PickYourBinge
Which Superman movie is the best?
Looking for the ultimate Superman movie ranking? We've reviewed and ranked every Superman film—from Christopher Reeve's timeless classics to Zack Snyder's modern epics and the latest animated entries. Whether you're searching for the best Superman movie or curious which ones to skip, this guide breaks down all the Man of Steel films in one definitive list. Perfect for DC fans, movie buffs, and anyone prepping for James Gunn's upcoming reboot.
1. Superman Unbound (2013)
Superman and Supergirl take on the cybernetic being known as Brainiac, who boasts that he possesses "the knowledge and strength of 10,000 worlds."
6.6
100%
Streaming on: Max, Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV Channel
Starring: Matt Bomer, John Noble, Stana Katic
Directed by: James Tucker
2. The Death of Superman (2018)
When a hulking monster arrives on Earth and begins a mindless rampage, the Justice League is quickly called in to stop it. But it soon becomes apparent that only Superman can stand against the monstrosity.
7.493%
Streaming on: Max, Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV Channel
Starring: Jerry O'Connell, Rebecca Romijn, Rainn Wilson
Directed by: Jake Castorena
3. Superman: Man of Tomorrow (2020)
It’s the dawn of a new age of heroes, and Metropolis has just met its first. But as Daily Planet intern Clark Kent – working alongside reporter Lois Lane – secretly wields his alien powers of flight, super-strength and x-ray vision in the battle for good, there’s even greater trouble on the horizon.
6.493%
Streaming on: Max, Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV Channel
Starring: Darren Criss, Zachary Quinto, Ike Amadi
Directed by: Chris Palmer
4. Superman II (1980)
Three Kryptonian criminals led by General Zod team up with Lex Luthor to conquer Earth, forcing a depowered Superman to regain his strength and stop them.
6.888%
Streaming on: Max, Max Amazon Channel, TNT, TBS
Starring: Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Terence Stamp
Directed by: Richard Lester
5. All-Star Superman (2011)
Lex Luthor enacts his plan to rid the world of Superman, once and for all. Succeeding with solar radiation poisoning, the Man of Steel is slowly dying. With what little times remains, the Last Son of Krypton must confront the revealing of his secret identity to Lois Lane and face Luthor in a final battle.
6.980%
Streaming on:
Starring: James Denton, Christina Hendricks, Anthony LaPaglia
Directed by: Sam Liu
6. Superman Returns (2006)
Superman returns to discover his 5-year absence has allowed Lex Luthor to walk free, and that those he was closest to felt abandoned and have moved on. Luthor plots his ultimate revenge that could see millions killed and change the face of the planet forever, as well as ridding himself of the Man of Steel.
6.174%
Streaming on: Max, Max Amazon Channel, Youtube TV
Starring: Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey
Directed by: Bryan Singer
7. Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)
Determined to ensure Superman's ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne aligns forces with Diana Prince with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions.
7.971%
Streaming on: Max, Max Amazon Channel, Max Originals Amazon Channel
Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot
Directed by: Zack Snyder
8. Man of Steel (2013)
A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind.
7.157%
Streaming on: Max, Max Amazon Channel
Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Russell Crowe
Directed by: Zack Snyder
9. Superman: Doomsday (2007)
When LexCorp accidentally unleashes a murderous creature, Superman meets his greatest challenge as a champion. Based on the "The Death of Superman" storyline that appeared in DC Comics' publications in the 1990s.
7.057%
Streaming on:
Starring: Adam Baldwin, Anne Heche, James Marsters
Directed by: Lauren Montgomery
10. Justice League (2017)
Fuelled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's selfless act, Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince assemble a team of metahumans consisting of Barry Allen, Arthur Curry and Victor Stone to face the catastrophic threat of Steppenwolf and the Parademons who are on the hunt for three Mother Boxes on Earth.
6.039%
Streaming on: Max, Max Amazon Channel, TNT, TBS, tru TV
Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams
Directed by: Zack Snyder
11. Superman III (1983)
Aiming to defeat the Man of Steel, wealthy executive Ross Webster hires bumbling but brilliant Gus Gorman to develop synthetic kryptonite, which yields some unexpected psychological effects. Between rekindling romance with his high school sweetheart and saving himself, Superman must contend with a powerful supercomputer.
5.029%
Streaming on: Max, Max Amazon Channel
Starring: Christopher Reeve, Richard Pryor, Jackie Cooper
Directed by: Richard Lester
12. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.
6.528%
Streaming on: Max, Max Amazon Channel, Youtube TV
Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Jesse Eisenberg
Directed by: Zack Snyder
13. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
With global superpowers engaged in an increasingly hostile arms race, Superman leads a crusade to rid the world of nuclear weapons. But Lex Luthor, recently sprung from jail, is declaring war on the Man of Steel and his quest to save the planet. Using a strand of Superman's hair, Luthor synthesizes a powerful ally known as Nuclear Man and ignites an epic battle spanning Earth and space.
3.710%
Streaming on: Max, Max Amazon Channel
Starring: Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman
Directed by: Sidney J. Furie
14. Superman: Red Son (2009)
In Red Son, Superman's rocket ship lands on a Ukrainian collective farm rather than in Kansas, an implied reason being a small time difference (a handful of hours) from the original timeline, meaning Earth's rotation placed the Ukraine in the ship's path instead of Kansas. Instead of fighting for "...truth, justice, and the American Way", Superman is described in Soviet radio broadcasts "...as the Champion of the common worker who fights a never-ending battle for Stalin, socialism, and the international expansion of the Warsaw Pact." His "secret identity" (i.e. the name his adoptive parents gave him) is a state secret.
7.1N/A
Streaming on:
Starring: David Lodge, Jim Meskimen, Kirk Thornton
Directed by: Dylan Coburn
15. Reign of the Supermen (2019)
In the wake of The Death of Supermen, the world is still mourning the loss of the Man of Steel following his fatal battle with the monster Doomsday. However, no sooner as his body been laid to rest than do four new bearers of the Superman shield come forward to take on the mantle. The Last Son of Krypton, Superboy, Steel, and the Cyborg Superman all attempt to fill the vacuum left by the world's greatest champion. Meanwhile, Superman's death has also signaled to the universe that Earth is vulnerable. Can these new Supermen and the rest of the heroes prove them wrong?
6.8N/A
Streaming on: Max, Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV Channel
Starring: Jerry O'Connell, Rebecca Romijn, Rainn Wilson
Directed by: Sam Liu
How We Ranked These Superman Movies
We considered audience reception, critic scores, cultural impact, and rewatchability when ranking these films. While some movies shine because of standout performances or iconic moments, others stand the test of time due to their storytelling or direction.
Of course, every fan has their favorite version of the Man of Steel. This list reflects a blend of objective metrics and our own editorial take — and we’re always open to debate.
Think we ranked something too high or too low? Drop us a comment on Reddit, follow us on Instagram @pickyourbinge, or find us on TikTok @PickYourBinge. We’ll update this list as more Superman movies release!