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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Rotten Tomatoes’ “21 Superman Movies, Ranked” is a critic-score list, not a definitive verdict on the character’s films. It spans more than solo live-action adventures: animated features and team-up films count, too. The guide was updated July 17, 2025, after James Gunn’s Superman opened, and its Tomatometer order and percentages can change over time. Here is how to read that ranking—and which Superman film may be right for you.
These films also belong to different continuities. Christopher Reeve’s films, Brandon Routh’s Superman Returns, Henry Cavill’s DCEU appearances and David Corenswet’s 2025 film are not one uninterrupted story. DC’s viewing guide treats continuity as less important than choosing a film that suits your taste. DC’s guide to Superman’s live-action films offers additional context.
![The Superman Motion Picture Anthology, 1978-2006 [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51xhFuhY7CL._SL160_.jpg)
How to read the 21-film ranking
The numbered order comes from Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer: a measure of the share of critics’ reviews counted as positive, not a rating of how strongly each critic liked a film. It is a useful snapshot of critical reception, but it cannot settle which movie is the most entertaining, moving or rewatchable for an individual viewer. The ranking’s page version consulted for this article listed 21 entries, with Superman (2025) at 83% and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace at 17%; both scores are time-sensitive and may have changed.
The guide’s broad scope matters. A list of “Superman movies” can mean only solo live-action features, but Rotten Tomatoes also includes animated stories and films in which Superman shares the screen with Batman or the Justice League. The entries do not all tell one continuing story, either. The notes below identify the kinds of films and continuities represented, while judging them by character, story, filmmaking and accessibility rather than treating a critic percentage as the whole argument.
#1 Best Overall
- Blu-ray
See Rotten Tomatoes’ ranked guide for the live ranking and current score display. Its order is the source of the numbering; the brief descriptions here are editorial context, not a claim that there is one objective ranking.
Which Superman movie should you watch first?
Choose by the kind of Superman story you want, rather than by trying to follow every appearance as a single saga. DC’s own starting-point advice is refreshingly open: “There is no wrong answer to this question.”
Rank #2
- For classic superhero wonder: Start with Superman (1978), starring Christopher Reeve. DC presents it as the choice for viewers drawn to the character’s classic, optimistic appeal.
- For a darker, more contemporary origin story: Try Man of Steel (2013), Henry Cavill’s first Superman film, which DC identifies as the darker-edged option.
- For the current DC Universe: Start with Superman (2025), written and directed by James Gunn, with David Corenswet as Superman and Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. DC lists its U.S. theatrical and IMAX release as July 11, 2025, with international release beginning July 9, 2025; those are release dates, not a guide to present-day screening availability.
DC’s official page for Superman (2025) describes the film and its cast. Rotten Tomatoes’ Critics Consensus, as displayed in its ranking guide, says: “Pulling off the heroic feat of fleshing out a dynamic new world while putting its champion’s big, beating heart front and center, this Superman flies high as a Man of Tomorrow grounded in the here and now.”
Why release order is not one continuous story
Watching by release date can show how filmmakers have reimagined Superman, but it does not turn every film into a chapter of the same narrative. The Reeve-era films, Superman Returns, Cavill’s DCEU appearances and the 2025 DC Universe film occupy distinct continuities or variations. Animation and ensemble titles add still more standalone or shared-story contexts.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsRank #3
![Superman 5-Movie Ultimate Complete Collection (Motion Picture Anthology, 1978-2006) [Blu-ray] [Region Free]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/519eaYyZaUL._SL160_.jpg)
- Blu-ray
- Complete Collection
- 5 Movie Cillection
- Superman Christopher Reeve
- Superman Anthology 1978-2006
For orientation, George Reeves starred in Superman and the Mole Men (1951); Christopher Reeve led the 1978–1987 films and the 2006 Donner cut; Brandon Routh played Superman in Superman Returns (2006); and Cavill began with Man of Steel (2013), followed by Batman v Superman, Justice League and Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Corenswet’s Superman (2025) introduces another starting point. DC’s live-action viewing guide outlines those films and their continuity distinctions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What makes a “best” Superman movie?
Tomatometer placement answers a narrow question about the proportion of positive critic reviews. To choose a film for yourself, consider what you want from Superman: the buoyant, iconic heroism associated with the 1978 film; the more solemn scale of Man of Steel; a new-universe introduction in the 2025 film; or an animated or team-up story that puts the character in a different setting. A lower position in a critic ranking does not prevent a film from appealing to viewers who enjoy its particular era, style or approach.
Rank #4
- Collezione di 5 film di Superman: 1978-1987
- Tipo di prodotto: FILM FISICO
- Marca: WB
Rotten Tomatoes’ guide is best used as a map of critical reception across a deliberately broad group of films. It is not a universal quality score, a continuity watch order or a substitute for choosing the version of Superman you most want to spend time with.
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