Counting Down And Rating All 11 Superman Motion pictures From Greatest To Worst
As we enter a new era for the first and most well-known comic book superhero in history, Superman’s cinematic previous is value a glance again to see the legacy upon which DC Studios co-CEO and writer-director James Gunn will construct his new rebooted Man of Metal franchise. Which implies it’s time to rely down and rank each Superman film from finest to worst.
Henry Cavill stars as Superman in “Man of Metal”
Final week, I ranked all of Henry Cavill’s appearances as Superman, together with even his cameos, and you can read that ranking here.
Let me begin off by noting Superman has appeared in 11 whole live-action characteristic movies throughout each decade from the Fifties via in the present day, except for the Sixties — and these are the movies I’ll be rating momentarily.
The character additionally appeared in a few live-action serials within the Nineteen Forties; seven live-action TV exhibits spanning each decade from the Fifties to present-day, excluding the Sixties-Nineteen Seventies; and quite a few animated films and TV exhibits, together with the acclaimed Fleischer studios animated quick movies of the Nineteen Forties and cartoons in each decade from the Sixties via the 2020s.
Which is to say, Superman has been current in theaters and on TV nearly from his very creation during in the present day, with only some uncommon exceptions. Few popular culture characters take pleasure in as a lot fixed illustration and adaptation throughout all mediums, and amongst DC Comics superheroes solely Batman has comparable numbers.
Superman additionally has the benefit of getting most of his live-action and animated adaptions being good or nice, with solely a small few being combined baggage or total unhealthy. He enjoys all kinds of storytelling approaches and portrayals, opposite to widespread misperception and misstatements at any time when his potential for adaptation is mentioned, which speaks to the depth of the character and his mythological resonance in our world.
So, a number of guidelines for my record. I made a decision to rank each live-action DC film during which Superman seems as both the primary character or as a important supporting character. I didn’t embrace Henry Cavill’s cameo in Black Adam or the headless Superman cameo in Shazam!, as a result of that will basically be extra a rating of these specific films than of the cameos themselves.
But when I had included the cameos ranked strictly on the deserves of Superman’s appearances, then they’d have are available in final place. The headless Shazam! cameo being final, and Black Adam’s temporary Cavill cameo being next-to-last, just because these two scenes don’t outweigh the numerous good or nice Superman moments in even the last-place film on my record.
This can be a record about Superman and his films, and I feel it’s value noting that as unhealthy as a minimum of one is (and arguably two or three, particularly by in the present day’s requirements), there are nonetheless causes to advocate and watch each one of many 11 movies on this record. The actors who play Superman do terrific jobs in all of them, and whereas some are excessively tacky and badly written total, they nonetheless comprise hidden gems and insightful moments made even higher by their great lead performers.
Now, with out additional ado, right here is my countdown and rating of each Superman film, from worst to finest!
11. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace — Simply the worst of the record and among the many worst superhero movies, with a horrible villain, horrible dialogue, extreme camp, and awful VFX. However Christopher Reeve by no means provides lower than 100%, delivering an inspiring and admirable Clark Kent/Superman efficiency within the face of overwhelming odds.
10. Superman and the Mole Males — An oldie that undoubtedly exhibits the pressure of age, however nonetheless a trustworthy and at all times dignified portrayal by George Reeves of the early Superman from the comics, in a narrative with a powerful ethical compass and a few nostalgic enjoyable helped by a breezy 58-minute runtime.
9. Superman III — Sure, it’s too campy and far of the primary plot doesn’t work in any respect. However as soon as once more, Reeve’s superpower is the very fact he embodied Superman so completely that each time he’s on display screen, he shines and elevates the fabric. So the very fact it really has a number of good Clark and Superman moments is a giant bonus right here.
8. Justice League (theatrical minimize) — Joss Whedon’s inferior model of the staff remains to be superb if seen as a live-action Tremendous Mates, and Henry Cavill nonetheless has a lot of his arc left in tact, so we get a very good resurrection and return to hopeful heights together with his Clark and Superman. However wow, that mustache removing remains to be pitiful…
7. Superman Returns — No matter we are saying about what the movie will get incorrect, that is nonetheless a compelling revival of the Donner-Reeve period for contemporary instances, and Brandon Routh was an ideal Superman. That is the primary “superb” film on the record, working as a stunning cinematic capstone to Donner’s movies. I nonetheless want it had gotten a sequel.
6. Batman v Superman — Probably the most controversial movie on the record is the one asking how the world may actually deal with an indestructible alien. Cavill is elegant in depicting a person torn between obligation to the world and to himself, and his bittersweet realization that his obligation to himself requires him to at all times put his obligation to the world first.
5. Zack Snyder’s Justice League — Certainly the best pure DC superhero film of all time, and a fantastic declaration of Superman’s capability to encourage and to beat any odds. Even when not on display screen, his is the presence most felt. Cavill’s true swan music efficiency is as great and triumphant as anybody may hope for.
4. Superman II (theatrical minimize) — Nonetheless probably the greatest superhero sequels ever made, regardless of being the primary ever tried, and it builds upon the spectacle and comedian sensibilities of the unique. Christopher Reeve is magical, and the movie’s nuanced examination of Clark/Superman wanting his personal life and the sacrifices he makes is a testomony to how far forward of their time these first two movies have been.
3. Man of Metal — Zack Snyder’s reboot is superior and will get higher with age, kind of a reimagining of the primary two Donner movies mashed collectively and modernized inside the pseudo-realism of the Christoper Nolan-David Goyer strategy to DC superhero cinema. Cavill’s first outing is spectacular and solely a hair behind the #2 movie right here…
2. Superman II: The Richard Donner Lower — Donner’s unique imaginative and prescient is sort of a complete new film and a superior effort in nearly each regard. That is the model that felt like a full continuation and second chapter of the origin movie (and nearer in high quality). Certainly, the combo of Superman: The Film and Superman II: The Richard Donner Lower are essentially the most clear inspiration for screenwriter David Goyer’s reimagining of the 2 movies as one massive story and with a dose of contemporary socio-political commentary.
1. Superman: The Film — There may be a lot to say about why Donner’s 1978 genre-starting masterpiece remains to be the best Superman film of all time. It’s ambition, it’s ardour, it’s dedication to perfecting Superman and superhero storytelling proper out the gate, its immediately iconic casting, the whole lot about it rings true and even the campier components comprise a pleasure and awe-inspiring spectacle that makes up for its flaws. You can read more of my thoughts about Superman: The Movie here.
And there you’ve it, pricey readers, all 11 of Superman’s cinematic films ranked from worst to finest, and let me inform you it wasn’t a simple record to assemble and order, nevertheless it was great enjoyable rewatching them to organize.
I’m certain this rating goes to trigger some controversy amongst followers, in order at all times you may pontificate within the feedback under or discover me on social media to debate what you do and don’t like in regards to the rankings. And bear in mind, these are my very own evaluation and rating preferences, so they may not at all times match your preferences and rankings. However in the event you love Superman, love his movies, and like to consider them and focus on them, then hopefully you may admire the entire films ranked right here and admire the very fact Superman’s fandom is giant sufficient and various sufficient to harbor many alternative views.
Test again quickly for extra updates and reviews in regards to the DCEU and what co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran have in retailer for the way forward for DC’s iconic superheroes.
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