How are all the Superman movies ranked?
It was a challenge to get this one right.
TheSupermanmovie franchise is a tricky affair.
Now…up, up, and away!
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7.
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
Confession time.
It pains me a little to write this entry.
Shouldnt sincerity count for something, especially in a Superman movie?
The sins ofSuperman IVare well documented, so theres little point in cataloguing them here.
Even in 1987, the special effects, particularly the flying sequences, are laughable affairs.
No,Superman IVquite simply looks like garbage.
It should have been.
Alexander Courage does a reasonable job with John Williams familiar motifs and adds his own nicely.
Clark Kent dealing with the prospect of selling his parents farm is evocative and appropriately sentimental.
Watch Superman IV on Amazon.
Supergirl (1984)
Supergirlreally should be a much better movie.
Thats a tune youll hear me whistle more than once as we continue on through this article.
But its particularly distressing with this one.
In 1984, audiences hadnt had a proper live-action superheroine since Lynda Carter hung up her lasso in 1979.
It doesnt succeed, but it has a handful of things going for it.
If nothing else this movielooksa hell of a lot better thanSuperman IV.
It does more to increase the visual vocabulary of the Salkind Superman franchise than any of the other sequels.
Most importantly, it boasts a lead who really deserved a shot at the character in a better film.
She takes Peter Cook as her sniveling boyfriend/sidekick, Nigel.
Right, so weve got Peter Cook, Faye Dunaway, and an excellent lead in Helen Slater.
Yes, but they dont make much of a difference.
In the case ofSupergirl, Karas arrival on Earth is really something to behold.
That wouldnt be a bad thing, if only the final product werent so saccharine and unappealing.
You are much better off with the TV show than this movie.
Oh, and your eyes do not deceive you.
The hunky gardener that Selena andSupergirlcompete for (yes, you read that right) is Hart Bochner.
You know…Ellis fromDieHard.
Watch Supergirl on Amazon
5.
The problem, of course, is that it isnt really a Superman movie.
That alone is enough to keep it in the bottom portion of this list.
For one thing, Christopher Reeve never looked more convincing than he did inSuperman III.
Even if youve written this movie off completely, consider giving this scene another look.
The final battle with Gus Gormans supercomputer is another visual treat.
Stripped of context, this is Christopher Reeves Superman doing battle witha version of Brainiacin all but name.
There are two genuinely scary bits in here, too.
When director Richard Lester put his mind to it, he delivered some terrific Superman moments.
Hell, Ill even give it up for the extended slapstick opening.
Its not, though.
FutureSmallvillemom Annette OToole makes for a wonderful Lana Lang.
None of these would involve Richard Pryor or Robert Vaughn.
The argument can be made thatSuperman IIIis a Richard Pryor movie that just happens to feature Superman.
If thats the case, it would still be a pretty lousy, unfunny Richard Pryor movie.
Watch Superman III on Amazon.
But Superman mythology is particularly put through the wringer in this one.
Batman resorts to torture and, if not outright murder, certainly by accessory or neglect.
Adding to the problems,Batman v Supermanis unappealing visually.
And its not all bad.
Its just all delivered with the subtlety of a Kryptonian haymaker.
Watch Batman v Superman on Amazon.
That doesnt change the fact that, of the three, onlySuperman Returnsis actually a Superman movie.
The basic premise ofSuperman Returnsis a sound one, though.
Why spend audience time and studio money establishing Supermans origins when theyre already so familiar to audiences?
Then again, there were plenty of potential off-camera opportunities for those two to conceive.
Kevin Spaceys Lex Luthor is a more subdued, menacing creature than Gene Hackmans.
Bryan Singer certainly treats Superman more reverentially than any director since Richard Donner…perhaps even moreso.
In a way, thats exactly what it is.
Watch Superman Returns on Amazon.
And, to be sure, thats exactly whatSuperman IIis.
But its also a dreadfully uneven film.
Actors look different from scene to scene.
But even with all of those problems,Superman IIstill has plenty in its corner.
Oh God… whimpers the President.
Zod, the general calmly corrects him.
They just dont make em like ol Zod anymore.
The problems withSuperman II, then, lay at a much deeper level than either director could have affected.
It was then forced to fall back on anequallyridiculous reset button at its conclusion.
It goes far beyond the action.
It doesnt quite hit the mark, but it isnt for lack of trying.
Dont blame Richard Lester, either.
Even the Donner-directed portions lack the indescribable crackle and hum of the first film.
As good asSuperman IIis, the shadow of how good itmighthave been will always hold it back.
Watch Superman II on Amazon.
Man of Steel (2013)
c’mon put away your pitchforks and hear me out.
Dont get me wrong, I dont love this movie.
Im far more likely to reach forSuperman IIthanMan of Steel, Id imagine.
Hell, I might even give the good fifteen minutes ofSuperman IIIanother spin.
It boasts the most impressive cast assembled for a Superman movie since the star-studded 1978 film.
Im not sure you’ve got the option to say that aboutSuperman II.
And in its own way,Man of Steelis quite a reverential film.
And yknow what else?
So, yes,Man of Steelis an often ugly, relentlessly bleak, and needlessly violent film.
Its only the increasingly inferior sequels that have obscured this over time.
Christopher Reeves casting remains the gold standard, not just for supermen, but superheroes in general.
And that cast…holy moley.
All the anecdotes about Brando not giving a damn aside, that is one majestic presence as Jor-El.
So does Lois Lanes embarassing spoken word poetry during an otherwise beautiful flying sequence.
MaybeLex Luthorcould have done better than surrounding himself with total nincompoops like Otis and Miss Teschmacher.
The earliest marketing materials promised that youll believe a man can fly and youwill.
A personal favorite will always be Supes takeoff after depositing Lois and an errant helicopter on theDaily Planetroof.
If youre feeling sentimental, you might still believe.
No origin stories or reboots, just Superman facing off against a host of otherworldly menaces.
Watch Superman: The Movie on Amazon.
Just ensure you putSuperman and the Mole Menat #2.
