Look, up in the sky! Or look at your local theater screen. For decades Superman has brought truth, justice and a better tomorrow to the world of film. From the inspiring work of Christopher Reeve, to the new generation of heroics being ushered in by David Corenswet, it’s been an entertaining journey every step of the way. New to the world of the Man of Steel? Here’s everything you need to dive in.
WHAT ARE ALL THE SUPERMAN FILMS IN ORDER?
Kal-El has had an impressive cinematic career that goes back even further than his Gotham City counterpart, Batman. We’ve broken it down for you, but please note that this list only covers Superman’s live action appearances and movies where he has a major role. In other words, it doesn’t cover appearances like his cameos in Shazam or Space Jam: A New Legacy. Likewise, while the 1984 Supergirl movie is a spin-off of Christopher Reeve’s Superman films, the Man of Steel doesn’t appear in the movie, so it isn’t on this list.
Superman and the Mole Men (1951)
Superman (1978)
Superman II (1980)/Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (2006)
Superman III (1983)
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
Superman Returns (2006)
Man of Steel (2013)
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Justice League (2017)/Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
Superman (2025)
WHICH SUPERMAN FILMS ARE CONNECTED?
Some of the Superman films are connected, while others are standalone movies set in their own continuity. The DC Universe is a multiverse of adventure, which means that there are multiple versions of Superman on film. So, which movies are connected? Here’s a brief breakdown of the Man of Steel’s cinematic continuity.
The George Reeves Universe
This universe is the setting for the 1951 film Superman and the Mole Men starring George Reeves. The film was followed by the television series Adventures of Superman, which ran from 1952-1958. Batman ’66 #30 implies that the George Reeves Superman shares a universe with the Adam West Batman, but until further confirmation, it should just be seen as an Easter egg. Perhaps a bit more definitive, the George Reeves Universe was briefly seen as part of the multiverse montage during the final act of the 2023 film The Flash.
The Donnerverse
The Donnerverse is the home to Christopher Reeve’s Superman films and the 1984 spin-off Supergirl. The saga begins with the 1978 movie Superman, continuing with Superman II in 1980, Superman III in 1983 and concluding with Superman IV: The Quest for Peace in 1987. Of note, even though fans informally refer to this universe as the Donnerverse, Richard Donner only directed the first movie. In fact, it’s director Richard Lester who arguably had the bigger creative impact overall, as he helmed both Superman II and Superman III.
Recently, the adventures of the Donnerverse Superman have made their way to comics, continuing in 2021’s Superman ’78 and 2023’s Superman ’78: The Metal Curtain. These comics are set after the events of Superman II, and they drop some heavy lore, including the revelation that Jor-El and Lara survived the destruction of Krypton. Much like the Batman ’89 comics that continued the story of Tim Burton’s Dark Knight, it’s pretty clear that the Superman ’78 comics are set in an alternate version of the Donnerverse that ignores the events of Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.
The Donnerverse Superman can also briefly be seen during the multiverse montage in the 2023 film The Flash. Dark Crisis: Big Bang, a 2022 one-shot that was part of DC’s big comic book event that year, contains a multiverse atlas, which implies that the Donnerverse and Batman’s cinematic Burtonverse share a reality, which is designated as Earth 789. However, as we just established, the Donnerverse splinters after the events of Superman II, so it’s possible the Superman ’78 comic book series is part of Earth 789, while the films are in their own universe. Whatever interpretation works best for you!
Earth-96/The Brandon Routh Universe
This universe is home to Brandon Routh’s Superman, who was introduced in the 2006 film Superman Returns. The character and his universe would eventually be seen again in the 2019-2020 DC television crossover event Crisis on Infinite Earths, which ran on select episodes of Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow. It’s Crisis on Infinite Earths that gave this universe its Earth-96 designation.
Also, while Superman Returns stands on its own, Brandon Routh’s Superman can very much be seen as an alternate version of the Donnerverse Superman. In Earth-96, Routh’s reality, the events of Superman and Superman II occurred, but they happened in the early 20th century rather than 1978 and 1980. The events of Superman III, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace and Supergirl never happened on Routh’s world. For an interesting viewing experience, watch Superman and Superman II before watching Superman Returns.
