There’s a high quality line between a Superman fan and a Superman snob. I fall into the previous class, however I can not deny some snobbery when recommending which Superman content material it’s best to watch earlier than flying into Director and DC head James Gunn’s Superman revival, which is about to execute an ideal hero touchdown in theaters on July 11, 2025.
My love of the Superman franchise predates its main movie historical past to the late Sixties and early 70s after I would race house from grade faculty each day to catch afternoon reruns of the unique Adventures of Superman TV present starring George Reeves. To watch it now’s to see how far particular results have come but additionally to grasp the roots of just about each Superman movie and TV challenge to comply with it.
The character’s primary goodness and earnestness have been by no means simple to convey in comedian books, however there was one thing about George Reeves’ portrayal and the trusty storylines that set the template for a way even individuals who by no means picked up a Superman comedian e-book got here to understand Krypton’s final son.
I’m not suggesting you return and watch all 104 episodes of the sequence that ran from 1952 to 58 (although you may do worse), however I do have sturdy emotions concerning the assortment of movie sequence that will comply with after a 20-year pause and which have continued to this present day. Not each Superman film is equal, and justice needs to be served in your superhero-viewing habits.
These are the Superman films it’s best to watch and in what order, and people you’d do greatest to keep away from in response to Superman’s Number One Fan (or simply me.)
The OG Superman
Few films maintain up for years after their launch, not to mention many years however Superman: The Movie is that form of movie.
Released in 1978 and introducing us to Christopher Reeve’s almost-too-perfect twin depiction of the enduring alien hero and the adorably awkward Clark Kent, Superman: The Movie, which you’ll be able to stream on Max, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video, has maybe, the most effective film tagline of the final century: “You’ll consider a person can fly.”
And I did. Sure, it was all wires, projection screens, miniatures, slo-mo, and sped-up filming. Even so, Director Richard Donner used each trick within the 1978 particular results playbook to make Superman’s first true big-screen outing convincing, and it labored.
It’s a real comic-book movie that in some way avoids being two-dimensional and utterly hokey. Much of that comes right down to Reeve’s efficiency. The man merely embodied this other-worldly character – proper right down to how he “flew” in key sequences, instinctively banking his physique like an airplane.
The film is lengthy however does not really feel that manner as a result of it is a true hero’s journey from babyhood to assured individual of the hour. It has motion, hazard, a love story, and even comedy. That’s quite a bit for one film, and but it really works utterly. With the exception of Superman and Lois’ first flight and the spoken-word music, it is an ideal movie. The remainder of the music, courtesy of the legendary John Williams, is exemplary (echoes of it seem even in Gunn’s upcoming film).
That sense of marvel, pleasure, and the fundamental goodness of the titular character shouldn’t be one thing I’ve felt earlier than or since. It’s required viewing to evaluate anybody else’s tackle the Man of Steel.
Take II
Watch On
Normally, on an inventory like this, I would leap round a bit and present you one thing newer that provided a recent perspective on the character first created in 1938 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, each of whom lived lengthy sufficient to see their creation make it to the massive display. But there is no want for that. Your subsequent cease on the Superman film tour is Superman II (Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime).
Perhaps it is as a result of these films have been shot again to again, with solely the director altering halfway by way of the Superman II shoot. Donner was changed by Richard Lester, who had a penchant for slapstick. Even so, Donner’s fingerprints are everywhere in the sequel, which deftly continues the story of Superman’s progress as an alien amongst people. By this time, he is so enchanted by Lois Lane that Superman provides up his powers simply to be along with her.
Superman II works not solely due to Clark Kent’s realization that he serves extra than simply himself but additionally due to the high-stakes battle between him and General Zod. Terence Stamp’s Zod, Sarah Douglas’ Ursa, and Jack O’Halloran’s Non all appeared briefly in the beginning of Superman: The Movie. It’s a uncommon scenario the place the 2 movies have been deliberate collectively, which allowed for story and thematic consistency hardly ever discovered amongst sequels.
There is a few argument about whether or not this or the unique is the higher movie, however for our functions, a very good lengthy night watch of each movies so as is greater than sufficient preparation for James Gunn’s tackle the Kal-El.
However, in the event you’re hungry for extra, let me steer you to my subsequent advice.
Skip it
Watch On
There are a number of good moments in Superman III, which you’ll be able to stream on Max, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video, and that improbably stars the late comic Richard Pryor. I particularly loved when evil Superman (an excessive amount of pink Kryptonite) confronted off together with his nonetheless good alter ego, Clark Kent. I swear solely Christopher Reeves may’ve pulled that off and in some way made it plausible.
