The United States emerged from the Great Depression, its people bereft of hope. To symbolize strength and hope, Superman was born in 1930 via Action Comics. As the inaugural American superhero, Superman swiftly captured hearts with his charm and resilience.
Over time, Superman starred in live-action movies, adored by audiences. This article presents the chronological order of Superman films. Sit back, relax, and embark on your Superman journey.
Superman movies lack a universal chronology. Here, we list all Superman films in the order of their release dates, spanning from the classic to the Man of Steel era.
1. Superman (1978)
- Release Date: December 15, 1978
- Cast: Christopher Reeve, Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, Terence Stamp
- Director: Richard Donner
- Runtime: 2 Hours 23 Minutes
- IMDB/Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 7.4/ 94%
2. Superman 2 (1981)
Superman 2 continues the storyline from the first film, with Christopher Reeve reprising his role. Initially directed by Richard Donner, he was later replaced by Richard Lester. The movie brings back General Zod and features Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor. Production began before the release of Superman (1978), generating anticipation among both the audience and the team.
- Release Date: June 19, 1981
- Cast: Christopher Reeve, Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, Terence Stamp
- Director: Richard Lester
- Runtime: 1 Hour 56 Minutes
- IMDB/Rotten Tomatoes Rating:6.8/87%
3. Superman 3 (1983)
4. Superman 4: The Quest for Peace (1987)
- Release Date:July 24, 1987
- Cast:Christopher Reeve, Mark Pillow, Gene Hackman, Jon Cryer, Margot Kidder, Marc McClure, Don Fellows
- Director:Sidney J. Furie
- Runtime:1 Hour 29 Minutes
- IMDB/Rotten Tomatoes Rating:3.7/10%
5. Superman Returns (2006)
- Release Date:June 28, 2006
- Cast:Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, Sam Huntington, James Marsden
- Director:Bryan Singer
- Runtime:2 Hours 34 Minutes
- IMDB/Rotten Tomatoes Rating:6.1/ 74%
6. Man of Steel (2013)
7. Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Continuing from Man of Steel, Batman vs Superman unfolds after Superman’s clash with Zod in Metropolis results in its destruction. The US government opposes Superman’s global assistance, citing political concerns. Lex Luthor, Superman’s foe, manipulates both Superman and Batman, who has long protected Gotham. The two heroes clash, while Lex releases Doomsday, intent on killing Superman.
- Release Date:March 25, 2016
- Cast:Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeremy Irons, Diana Lane
- Director:Zack Snyder
- Runtime:3 Hours 3 Minutes
- IMDB/Rotten Tomatoes Rating:6.4/ 29%
8. Justice League (2017)
9. Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
10. Superman: Legacy (2025)
James Gunn recently announced a rebooted DCU with new actors, some characters, and a linear storyline. The first DCU Movie will be Superman Legacy. Superman, previously portrayed by Henry Cavill, will now be played by David Corenswet, and Rachel Brosnahan will portray Lois Lane. The movie’s plot won’t delve into Superman’s origin but will focus on Clark Kent balancing his life as a news reporter and a superhero. The villain for this DC movie hasn’t been confirmed, but there’s a high possibility of Superman facing his arch-nemesis, Lex Luthor.
Here’s a list of Superman movies in release date order to avoid spoilers.
Pritam Chopra is a seasoned IT professional and a passionate blogger hailing from the dynamic realm of technology. With an insatiable curiosity for all things tech-related, Pritam has dedicated himself to exploring and unraveling the intricacies of the digital world.
