As a superhero icon, DC’s Superman has naturally received his share of cinematic adaptations. Which film is the best?
While Batman and Spider-Man could make a strong case, Superman is arguably the most iconic superhero ever created. He was the first modern superhero and still embodies all the tenets and characteristics that make a great superhero. He’s got a laundry list of superpowers and stands as the ultimate symbol of good and optimism in the public consciousness.
Updated December 10th, 2024 by Nathan Hilditch: For decades, DC was very protective of their paragon of truth and justice in media adaptations wanting the character to remain consistently pure across mediums. In more recent years though filmmakers have been given a lot more license to reinterpret popular superheroes with the burgeoning popularity of the genre.
Zak Synder has mainly spearheaded the more brooding and darker iterations of Superman providing a stark contrast to how he was viewed in the earlier Ricard Donner classic. Fans sadly will never get to see the infamous, canceled Nicholas Cage take on the Man of Steel, but of those who have had the honor to take up the iconic red cape, who wore it best? Answers below in this list of the best live-action Superman movies ranked from worst to best. 8 Superman 4: The Quest For Peace
Release Date: 1987
Cast: Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Jon Cryer, Jackie Cooper
Director: Sidney J Furie
Rating: PG
Studio: Cannon Group Inc.
Superman 4: The Quest For Peace was plagued with off-screen problems that surely didn’t help the finished product. Due to the financial constraints of the production company, the budget was slashed shortly before production began and after overwhelming negative feedback from test screenings, it wasn’t just the budget that saw extensive cuts.
Following on from a bewildering third entry probably didn’t help either and what was intended as a thought-provoking commentary on nuclear proliferation ended up lackluster, unfocused, and put the franchise on ice for a couple of decades. 7 Superman 3
Release Date: 1983
Cast: Christopher Reeve, Richard Pryor, Jackie Cooper
Director: Richard Lester
Rating: PG
Studio: Dovemead Ltd.
It’s not clear what exactly the elevator pitch was for Superman 3 but somebody at the studio was certainly a big fan of Richard Pryor.
