‘Superman’ opens in theaters on July eleventh, 2025.
Superman is without doubt one of the oldest and most beloved superheroes of all time!
Created by author Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, Superman first appeared in Motion Comics #1 in 1938 earlier than making his stay motion debut performed by Kirk Alyn in a collection of film serials in 1948 and ultimately the 1950 film ‘Aton Man vs. Superman‘. George Reeves took over the function in 1952 on the tv collection ‘Adventures of Superman‘ and reprised his function within the film ‘Superman and the Mole Men‘.
Nevertheless it was 1978’s ‘Superman‘ starring Christopher Reeve that grew to become the definitive film primarily based on the character. Reeve would go on to play the character in three sequels, whereas TV variations of Superman included 1988’s ‘Superboy‘ starring each John Haymes Newton and Gerard Christopher because the younger Man of Metal, 1993’s ‘Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman‘ that includes Dean Cain, ‘Smallville‘ starring Tom Welling as a younger Clark Kent, and ‘Superman & Lois‘ that includes Tyler Hoechlin.
Again on the massive display, actor Brandon Routh would take over the function for ‘Superman Returns‘, earlier than being recast by Henry Cavill for ‘Man of Steel‘, ‘Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice‘ and ‘Justice League‘. Now, the mantle has been handed off as soon as once more to actor David Corenswet in director James Gunn‘s ‘Superman‘, which opens in theaters on July eleventh.
In honor of the brand new ‘Superman’ film, Moviefone is counting down each stay motion Superman film and TV present look ever made.
NOTE: For this listing we’re solely together with stay motion films and TV reveals that includes Superman (Or Clark Kent when he was Superboy), and never animated tasks or documentaries. We’re additionally not together with his faceless cameos in ‘Shazam!‘, season 1 of ‘Peacemaker‘, or ‘Titans‘ remaining episode, however will embody his appearances in ‘Black Adam‘ and ‘The Flash‘. Lastly, we’re additionally together with theatrically launched director’s cuts like ‘Superman II: The Donner Cut‘ and ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League‘.
Let’s start!
Christopher Reeve in ‘Superman IV: The Quest for Peace’. Photograph: Warner Bros.
With international superpowers engaged in an more and more hostile arms race, Superman (Christopher Reeve) leads a campaign to rid the world of nuclear weapons. However Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman), just lately sprung from jail, is declaring warfare on the Man of Metal and his quest to avoid wasting the planet. Utilizing a strand of Superman’s hair, Luthor synthesizes a strong ally referred to as Nuclear Man (Mark Pillow) and ignites an epic battle spanning Earth and house.
“Nuclear Energy. In the perfect fingers, it’s harmful. Within the fingers of Lex Luthor, it’s pure evil. That is Superman’s biggest battle. And it’s for all of us.”
46
1 hr 30 minJul twenty fourth, 1987
2017’s ‘Justice League.’ Photograph: Warner Bros.
Fuelled by his restored religion in humanity and impressed by Superman’s (Henry Cavill) selfless act, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) and Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) assemble a group of metahumans consisting of Barry Allen (Ezra Miller), Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) and Victor Stone (Ray Fisher) to face the catastrophic menace of Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds) and the Parademons who’re on the hunt for 3 Mom Bins on Earth.
“You’ll be able to’t save the world alone.”
61
2 hrNov seventeenth, 2017
Henry Cavill in ‘Black Adam’. Photograph: Warner Bros.
Almost 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the Egyptian gods—and imprisoned simply as shortly—Black Adam (Dwayne Johnson) is free of his earthly tomb, able to unleash his distinctive type of justice on the fashionable world.
“The world wanted a hero. It obtained Black Adam.”
69
2 hr 5 minOct twenty first, 2022
(L to R) Tommy Bond and Kirk Alyn in ‘Atom Man vs. Superman’. Photograph: Columbia Photos.
Superman (Kirk Alyn) battles Lex Luthor (Lyle Talbot), who’s utilizing a teleportation system and a brand new id as Atom Man in his legal plans.
