 1938, he has been a regular fixture in various media, including comics, radio broadcasts, animated cartoons, and live-action television. His status as the first superhero also made him a prime figure for feature film adaptations, and he has had multiple films in both live-action and animation over the years. Even though DC and Warner Bros. have put more emphasis on Batman, there is no shortage of Superman films.
With 2025 seeming to be the triumphant return of Superman to the big screen, with James Gunn’s DCU film becoming the highest-grossing superhero film of the year, the character is back and bigger than ever. The House of El is seemingly going to be the face of the DCU for the next few years as Superman’s cousin, Supergirl, will receive her own spin-off film in 2026, while a Superman follow-up, Man of Tomorrow, opens in July 2027.
With all that in mind, here are the 10 best Superman movies ever made, live-action or animated, ranked.
10
‘Man of Steel’ (2013)
Zack Snyder’s dark reimagining of the Superman mythology and kick-off to the DCEU might not have been for everyone, but the film is an important part of the history of the character. While now best remembered for the infamous third-act set piece, which resulted in a great deal of collateral damage and the controversial decision to have Superman brutally kill General Zod, Man of Steel did make a number of strong creative choices. First and foremost, the decision to cast Henry Cavill. While Cavill might not have ever gotten to truly shine as Superman in the DCEU, Man of Steel hinted at the promise as he not only physically embodied the character, but the final shot of him as Clark Kent with the goofy smile sold that he could play both sides of the iconic hero.
Hans Zimmer’s majestic new Superman theme, creating a modern 21st-century spin on Krypton, Smallville, and Metropolis that felt like they existed within the same reality, and a cinema-verite visual language, separated the film from many of its superhero contemporaries at the time, but also today. The shot of Superman punching General Zod across the sky at super speed is an all-time iconic Superman image that has been referenced in numerous adaptations. Man of Steel may not be perfect, but it still boasts several elements that make it an enjoyable Superman movie.
9
‘Superman: Man of Tomorrow’ (2020)
Much like how Man of Steel kicked off the DCEU, Superman: Man of Tomorrow launched its own shared universe, the short-lived Tomorrowverse, which replaced the previous DC Animated Movie Universe. Superman: Man of Tomorrow once again reimagined Superman’s origin, and plays very much like a mix of Man of Steel and James Gunn’s Superman. Like Man of Steel, it focuses on the alien aspect of Superman’s origins, albeit through the uncertainty Clark Kent feels. Similar to James Gunn’s Superman, it features a supporting cast filled with DC characters, such as Martian Manhunter and Lobo, alongside Superman’s foes, including Lex Luthor and Parasite.
The animation style in Superman: Man of Tomorrow might be stiff for some, but the strong linework gives the story the feeling of a moving comic. The movie knows it needs big action set-pieces, but also wisely realizes that the climax needs to be solved by Superman putting compassion first and speaking with his heart, hoping for the best in others. The Tomorrowverse never lived up to its potential, but it is hard to deny how refreshing Superman: Man of Tomorrow felt at the time of its release and still stands as a good old-fashioned Superman movie.
8
‘Superman II’ (1981)
Superman II set the template for superhero sequels like X2: X-Men United, Spider-Man 2, and even The Dark Knight. The sequel to Superman: The Movie is infamous for Richard Donner being fired more than halfway through filming and replaced by Richard Lester. Lester certainly brought in a bit more slapstick comedy that feels like it clashes with Donner’s footage, yet there is no denying that the opening scene of Superman stopping a bomb in Paris is a good way to start the film. The late great Terrance Stamp’s portrayal as General Zod is a character and career-defining performance, cementing the actor’s legacy forever.
