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A superhero character created for DC Comics by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the red-capped superhero, Superman, Clark Kent, or Kal-El, first appeared in Action Comics #1. His origin story describes him as being born on a fictional planet, Krypton, and then sent to Earth as a baby due to Krpyton’s destruction. A couple adopts him and resides as an ordinary citizen named Clark Kent but uses his superhuman abilities to fight crime in the fictional city of Metropolis.
The iconic superhero’s exploits have enamored a generation of comic readers, and his presence has spawned into radio serials, television shows, video games, and films. For those who want to rewatch their favorite superhero or are first-time watchers and curious about where to begin, here’s a list of the Superman movies in their release order.
You can also divide them into the Christopher Reeve, Brandon Routh, and DCEU eras. This chronology is similar to the release date order.
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Details on how to watch Superman movies in order of release.
1) Superman (1978) - Amazon Prime Video
Directed by Richard Donner, Superman was the first film adaptation of the comic superhero. Starring Christopher Reeve, the movie develops the hero's origins as a resident of Krypton who is sent to Earth to grow up. Disguised as the reporter Clark Kent, he has to fight against Lex Luthor.
The movie was a blockbuster success, praised for its special effects and musical score. Reeve’s performance etched him in the hearts of viewers as the most iconic reprisal of the hero.
2) Superman II (1981) - Amazon Prime Video
Written by Mario Puzo, the second installment continues Clark Kent's story and features much of the same cast. The plot revolves around the villain General Zod, who breaks free from prison in Krypton and comes to Earth to fight against the caped hero. He also forms an alliance with Lex Luthor. The movie also features more introspective themes, as the hero struggles to balance his two lives as Clark Kent and the super-savior. The movie was also a massive success and cemented the franchise’s popularity.
3) Superman III (1983) - Amazon Prime Video
The third installment in the franchise revolves around an evil entrepreneur, Ross Webster, who takes the help of a computer programmer, played by Richard Pryor, for his selfish needs. It is now up to the superhero to stop his devious plans.
The movie also introduces a second persona of the superhero after Kent comes into contact with a corrupt Kryptonite. It received mixed reviews, especially for its more comedic tone. The movie also does not include the surrealist character of the first two films.
4) Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) - Amazon Prime Video
The final film in Christopher Reeve’s franchise, the movie is set in the backdrop of the Cold War and growing nuclear tension, and he therefore decides to destroy all nuclear weapons. But the superhero's archenemy, Lex Luthor, is back to cause trouble and create obstacles in the hero's path. He creates a Nuclear Man who fights against the superhero.
The movie was criticized for its low-quality effects and weak plot. But the move marks the end of iconic Reeve’s reprisal.
5) Superman Returns (2006) - Amazon Prime Video
After a long hiatus, the Krypton hero returned to the screen in 2006. Directed by Bryan Singer and starring Brandon Routh as the new superhero, the movie pays tribute to the original series. In the movie, the hero returns to Earth from Krypton after five years and discovers that Lex Luthor is out of prison and on his way to plot a new scheme.
The movie was well-received for its effects, story, and Routh’s portrayal of the superhero. However, it was his one and only reprisal of the superhero.
6) Man of Steel (2013) - Netflix
Directed by Zack Snyder, Man of Steel sees Henry Cavill embody the role of the red-capped hero. The film is a reboot and the first installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) franchise. It depicts the character’s origin story, where Kent learns of his past on Krypton, his present life as a human on Earth, and his fight against the evil General Zod. The movie focuses more heavily on science fiction and is more realistic and serious in tone than the previous adaptations.
7) Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) - Netflix
The second installment in Snyder’s DCEU, the movie introduces Batman (Ben Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), and other DC comic characters. It is the first movie to feature Batman and Superman together. The movie is set after the previous film's events and revolves around Lex Luthor’s attempts to manipulate Batman and cause a fight between the two. He also wants to unleash an alien attack on Earth. The film received mixed reviews, and an extended cut was released.
8) Justice League (2017) - Netflix
Directed by Zack Snyder and then by Joss Whedon—after Snyder left the movie—Justice League revolves around Batman and Wonder Woman’s efforts to gather other superheroes like The Flash and Aquaman, after Superman’s death and an impending alien invasion. Set after the events of Dawn of Justice, the movie was marred by rewrites and reshoots due to the change of directors, which changed the movie’s tone and the final result. This resulted in fans clamoring for Zack Snyder’s version of the film.
9) Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021) - Amazon Prime Video
After Warner Bros. initially refused, HBO Max finally decided to release Snyder’s version of the film on public demand. This version restored the balance between humor and seriousness, and even though the hero comes after the halfway mark, his magnetic and magnanimous presence is given due respect. This version was well-received by fans, and most critics deemed it superior to the original Justice League.
Viewers would also be delighted to note that a new movie is in the works. Directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet, it is slated to be released in 2025.
