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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 23: The Superman costume as worn by Christopher Reeve in Superman III is … More displayed at the Auction House of Bonhams and Goodman on May 23, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia. The Costume will be auctioned tomorrow and is expected to make between AUD$15,000-20,000. (Photo by Mark Dadswell\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
James Gunn\u2019s Superman, starring David Corenswet in the title role, is new in theaters this week, and soon fans will find out how the writer-director\u2019s version rates against the Superman movies that came before it.<\/p>\n
Superman, which is written and directed by Gunn, plays in Thursday previews before opening Friday in theaters nationwide. The official summary for Superman partially reads, \u201cWhen Superman (Corenswet) is drawn into conflicts both abroad and at home, his actions to protect humankind are questioned, and his vulnerability allows tech billionaire and master deceiver Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) to leverage the opportunity to get Superman out of the way for good.<\/p>\n
David Corenswet in “Superman.”<\/p>\n
Warner Bros.\/Jessica Miglio<\/p>\n
\u201cWill the Daily Planet\u2019s intrepid reporter Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) together with the aid of Metropolis\u2019s other metahumans and Superman\u2019s own four-legged companion, Krypto, be able to help Superman before Luthor can completely destroy him?\u201d<\/p>\n
Superman marks the seventh solo movie about DC Comics\u2019 Man of Steel from Warner Bros., which began in 1978 with the release of Superman: The Movie, starring the late Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent\/Superman.<\/p>\n
ForbesWimbledon 2025: See Photos Of Biggest Celebrities Attending MatchesBy Tim Lammers<\/a><\/p>\n Listed below are Rotten Tomatoes<\/a> critics\u2019 ratings for the first six Superman films, from worst to best.<\/p>\n Since this is a list of Superman\u2019s solo films, the list does not include 2016\u2019s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, which featured the DC superhero trio of Superman (Henry Cavill), Batman (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), or either cut of Justice League.<\/p>\n \u2018Superman IV: The Quest For Peace\u2019 (1987)<\/p>\n The fourth and final film starring Christopher Reeve as Superman\/Clark Kent was blasted by Rotten Tomatoes critics, who collectively gave the film a 14% \u201crotten\u201d rating based on 114 viewers. Audiences, meanwhile, gave the film a 16% \u201crotten\u201d score on RT\u2019s Popcornmeter based on 50,000-plus verified user ratings.<\/p>\n The RT Consensus for Superman IV: Quest for Peace reads, \u201cThe Superman series bottoms with The Quest for Peace — the action is boring, the special effects look cheaper, and none of the actors appear interested in where the plot’s going.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Superman III\u2019 (1983)<\/p>\n Neither comedy legend Richard Pryor nor The Man From U.N.C.L.E. star Robert Vaughn could help Christopher Reeve give lift to the third Superhero chapter, which Rotten Tomatoes critics gave a 29% \u201crotten\u201d rating based on 79 reviews.<\/p>\n Audiences found even less to be enthused about with Superman III, as the movie earned a 23% \u201crotten\u201d Popcornmeter score based on 100,000-plus user ratings.<\/p>\n The RT Critics Consensus for the film reads, When not overusing sight gags, slapstick, and Richard Pryor, Superman III resorts to plot points rehashed from the previous Superman flicks.”<\/p>\n \u2018Man Of Steel\u2019 (2013)<\/p>\n Starring Henry Cavill as Superman\/Clark Kent and Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Man of Steel marked the second reboot attempt of the Superman franchise by Warner Bros.<\/p>\n Grounded in real-world sensibilities like Christopher Nolan\u2019s Dark Knight movies, Nolan and David S. Goyer<\/a> wrote the screen story while Goyer wrote the screenplay for Man of Steel with Zack Snyder<\/a> in the director\u2019s chair.<\/p>\n ForbesTim Burton Says He\u2019s Working On A New Animated ProjectBy Tim Lammers<\/a><\/p>\n While Rotten Tomatoes critics gave Man of Steel a 57% \u201crotten\u201d rating based on 327 reviews, audiences embraced the film with a 75% \u201cfresh\u201d rating on RT\u2019s Popcornmeter based on 250,000 user ratings.<\/p>\n The RT Critics Consensus for Man of Steel reads, \u201cMan of Steel’s exhilarating action and spectacle can’t fully overcome its detours into generic blockbuster territory.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Superman Returns\u2019 (2006)<\/p>\n Brandon Routh made his first and only appearance as Superman\/Clark Kent opposite Kate Bosworth\u2019s Lois Lane and Kevin Spacey\u2019s Lex Luthor in director Bryan Singer\u2019s Superman Returns, the first reboot of the Superman film franchise by Warner Bros.<\/p>\n ForbesJames Gunn Does Interview In Casket For \u2018Grave Conversations\u2019 Season 3By Tim Lammers<\/a><\/p>\n Superman Returns earned a 73% \u201cfresh\u201d rating from Rotten Tomatoes critics based on 275 reviews, while audiences gave the film a less-enthusiastic 60% \u201cfresh\u201d score on RT\u2019s Popcornmeter based on 250,000-plus user ratings.<\/p>\n The RT Critics Consensus for Superman Returns reads, “Bryan Singer\u2019s reverent and visually decadent adaptation gives the Man of Steel welcome emotional complexity. The result: a satisfying stick-to-your-ribs adaptation.”<\/p>\n \u2018Superman II\u2019 (1980)<\/p>\n Superman: The Movie director Richard Donner returned but was fired and replaced by Richard Lester for the first sequel starring Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel. Also returning from the original film was Margot Kidder as Lois Lane and Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor.<\/p>\n Superman II received an 88% \u201cfresh\u201d review from Rotten Tomatoes critics, while audiences gave it a 76% \u201cfresh\u201d Popcornmeter score based on 100,000-plus user ratings.<\/p>\n The RT Critics Consensus for Superman II reads, \u201cThe humor occasionally stumbles into slapstick territory, and the special effects are dated, but Superman II meets, if not exceeds, the standard set by its predecessor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Superman: The Movie\u2019 (1978)<\/p>\n Christopher Reeve<\/a> took up the mantle of playing Superman\/Clark Kent following George Reeves\u2019 turn as the iconic character on TV for Superman: The Movie. Directed by Richard Donner, Supeman: The Movie also starred Margot Kidder as Lois Lane and Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, and featured The Godfather legend Marlon Brando in the small but pivotal role of Jor-El, the father of Superman, who was born Kal-El.<\/p>\n Superman: The Movie was largely a hit with Rotten Tomatoes critics, who collectively gave the film a 90% \u201cfresh\u201d rating based on 84 reviews. Audiences also were high on Superman: The Movie, giving it an 86% \u201cfresh\u201d Popcornmeter score based on 250,000-plus user ratings.<\/p>\n ForbesAmazon\u2019s Early Prime Day Streaming Service Subscription Deals – What Separates Them From Bundling OptionsBy Tim Lammers<\/a><\/p>\n The RT Critics Consensus for Superman: The Movie reads, \u201cSuperman deftly blends humor and gravitas, taking advantage of the perfectly cast Christopher Reeve to craft a loving, nostalgic tribute to an American pop culture icon.\u201d<\/p>\n