Superman II can either be enjoyed as the theatrical cut or 2006 Richard Donner’s director’s cut, as both have their strengths and weaknesses. The Director’s Cut certainly has more of a sense of gravitas and feels more in line with Superman: The Movie as it brings certain themes of fathers and sons full circle, yet due to not having all the completed shots needed some elements needed to be awkwardly stitched together, and having to reuse the controversial spinning the Earth back ending from Superman: The Movie (originally intended for Superman II) feels like a frustrating experience when watched back to back with the first film. While neither version of Superman II can live up to the first film, both are incredibly entertaining watches that
7
‘Superman: Red Son’ (2020)
Superman: Red Son is one of three adaptations of popular Superman comics that will make this list. It’s an adaptation of the 2003 Elseworlds title of the same name, which reimagines an alternate universe version of Superman where he lands in Soviet Russia instead of Kansas. Both the film and the comic examine the concept of how different ideologies shape the perception of the hero, as well as what happens if Superman is raised in a communist country as opposed to a capitalist one, and how, in both versions, Superman is always “a champion of the people.”
Superman: Red Son excels as it reimagines real-world historical Cold War conflicts with superheroes being used as the ultimate weapons in this fight. Lex Luthor, a capitalist, is fittingly positioned as the United States champion in this reality, who later becomes President and even makes his own militarized Green Lantern Corps. For many, the idea of communism is often viewed as “evil” or “bad,” with Superman: Red Son incorrectly being labeled as another “Superman gone bad” story. Yet the comic and animated film offer a more nuanced take on how certain ideas of communism fit with the traditional ideal of Superman as a symbol for the working person and what truly separates that from “The American Way.”
6
‘All-Star Superman’ (2011)
All-Star Superman is the adaptation of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s beloved 12-issue comic series of the same name. All-Star Superman is often cited as the greatest Superman comic and even one of the greatest comics of all time, so the animated movie had some big shoes to fill. For the most part, it gets there; yet, the limited runtime of an animated film, as opposed to a feature film or a 12-issue comic, means some of the story’s best elements are skipped over.
Even though the All-Star Superman comic has the throughline of Superman’s impending death, the series is rather episodic in nature. This meant that, for the film adaptation, many of the comics’ best storylines were cut in favor of keeping the focus solely on the conflict between Superman and Lex Luthor. This means great stories like the Jimmy Olsen visits S.T.A.R. Labs and turns into Doomsday or the Bizarro World subplot are scrapped, in addition to the iconic scene of Superman saving a young girl by telling her “she is stronger than she knows.” While All-Star Superman remains an incredibly entertaining movie that perfectly captures the art style, it does not fully capture the majesty of the source material.
5
‘Superman vs. The Elite’ (2012)
Superman vs. The Elite is an adaptation of a single comic, Action Comics #775, “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?” The story finds Superman confronted by a new team of anti-heroes known as the Elite. The moral struggle between Superman and the more violent and willing-to-kill newer anti-heroes serves as a meta-commentary on the critique of Superman as an outdated hero, and whether his brand of heroics has a place in the 21st century.
Whereas both All-Star Superman and Superman: Red Son had to condense or omit elements from their comic adaptations, due to “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?” being a single issue, the filmmakers are properly allowed to flesh out the story and dig deeper into the philosophical and moral conflict at ist heart (it helps that the comics writer Joe Kelly is the screenwriter). Superman vs. The Elite was released one year before Man of Steel, and a wave of “evil Superman” stories, such as Injustice, The Boys, Invincible, and Brightburn, would dominate pop culture. Now, over a decade later, Superman vs. The Elite remains as timely as ever, demonstrating that Superman’s ideals will always have a place in the world.
4
‘Superman Returns’ (2006)
Superman Returns was the first true Superman movie in over 19 years (though not for lack of trying on Warner Bros.’ part), and at the time was received rather unfavorably compared to other modern superhero movies like X-Men, Spider-Man, and the recently released Batman Begins. Superman Returns felt old-fashioned, looking backwards to the Richard Donner films and not giving a new generation their own take on Superman. However, all these years later, Superman Returns has undergone a sort of cultural reappraisal (we’re still waiting for Quentin Tarantino to write that 20-page review).
