Sunday Best: Superman Movies Ranked

 

I believe that as of now this year's Superman film is the 2nd highest grossing Superman movie (unadjusted for inflation) after Batman v. Superman.  In the coming weeks I think that it will eventually overtake it to become number one.

With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to rank the live-action Superman movies.  For that reason, I am going to include both the Richard Donner cut of Superman II  and Zack Snyder's Justice League.  Unfortunately, I have not seen any of the older movies from before the 1978 Superman.

11. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace

This movie is terrible on almost every front.  I know that Christopher Reeve wanted to do something inspiring, but it just doesn't work.  Having read the novelization, I can see where the story was meant to go, but what ended up on screen was sheer stupidity and it killed the franchise for almost 2 decades.

10. Superman III

This is where Richard Lester really began to decline the series.  He had no understanding of Superman as a character and also pushed him to become a supporting character in his own movie, subbordinated to Richard Pryor.  The only thing that saves this movie is the Superman/Clark fight.

9. Superman Returns

This is a movie that lacks the heart of the character.  So many of the pieces are there, but they don't quite fit together.  Not only that, but it is litteraly too dark to see in many of the scenes.  Brandan Routh does an admirable job, but the movie doesn't give him enough to do.

8. Justice League

The Joss Whedon version of this film has some tonal problems, but overall it is not a bad film.  Much has been made about the digital erasure of Henry Cavill's mustache, and the lighter tone does seem at odds with what Zack Snyder had set up.

7. Superman II

We'll see later what Richard Donner's more complete vision would have given us, but this version like Justice League, was taken over and re-filmed by another director who had a completely different tone in mind.  The comedic elements that Richard Lester don't aleviate the tension as much as destroy the drama.  But many of the classic moments are preserved.

6.  Zack Snyder's Justice League

One of the things this movie does is that it shows how utterly powerful Superman is.  We see this not only in how he takes down the rest of the league (which is in the theatrical cut), but we also see it as he unleashes on Steppenwolf.  And in that power you appreciate even more how he uses that strength only for goodness.

5.  Man of Steel

I love this movie.  So many people hate Zack Snyder's vision for Superman as too dark, and I completely respect that opinion.  But the thought experiment is to ask what would happen if Superman came into a world that was already so fallen and broken.  Yes, he is searching for the hero he wants to be, but he isn't there yet. 

4 Superman (2025)

This movie and Man of Steel may switch back and forth in my ranking, even though they are so different.  The most recent film understands the character, his world, and the rest of the DCU.  It nails the tone and the wonder that Superman brings.  And when the movie ends, you just feel good.

3. Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice

There are many people who say that I am crazy for placing so much love for this movie, but I cannot help it.  This is an ambitious movie that seeks to explore big ideas, big themes, big characters, and big actions.  

2. Superman II: The Donner Cut

I was so elated when I finally saw what Richard Donner had in mind for his Superman sequel.  Gone was most of the cheesiness of Richard Lester.  Not only that, but Lois Lane's charm and intelligence shines forth as she bluffs her way into Clark's secret.  I so wish that Donner would have been around to make a second ending, but besides that, this is a great improvement over a movie that I already loved.

1. Superman (1978)

Not only is this the greatest Superman movie, it is the greatest comic book movie of all time.  It is an ageless classic that captures the imagination and makes you believe in something bigger.  I really don't think anyone will ever be able to top this, but I'm glad that people are trying.

Thoughts?