Unfortunately, the remainder of the movie has Director Richard Lester’s keystone cops sensibility throughout it. It’s filled with pointless website gags and infrequently makes our hero look confused or like he is staring in a unique film from the remainder of the solid.
In different phrases, skip this Superman flight.
As for Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (Max, Hulu, Prime), the much less stated about it, the higher. Christopher Reeves did not need to be there, and it exhibits.
Half of 1 or the entire different
Here, we attain a fork within the highway. I’ve a lot to say about Zack Snynder’s 2013 Man of Steel (Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video), and a few of it’s good, but it surely’s not a very watchable movie. So let’s put that apart for now and discuss concerning the first reboot: 2006’s Superman Returns (Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video).
I like this film, although I’ve bother remembering lots of its beats, and that is an issue. At subject is its slavish devotion to the supply materials, particularly Superman: The Movie. Most of the solid, together with Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor however with the doable exception of Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane, seem like attempting to recreate all of the characterizations from the 1978 movie.
Even Brandon Routh, who does a high quality job because the title character, sounds weirdly like Christopher Reeves.
Still, it is a good and full Superman story that principally holds collectively and has some sensible set items, like Superman saving everybody on a nose-diving passenger airplane by bringing it to relaxation, tail up, in the midst of a ball area (many of the concepts on this film have been primarily, “That was a cool factor they did in ’78. How can we do it larger?”).
Yes, there are too many situations the place director Bryan Singer tries too arduous to indicate how far particular results know-how has come since 1978. I’ll level you to the closeup of a bullet bouncing off Superman’s eye. It’s extra gross than spectacular.
Even so, I see this movie as a pleasant bridge between Superman of the twentieth Century and the Supermans of this new, extra digitally-savvy one.
A way of metal
Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel might be credited with dragging Superman into the twenty first Century. 1978’s Superman gave the impression to be caught between the Forties and Seventies, and Superman Returns lived in fashionable occasions, however all the pieces concerning the look was nonetheless final century.
Man of Steel presents a contemporary, although extremely dour, Superman. He’s not a comic book e-book character; as a substitute, he’s a little bit of a tortured hero who hides his talents within the shadows.
All that stated, I really like the primary half of this film. Henry Cavill seems to be and feels the half. He’s an knowledgeable at conveying heroic optimism and super-powered rage, generally inside one scene.
The film is darkish – nearly grey – making a lot of it really feel flat and uninspired. Still, the storyline was stable, and the fast look of a really highly effective Zod and his cohorts was breathtaking.
Things devolve when Superman battles Zod and carelessly destroys Metropolis. It’s not simply what they did; it is how Snyder shot it. The motion is unwatchable as a result of it is indecipherable. I hardly ever zone out throughout motion sequences, however Snyder misplaced the plot and my curiosity – additionally, strategy to kill the potential of a Zod-based rematch, Snyder.
So watch the primary half after which, maybe, swap to…
Oh pricey. I can not in good conscience advocate the abysmal and ridiculous Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice (what stops the battle is simply too dumb to be repeated). You can stream it on Max and Amazon Prive video in the event you should. Justice Leauge, which options Cavill’s Superman, isn’t any higher (look out for that CGI-awayed mustache).
If you are determined, you may end Man of Steel, though I don’t advocate it, or strive Superman III as a result of Pryor is entertaining.
Otherwise, I counsel you take a look at among the full-length cartoon efforts like Superman: Doomsday (on Tubi or rentable on Prime Video) or The Death of Superman, (Max, Hulu, Prime). It’s primarily based on the wild 1993 Death (and rebirth) of Superman comedian e-book sequence, which was meant to save lots of the flagging franchise (it did).
TV is stuffed with Superman depictions, some sequence, like Smallville (Clark as a younger and not-yet Super-man and streamable on Hulu and Disney Plus), and extra lately, the just-wrapped Superman and Lois. But I can not put them on this checklist as a result of a sequence dedication is greater than is required to organize for the following big-screen Superman adaptation.
Granted, the historical past of Superman on movie is like an previous sidewalk: lengthy, uneven, and generally treacherous. Gunn’s movie may go both manner. The trailer seems to be implausible, and David Corenwet is immediately plausible even in these fleeting glimpses because the Man of Steel, however introducing a really concerned CGI Krypto is a threat. On the opposite hand, the beat-up and bloodied Superman calling for his assistance is immediately compelling.
Imagine if, a 12 months from now, that is the Superman film I like to recommend you watch first.
Remember, if you wish to watch any of those movies, take a look at a few of our greatest streaming providers.
