How to Watch Superman Movies in Order

Today, in this article we will discuss about how to Watch Superman Movies in Order. The man known as “Man of Steel” has had a busy movie career. There have been undeniable high points, like flying with Lois Lane across the skyline of Metropolis at night, but there have also been some tough times. Every time Superman has gone up against Lex Luthor, Doomsday, or Steppenwolf in a movie, he’s also had to deal with the studio system and the politics of the global box office. You can rent or buy a number of Superman movies on Amazon Prime Video (Official Website), such as Superman Returns, Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League, and Zack Snyder’s Justice League.

Superman is one of the most well-known characters in the world, and he has been turned into many live-action movies. This includes a lot of movies. Most people probably think of Superman as the first superhero that comes to mind. Batman and Spider-Man are the other two options. And while Batman may have a few more “cool factor” points, Superman has been seen as DC’s main character and an icon in his own right since his first appearance in a comic book in 1938. For decades, the big blue boy scout role has been one of the most sought-after in Hollywood. We mentioned below are the steps how to Watch Superman Movies in Order.

How to Watch Superman Movies in Order

1. Superman
2. Superman II
3. Superman III
4. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
5. Superman Returns
6. Man of Steel
7. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
8. Justice League
9. Shazam!
10. Black Adam

Superman (1978)

The first Superman movie had the tough job of telling us about Clark’s past and introducing us to the Man of Steel’s large supporting cast. This huge job was done amazingly well by director Richard Donner, who made one of the best Supes movies ever.

The cast is the movie’s secret weapon. A great deal of writing has been done about how great Christopher Reeve is as Superman, but the whole cast is truly amazing. Some of the best performances were by Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, whose sarcastic portrayal helped shape the character in the comics, and by Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, who was campy but deliciously cruel.

Superman II (1981)

In this 1980s movie, which is a direct follow-up to Superman (1978), Clark gives up his powers to be with Lois Lane just as General Zod (Terence Stamp), a warlike Kryptonian, attacks Earth. Superman II could have been even better than Superman, but Donner was fired in the middle of filming, which made the tone a little off. Still, it’s a fun adventure, and Zod played by Stamp is without a doubt one of the best bad guys in movie history. The Donner cut of the movie came out in 2006; if you can, watch it.

Superman III (1983)

This is when the Reeves Superman movies lost their way. Hackman quit, Richard Donner was fired, and Kidder’s Lois Lane had a lot less screen time. Even worse, the tone of the movie was changed from Donner’s more serious Superman movies to a more comedic one, with Richard Pryor added as comic relief.

The third Superman movie wasn’t funny, was hard to understand, or was just plain boring. It’s only the second movie in the series that keeps it from being one of the worst movies ever. Even so, Reeve was good in it, and it was a fight between Superman and Clark Kent, so that has to be good.

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)

Even though Gene Hackman is back, The Quest for Peace is still one of the worst movies ever made. Really, you should only watch this if you have to. There are a lot of plot holes and it seems like it was made for very little money.

Superman Returns (2006)

After a long absence of twenty years, Superman came back in 2006 with Brandon Routh in the cape. Even though Superman Returns is a reboot, it’s kind of connected to the first two Superman movies directed by Richard Donner. The third and fourth movies are not connected at all, though.

Criticism of the movie has built up over the years. The worst thing about it is that it’s kind of dull. Even Lex Luthor, who is one of the greatest comic book bad guys ever, can’t make two boring real estate schemes interesting. The movie also made the strange choice of making Superman a bad dad, which wasn’t the best idea.

Man of Steel (2013)

Warner Bros. pushed the reset button again, this time seven years after the last Superman movie. This new, darker version of Superman, directed by Zack Snyder, tells his story again and was meant to set up the DC Cinematic Universe. Even though things didn’t go as planned, most people agree that this is Snyder’s best DC movie yet. I don’t really like how sad the movie is, but at least it’s brave enough to go against the usual story of how Superman came to be, and Henry Cavill was a great choice to play Clark.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

The DCEU was already falling apart after just two movies. Batman v. Superman is too long, pretentious, and just plain boring. Its biggest flaw is that it doesn’t tell a story that makes sense. Still, Cavill’s Superman goes through an important part of his life, and Batman is introduced, and who doesn’t love Batman? There is an extended cut that is better than the theatrical release if you want to see the whole thing, but it makes the already long running time even longer.

Justice League (2017/2021)

There are two movies about the Justice League. The 2017 version came out in theatres, and the 2021 version came out on DVD. Don’t watch the cut that came out here in 2017. It’s terrible, and the Snyder cut is much better in almost every way. Technically, this is the last time we saw Cavill in the Superman suit for a major appearance (though the character has come back), and it’s a nice way to end the character’s story.

Shazam! (2019)

Okay, this is a bit of a cheat, but the DCEU Superman (not Cavill) does show up at the end of Shazam! from the neck down. Superman goes to Billy Batson’s school to eat lunch with Captain Marvel and Freddy Freeman, who is his foster brother. You don’t have to watch nine different movies with three different actors playing Superman to enjoy Superman movies. There is an easy way to split the continuity into three separate timelines.

Black Adam (2022)

This one isn’t quite as sly as the Shazam! This means that we can at least see and hear Superman’s face. However, Cavill returned to the role for the Black Adam scene after the credits, so it was also a short and pointless cameo. He will never be seen as Superman again.

If Black Adam 2 ever happened, it looked like Supes and Black Adam would have a huge fight. But now that the new DCU Chapter 1 has been announced, there’s no room for either Cavill or Dwayne Johnson. Well, if you want to learn more about this movie, you could always read our review of Black Adam.

Why Watch Superman Movies in Order?

1. Character Development: Superman is one of the most iconic superheroes, and his character has evolved over the years. Watching the movies in order allows you to see how his character develops, both in terms of his abilities and his personal journey.
2. Story Continuity: Many Superman movies are part of a larger cinematic universe or have interconnected storylines. Watching them in order ensures that you follow the chronological progression of events and character interactions.
3. Easter Eggs and References: Filmmakers often include subtle references and Easter eggs that connect different movies in the Superman franchise. Watching in order allows you to catch these details and appreciate the interconnected nature of the films.
4. Themes and Motifs: Superman movies often explore similar themes and motifs, such as the struggle between good and evil, the responsibility of having superpowers, and the impact of Superman on the world. Watching in order helps you track the development of these themes throughout the series.
5. Evolution of Filmmaking: Superman movies have been made over several decades, and the evolution of filmmaking techniques is evident when you watch them in chronological order. You can appreciate how special effects, cinematography, and storytelling have evolved over time.

Release Order vs. Chronological Order: Which Should You Choose?

Questions and Answers