Note that this, in effect, creates three unique Donnerverse continuities:
- The four Christopher Reeve films, plus 1984’s Supergirl
- Superman and Superman II, plus the two Superman ’78 comics
- Superman and Superman II, plus Superman Returns and Crisis on Infinite Earths
However, it’s our strong suggestion that you don’t worry about this too much. Watch or read whichever of them interest you.
The DC Extended Universe
This continuity is home to Henry Cavill’s version of Superman, who made his debut in the 2013 film Man of Steel. Cavill returned for the 2016 film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, 2017’s Justice League and 2021’s Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
It’s worth noting that the DC Extended Universe is also home to other live action DC projects, such as Wonder Woman and Aquaman.
The DC Universe
This continuity is home to David Corenswet’s Superman, and the new cinematic universe being developed by DC Studios co-presidents James Gunn and Peter Safran. The new Man of Steel will debut in Superman, which hits theaters on July 11, and will be the same Superman who may appear or be referenced in DC movies going forward, like 2026’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.
WHICH ACTORS PLAY SUPERMAN IN EACH FILM?
What’s Superman’s real name? Some would say Clark Kent, while others might call him Kal-El. However, there are a few other names that can be added to that last. Many talented actors have donned the iconic suit over the years, each bringing their own take on the role. Here’s a breakdown of the various actors who have played Superman, and the films you can find them in.
George Reeves
Superman and the Mole Men (1951)
Christopher Reeve
Superman (1978)
Superman II (1980)/Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (2006)
Superman III (1983)
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
Brandon Routh
Superman Returns (2006)
Henry Cavill
Man of Steel (2013)
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Justice League (2017)/Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
David Corenswet
Superman (2025)
WHO ARE THE DIRECTORS FOR EACH SUPERMAN FILM?
Lights, camera…action!
We can’t talk about Superman’s cinematic career without mentioning the directors behind the classic films. Each filmmaker has brought the Superman comics to life in live action, and in some cases, they’ve even added to the source material, creating lore that has stood the test of time. Here’s a breakdown of Superman’s directors and their films.
Lee Sholem
Superman and the Mole Men (1951)
Richard Donner
Superman (1978)
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (2006)
Richard Lester
Superman II (1980)
Superman III (1983)
Sidney J. Furie
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
Bryan Singer
Superman Returns (2006)
Zack Snyder
Man of Steel (2013)
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Justice League (2017)/Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
James Gunn
Superman (2025)
WHERE ELSE HAS SUPERMAN APPEARED IN FILM?
Henry Cavill’s Superman makes a surprise appearance during the post-credits scene of the 2022 film Black Adam. It’s not really a Superman film, and his appearance is brief, so we’ve left it off our main list. However, if you’re a completionist, feel free to watch Black Adam after Zack Snyder’s Justice League. (But considering the showdown it seems to set up is unlikely to ever happen, it's definitely not essential if your interest here is Superman.)
The DCEU version of Superman also makes brief cameo appearances (played by a stunt double) in the 2019 film Shazam! and the 2022 television series Peacemaker.
Finally, while it’s not a Superman movie, per se, if you find yourself particularly drawn to Christopher Reeve’s take on the character, we highly recommend adding Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story to your watchlist. This 2024 documentary (one of the first films produced under the DC Studios banner) offers an unfiltered look at Reeve’s struggles off-camera, after a horse-riding accident left him paralyzed. Just make sure you have some tissues nearby!
WHICH SUPERMAN FILM IS THE BEST TO START WITH?
There is no wrong answer to this question. If you’re a fan of classic films that evoke a sense of wonder, then you can’t go wrong with the 1978 Superman film. If you prefer your Superman with a slightly darker edge, then 2013’s Man of Steel will have you hooked. If you’ve never seen any Superman movie before, or if you’ve never read a comic book, you can head to the theater this summer to catch DC Studios’ Superman and use it as your introduction to the character and the wider DC Universe.
There’s a Superman for everyone, and part of the fun of being a fan is discovering yours. Who knows? You might realize that you appreciate and enjoy all of them. So, whether you decide to sample all of the Superman movies or just a few, whether you stick to one continuity, or embrace all the corners of the DC multiverse, we hope you enjoy the flight.
More of a Batman fan? Click here for our feature on how to watch all the live action Batman movies in order.
Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, movies and comics for DC.com, is a regular contributor to the Couch Club and writes our monthly Batman column, "Gotham Gazette." Follow him on Bluesky at @joshualapinbertone and on X at @TBUJosh.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Joshua Lapin-Bertone and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.
