Superman has graced screens for over 50 years in various adaptations of the source material. The Man of Steel has a rich history that filmmakers can draw on to create feature films.
Films like Superman Returns, Batman V Superman and Superman III have taken elements from the comics to create their own interpretations of the character and his mythos to varying success. Superman has also been adapted numerous times for television in live-action and animated form, including the yet to be released Supergirl spin-off, Superman & Lois.
Superman: Unbound (2013) 6.6
This animated feature adapts the Superman: Brainiac comic by Geoff Johns. When a meteor lands on Earth, Superman intercepts it only to find it’s a drone controlled by an alien scientist named Brainiac. Supergirl reveals how Brainiac miniaturized the Kryptonian city of Kandor.
This leads Superman across the universe to find Brainiac and stop him from attacking any more planets. Using telepathy, Brainiac learns where Superman has been living and decides to make it his next target on his path of destruction. He traps Superman in Kandor, leaving it up to Supergirl to battle Brainiac until he can escape.
Superman II (1980) - 6.8
The troubled production of Superman II is well documented, with half of it being filmed during Superman, and the rest at a later stage with a different director. When Zod (Terrence Stamp) and his gang escape from the Phantom Zone, they team up with Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) to take over the Earth.
Meanwhile, Superman (Christopher Reeve) has given up his powers so he can live a normal life with Lois Lane. Once Clark Kent learns that Superman is humanities only hope, he must regain his abilities and once again, save the world.
Superman: Doomsday (2007) – 7.0
A loose adaptation of the Death of Superman storyline, which was also loosely adapted in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. The film suffers from a short run time, at 75 minutes the pacing feels a bit all over the place.
In the movie, Lex Luthor unearths an alien spacecraft which contains Doomsday who proceeds to rampage upon the Earth. Superman and Doomsday collide in an epic battle resulting in the death of both characters. Lex Luthor then clones the Man of Steel so he can have a version of Superman under his control. Meanwhile, the robot from the Fortress of Solitude finds Superman’s body and revives him.
All-Star Superman (2011) – 7.0
Based on the comic storyline of the same name, Superman receives an overdose of solar radiation which increases his abilities but is also slowly killing him. Knowing he is on borrowed time, Superman reveals his identity to Lois Lane and uses a serum, turning her into Superwoman for 24 hours.
Lex Luthor uses the serum, having stolen some earlier, to survive the death penalty and escapes prison. Superman learns that Solaris, a previous ally of Luthors, has tampered with the Earth's sun. In space, Superman battles Solaris and with the help of his pet Sun-Eater is able to defeat Solaris. A short time later on Earth, Clark and Lois embrace as his body slowly turns into pure energy to restore the sun.
Superman VS. The Elite (2012) – 7.1
A new group of superheroes appear, calling themselves the Elite, and assist Superman in destroying a bio-weapon. Uncertain if they can be trusted, Clark begins to investigate the Elite and becomes concerned at the group's antihero way of handling things.
When the Elite murder Atomic Skull, Superman learns it’s not the first villain the group has killed. Superman attacks one of the Elite when he learns of this information and the group then declare him as an enemy. Superman offers the group the opportunity to fight him, as long as it’s away from civilians, in an attempt to prove their method of justice is wrong.
Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (2010) – 7.1
This animated film is a sequel to 2009’s Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, taking place a few weeks later. Batman investigates a spaceship crash landing in Gotham City containing a young girl who is later revealed to be Clark Kent’s cousin, Kara Zor-El.
When Darkseid learns of Kara’s appearance on Earth, he orders her kidnapping and brainwashers her into becoming his servant. Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman travel to Apokolips to take on Darkseid and save Kara. Having found a new home on Earth with her cousin, Kara takes up the mantle of Supergirl.
Man Of Steel (2013) – 7.1
The first film in the DCEU attempted a more realistic approach to the story of Superman. The film begins with Jor-El preparing for the destruction of Krypton and Zod being sent to the Phantom Zone. Once Kal-El is sent to Earth, the film moves to the present day with flashbacks into Clark Kent’s life in Smallville throughout the first half.
When Clark finds a Kryptonian scout ship that has been buried under the artic, he activates a transmission beacon which General Zod and his crew intercept, having escaped the Phantom Zone after Kyrpton’s destruction. Coming to terms with the knowledge of his ancestry, Clark must accept his destiny and stop Zod from destroying his new home world.
Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2009) 7.2
At just over 60 minutes long, this is one of the shortest Superman films. It features returning cast members from both Superman and Batman the Animated Series. After Lex Luthor becomes President, he frames Superman for the murder of Metallo and places a one billion dollar bounty on his head.
Batman helps Superman investigate what really happened which results in the Dark Knight getting a target on his back as well. The duo must continue to work together to prove their innocence and show Lex Luthors true motivations. The film was well received which lead to the sequel, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse coming out a year later.
The Death of Superman (2018) – 7.3
The most recent adaptation of the Death of Superman comic provides a more faithful interpretation of the source material. This version falls under the DC Animated Movie Universe, which is a shared universe with other DC superhero characters such as Batman and Wonder Woman, who make appearances in this film.
Doomsday arrives on Earth on a meteor and soon begins to battle against the Justice League, making quick work of them. Martian Manhunter uses his telepathy to learn that the creature was created by Darkseid with the goal of destroying civilizations. Superman dies in the climactic battle against Doomsday, saving Lois’ life and taking Doomsday with him. During the end credits of the film, four new Supermen appear. The movie was followed by a sequel, Reign of the Superman, just a year later.
Superman (1978) – 7.3
One of the most known versions of the character, for many, Christopher Reeve is the definitive Superman. Surrounded by an all-star cast including Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, and Margot Kidder, Reeve’s Superman explores the origins of the character and his first run in with Lex Luthor.
In this version, Clark Kent spends 12 years in the Fortress of Solitude, learning all the knowledge bequeathed to him by his father. He then takes the mantle of Superman and begins to save the citizens of Metropolis whilst maintaining his secret identity. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor plans to destroy the California Coastline by blowing up the San Andreas Fault.