Every Superman Movie Explained in One Line
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Every Superman Movie Explained in One Line
Which is truly the best?
Jun 10, 2026
Almost every single live-action Superman film has been made by people who despise him. They despise him for being a sweet country boy, for coming off as a little outdated, conservative, or religious perhaps, or for being more powerful than we are without being corrupt. Nobody could have that much power without being corrupt! fumes the cynical movie executive. In other words, Superman films are made by Lex Luthor for Lex Luthor. No wonder they’re so bad.
Modern writers almost seem to be apologizing for our hero. “Look, we know he’s literally named ‘Superman,’ but we promise he hates himself just like you do, you disgusting slob.” When audiences don’t get particularly excited for this, Hollywood blames them instead of questioning whether their formula might be broken.
I am here to say that I love Superman just the way he is, because he’d be an enjoyable person to spend the afternoon with and because I could trust him to babysit my kids. I admire him as a person. From his first big screen debut, Superman as he is has been approached as a character nobody could possibly unironically enjoy.
The Corporate Hollywood Spectacles
Superman: The Movie (1978) — lol this quaint, old-fashioned dork doesn’t fit into our Modern Times or Modern Phone Booths.
Superman II (1981) — oh my Zod.
Superman III (1983) — Richard Pryor had a fever dream and starred in a movie.
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) — nobody wants to be here.
Superman Returns (2006) — Weren’t those quaint and old-fashioned Superman movies cute?
Man of Steel (2013) — Just kidding, we know what you all really want is EXPLOSIONS!
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) — We gave Titano the Super-Ape a typewriter and this is the script he wrote!
Superman (2025) — great casting, mid directing, and terrible writing.
My argument has always been that Superman is an adventure tale for children. He loves his ma, he loves his pa, he loves America, and he’s STRONK! This guy is meant to cheer you in the trenches of world war and evoke a sense of childlike wonder. Don’t mess. The movie I prefer to watch with little kids is Superman IV. It’s short, it’s easy for them to follow, and it’s touchingly stupid. If I were to sit down and watch a Supes movie with my husband, I’d go with Superman Returns, the classy, “boring” one written as a love letter to Christopher Reeve’s films.
The Better Movies
Straight-to-video animated films often turn out better because there aren’t a bunch of vulture producers around to sink their beaks into the project. Many are worth at least one watch.
The Batman/Superman Movie: World’s Finest (1997) — this is what Batman v Superman should have been like; 10/5 stars.
Superman: Brainiac Attacks (2006) — Silly.
Superman: Doomsday (2007) — the worst thing ever to happen to comic books.
Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2009) — extremely gay; 10/5 stars.
Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (2010) — oh it’s Darkseid again.
All-Star Superman (2011) — adapted from comics, so the structure is weird but the story is extremely watchable.
Superman vs. The Elite (2012) — Superman learns there’s air on the moon.
Superman: Unbound (2013) — a well-told story that fails to be appropriate for the whole family at the very last moment.
The Death of Superman (2018) — the worst thing ever to happen to comic books, happening to movies, again!
Reign of the Supermen (2019) — Intriguing and fun!
Superman: Red Son (2020) — an adaptation that somehow managed to say something negative about communism.
Superman: Man of Tomorrow (2020) — pacing and voice direction are a disaster but Parasite is cool.
Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons (2022) — Robin and Superboy team up to save their dads.
In a surprise to no one, my personal favorite would be the animated World’s Finest, though it’s actually three episodes of a TV show stitched together. I found the 2018 Death of Superman and Reign of the Supermen excellent!
At the end of the day, the Big Blue Boy Scout is a character that launched a million others. Calling the prototype for all superheroes cliche is like calling Shakespeare cliche. Superman was a fairly original idea and there’s no need to apologize for his success.
I will concede that a “dark and gritty” Superman story has its place but not if the character’s likability is overwhelmed by brainless action. It’s okay to tell a nice story for children. He is nice!
Happy Superman Day!