“He is Again! …in an even bigger…higher…brand-new SUPER SERIAL!”
Superman battles Lex Luthor, who’s utilizing a teleportation system and a brand new id as Atom Man in his legal plans. Read the Plot
(L to R) Teri Hatcher and Dean Cain in ‘Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman’. Photograph: ABC Tv.
A way more lavish model of the favored ‘Superman’ tv collection which had first aired forty years earlier, ‘Lois & Clark’ targeted extra on the Man of Metal’s early grownup years in Metropolis. With the unknowing assist of Lois Lane (Teri Hatcher), Clark Kent (Dean Cain) created Superman there in Metropolis after discovering work on the world-famous Day by day Planet newspaper, the place he meets fellow reporter Lois Lane.
14. ‘Superboy‘ (1988 – 1992)
Gerard Christopher in ‘Superboy’. Photograph: Alexander and Ilya Salkind Productions.
‘Superboy’ is a half-hour live-action tv collection primarily based on Kal-El’s early years as Superboy (John Newton/Gerard Christopher). It depicted Superboy’s adventures throughout his faculty years, his conferences with Lex Luthor (Sherman Howard) and his romance with Lana Lang (Stacy Haiduk). The collection was delivered to the display by govt producers Ilya and Alexander Salkind, who had been the producers of the primary three ‘Superman’ films and the 1984 ‘Supergirl‘ film.
Nicolas Cage in ‘The Flash’. Photograph: Warner Bros.
When his try to avoid wasting his household inadvertently alters the longer term, Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) turns into trapped in a actuality wherein Basic Zod (Michael Shannon) has returned and there aren’t any Tremendous Heroes to show to. As a way to save the world that he’s in and return to the longer term that he is aware of, Barry’s solely hope is to race for his life. However will making the final word sacrifice be sufficient to reset the universe?
“Worlds collide.”
66
2 hr 24 minJun sixteenth, 2023
George Reeves in ‘Adventures of Superman’. Photograph: Movement Photos for Tv.
Announcer: “The Adventures of Superman. Quicker than a rushing bullet! Extra highly effective than a locomotive! In a position to leap tall buildings at a single sure!” Voices: “Search for within the sky! It is a chicken! It is a airplane! It is Superman!” Announcer: “Sure, it is Superman, unusual customer from one other planet who got here to Earth with powers and talents far past these of mortal males. Superman, who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend metal in his naked fingers; and who, disguised as Clark Kent (George Reeves), mild-mannered reporter for an important metropolitan newspaper, fights a by no means ending battle for reality, justice, and the American means.”
George Reeves in ‘Superman and the Mole Males’. Photograph: Lippert Photos.
Reporters Clark Kent (George Reeves) and Lois Lane (Phyllis Coates) arrive within the small city of Silsby to witness the drilling of the world’s deepest oil properly. The drill, nonetheless, has penetrated the underground house of a race of small, furry individuals who then come to the floor at evening to go searching. The truth that they glow at nighttime scares the townfolk, who kind a mob, led by the vicious Luke Benson (Jeff Corey), intent on killing the unusual folks. Solely Superman has an opportunity to forestall this tragedy.
(L to R) Christopher Reeve and Richard Pryor in ‘Superman III’. Photograph: Warner Bros.
Aiming to defeat the Man of Metal, rich govt Ross Webster (Robert Vaughn) hires bumbling however sensible Gus Gorman (Richard Pryor) to develop artificial kryptonite, which yields some surprising psychological results. Between rekindling romance along with his highschool sweetheart and saving himself, Superman should cope with a strong supercomputer.
“If the world’s strongest laptop can management even Superman…nobody on earth is protected.”
55
2 hr 5 minJun seventeenth, 1983
Brandon Routh in ‘Superman Returns’. Photograph: Warner Bros.
Superman (Brandon Routh) returns to find his 5-year absence has allowed Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) to stroll free, and that these he was closest to felt deserted and have moved on. Luthor plots his final revenge that might see thousands and thousands killed and alter the face of the planet eternally, in addition to ridding himself of the Man of Metal.