There is no denying that, where Man of Steel prioritized violence and destruction, Superman Returns opting to center its superheroics on saving people was a breath of fresh air. The airplane rescue scene remains the best Superman action sequence put to screen, while the image of Superman’s eyes crushing a bullet is an all-time iconic moment for the hero. Brandon Routh is a fitting choice to play Superman, and he got the chance to give his depiction some closure years later in the Arrowverse’s “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” Yet the best element of the movie is the central conflict of Clark Kent/Superman needing to grapple with the fact that Lois Lane has moved on and started a family. For all of his superpowers, this is a conflict he cannot punch, and while his skin might be bulletproof, his heart is still vulnerable. It is a very adult-centric conflict, one more akin to a character drama that might not be what audiences wanted from a summer blockbuster, but it has helped Superman Returns stand out from other superhero films.
3
‘The Batman/Superman Movie: World’s Finest’ (1997)
The Batman/Superman Movie: World’s Finest might be three episodes of Superman: The Animated Series stitched together, but it was released as a movie on home video and therefore counts. Besides, it is easily the best team-up film between the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight, and likely, after the disappointment of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, was what many watched to cheer themselves up. The Batman/Superman Movie: World’s Finest has a straightforward plot, as it sees Superman and Batman team up to stop their arch-nemeses, Lex Luthor and the Joker, respectively. Yet the highlight is the character interactions, and it delivers some of the best in any adaptation.
Bringing in characters from The New Batman Adventures, The Batman/Superman Movie: World’s Finest was an epic event and every comic fan’s dream come true. This was the first true DC Animated Universe crossover, and the creators knew that the first meeting between Superman and Batman had to be epic. They delivered. Thanks to the incredible voice work by Kevin Conroy, Tim Daly, Mark Hamill, and Clancy Brown, The Batman/Superman Movie: World’s Finest feels like the definitive crossover between these iconic characters. Superman and Batman’s first film team-up is an all-time classic, laying the foundation for the duo’s eventual friendship and the formation of Justice League.
2
‘Superman: The Movie’ (1978)
Superman: The Movie is easily one of, if not the most important, superhero films of all time. Director Richard Donner’s commitment to verisimilitude, keeping everything grounded in a sense of reality, informs the entire movie as he strikes the perfect balance between past cinematic references and imagined iconic comic book elements. From the 1970s sci-inspired Krypton to the Norman Rockwell-esque picture-perfect Smallville, and finally a then-contemporary Metropolis that pitted Superman against a Lex Luthor who felt like a Bond villain. Superman: The Movie’s impact is still felt today as it informed Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies, and Kevin Feige’s involvement in every Marvel Cinematic Universe movie.
Then, of course, there is Christopher Reeve. What more can be said about the legendary actor that hasn’t been touched elsewhere? He perfectly captured the essence of what the collective imagination pictured as Superman, as if the character leaped off the page and onto the screen. Meanwhile, his depiction of the bumbling Clark Kent is so iconic that it became the default perception of how people imagined the character for years. He is and will always be the face of Superman in live-action. Despite some elements of the film not entirely aging well, particularly Lois Lane’s “Can You Read My Mind” monologue and the film’s rather long first act, Superman: The Movie is still close to a masterpiece and one that delivered on its promise to make audiences believe a man could fly.
1
‘Superman’ (2025)
Recency bias? Perhaps. Yet as time goes on, James Gunn’s Superman truly takes its place as the best Superman movie ever. What defines the best Superman movie ever is up for debate, but what is refreshing about Gunn’s Superman is that it captures all the best elements of the character’s rich, storied history and puts it together while also finding its own unique angle. It feels like the definitive Superman movie, one that audiences have been waiting for their whole lives. It truly captures the magical feeling of reading a Superman comic and brings that sensation to the big screen.
Superman drops the viewers into a lived-in DC Universe, more akin to Star Wars than any other DC movie before it. The movie walks a fine line in tone, balancing the more outlandish comic book elements that other filmmakers have been too afraid to tackle, like Krypto, while still making an emotionally moving story that treats Superman as a character first, rather than a meta-concept, like many other films have. David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Nicolas Hulot all excel as Superman, Lois Lane, and Lex Luthor, and stand tall as some of the best depictions of these characters. Superman not only embodied the spirit of the character but spoke to its moment in time, feeling like a defining movie of 2025. This is easily the most popular Superman has been since at least 1978, and the future looks bright for the Man of Tomorrow.
Release Date
July 11, 2025
Runtime
130 minutes
Director
James Gunn