“On June 30, 2006! Look Up In The Sky!”
58
2 hr 34 minJun twenty eighth, 2006
(L to R) Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill in ‘Batman v Superman: Daybreak of Justice.’ Photograph: Warner Bros.
Fearing the actions of a god-like Tremendous Hero left unchecked, Gotham Metropolis’s personal formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, whereas the world wrestles with what kind of hero it actually wants. And with Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) at warfare with each other, a brand new menace shortly arises, placing mankind in larger hazard than it’s ever recognized earlier than.
“A hero will fall.”
60
2 hr 32 minMar twenty fifth, 2016
Tyler Hoechlin in ‘Superman & Lois’. Photograph: DC Leisure.
After years of going through megalomaniacal supervillains, monsters wreaking havoc on Metropolis, and alien invaders intent on wiping out the human race, The Man of Metal aka Clark Kent (Tyler Hoechlin) and Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch) come head to head with one in all their biggest challenges ever: coping with all of the stress, pressures and complexities that include being working dad and mom in right this moment’s society.
(L to R) Christopher Reeve and Terence Stamp in ‘Superman II’. Photograph: Warner Bros.
Three escaped criminals from the planet Krypton, who’ve the identical powers on Earth as Superman, take a look at the Man of Metal’s mettle. Led by Basic Zod (Terence Stamp), the Kryptonians take management of the White Home and associate with Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) to destroy Superman (Christopher Reeve) and rule the world. However Superman, who made himself human so as to get nearer to Lois (Margot Kidder), realizes he has a accountability to avoid wasting the planet.
Tom Welling in ‘Smallville’. Photograph: The CW.
The origins of the world’s biggest hero–from Krypton refugee Kal-el’s arrival on Earth via his tumultuous teen years to Clark Kent’s (Tom Welling) remaining steps towards embracing his future because the Man of Metal.
Henry Cavill in ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’. Photograph: Warner Bros.
Decided to make sure Superman’s (Henry Cavill) final sacrifice was not in useless, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) aligns forces with Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) with plans to recruit a group of metahumans to guard the world from an approaching menace of catastrophic proportions. The duty proves harder than Bruce imagined, as every of the recruits should face the demons of their very own pasts to transcend that which has held them again, permitting them to return collectively, lastly forming an unprecedented league of heroes. Now united, Batman (Affleck), Marvel Lady (Gadot), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), and The Flash (Ezra Miller) could also be too late to avoid wasting the planet from Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds), DeSaad, and Darkseid (Ray Porter) and their dreadful intentions.
“Us united.”
81
4 hr 2 minMar 18th, 2021
Henry Cavill in ‘Man of Metal’. Photograph: Warner Bros.
A younger boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and isn’t of this earth. As a younger man (Henry Cavill), he journeys to find the place he got here from and what he was despatched right here to do. However the hero in him should emerge if he’s to avoid wasting the world from annihilation and turn out to be the image of hope for all mankind.
Christopher Reeve in ‘Superman II: The Richard Donner Lower’. Photograph: Warner Bros.
Superman (Christopher Reeve) agrees to sacrifice his powers to start out a relationship with Lois Lane (Margot Kidder), unaware that three Kryptonian criminals he inadvertently launched are conquering Earth.
David Corenswet as Superman in DC Studios’ and Warner Bros. Photos’ ‘Superman’, a Warner Bros. Photos launch. Photograph Credit score: Jessica Miglio. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC.
Superman (David Corenswet), a journalist in Metropolis, embarks on a journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage along with his human upbringing as Clark Kent.
“Search for.”
73
2 hr 10 minJul eleventh, 2025
Superman, a journalist in Metropolis, embarks on a journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage along with his human upbringing as Clark Kent. Read the Plot
Christopher Reeve in 1978’s ‘Superman’. Photograph: Warner Bros.
Gentle-mannered Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve) works as a reporter on the Day by day Planet alongside his crush, Lois Lane (Margot Kidder). Clark should summon his superhero alter-ego when the nefarious Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) launches a plan to take over the world.