Film · in order
Superman Movies in Order
All 12 theatrical Superman films sort into four separate continuities. Watch the Christopher Reeve era, the Superman Returns branch, or the Snyder DCEU in release order, or start fresh with James Gunn's DCU and Superman (2025).
Superman Movies in Order: complete list
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Why this order?
Superman's big screen history runs from 1951 to 2027, and the 12 theatrical films sort into four separate continuity tracks, so the real question is not what comes next but which Superman you are watching. Release order is the default list here because it contains everything, but it misleads badly in one spot, which is why the era breakdown does the real work. Before any of it, the 1948 and 1950 Kirk Alyn serials and the 1951 George Reeves feature Superman and the Mole Men form a self-contained 1950s prehistory, strictly for the curious.
The Christopher Reeve era starts with Richard Donner's Superman: The Movie (1978) and runs through Superman II (1980), Superman III (1983), and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987), with Supergirl (1984) as an optional spin-off where Jimmy Olsen crosses over but Reeve himself never appears. One version note matters: Superman III continues from the theatrical cut of Superman II, so the Richard Donner Cut (2006), which restores Marlon Brando's Jor-El, works best as a substitute in a purist double feature of the first two films only. The 2024 documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story makes a fine companion piece.
Superman Returns (2006) is the franchise's classic trap. By date it looks like a fresh start, but it is secretly a 1980 sequel: Bryan Singer's film continues Superman (1978) and Superman II while ignoring III, IV, and Supergirl, even reusing Brando archive footage. Watch it after the first two Reeve films; the branch dead-ends there because its planned sequel was cancelled.
The Snyder DCEU runs Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), and Justice League. Prefer the Ultimate Edition of Batman v Superman, and pick exactly one Justice League: the 2017 theatrical cut or the four-hour Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021). This era also dead-ends, since Henry Cavill's teased return was scrapped in December 2022. Our DCEU and Batman movie guides cover the wider universe.
James Gunn's DCU is the current track and the easiest entry point: Superman (2025) is deliberately standalone, Supergirl (2026) follows it directly, and Man of Tomorrow lands July 9, 2027. TV siblings like Creature Commandos, Peacemaker, and Lanterns share the canon but are not required. In the US, one HBO Max subscription currently covers nearly every entry, though availability rotates, so check current listings.
Timeline 1951-2027
Every entry by release year: rows that share a year are a cluster, and the long droughts are called out on the rail.
- 1951 and the Mole Men
- 27-year gap
- 1978 The Movie
- 1980 II
- 1983 III
- 1984 Supergirl
- 1987 IV: The Quest for Peace
- 19-year gap
- 2006 Returns
- 7-year gap
- 2013 Man of Steel
- 2016 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
- 2017 Justice League
- 8-year gap
- 2025 Superman
- 2026 Supergirl
- 2027 Man of Tomorrow
Where to play it today
- HBO Max
- Amazon Prime Video (rent/buy)
- Apple TV (rent/buy)
- Fandango at Home (rent/buy)
Availability changes often and varies by region - links search each platform for Superman.
Frequently asked questions
How many Superman movies are there?
There are 12 theatrical live-action Superman films, from Superman and the Mole Men (1951) through Supergirl (2026). Counting Zack Snyder's Justice League, an HBO Max streaming release, brings it to 13, and the two 1940s Kirk Alyn serials push the total to 15. Man of Tomorrow arrives July 9, 2027.
What order should I watch the Superman movies in?
Pick a continuity and watch it in release order: the Christopher Reeve era (1978 to 1987 plus Supergirl), the Superman Returns branch (1978, II, Returns), the Snyder DCEU (Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, Justice League), or James Gunn's DCU (Superman 2025, Supergirl 2026, Man of Tomorrow). Newcomers can start with Superman (2025) alone.
Do I need to watch anything before Superman (2025)?
No. It is a deliberate fresh start with no origin retelling, and its Creature Commandos and Peacemaker cameos are flavor, not homework. Watch it before Supergirl (2026), where Kara, Krypto, and David Corenswet all carry over. Man of Tomorrow follows July 9, 2027; do not confuse it with the 2020 animated film Superman: Man of Tomorrow.
Is Superman Returns a sequel to Superman IV?
No. Superman Returns (2006) is a soft sequel to Superman (1978) and Superman II only, reusing Marlon Brando archive footage and ignoring Superman III, IV, and Supergirl entirely. It looks like an entry point by date but requires the first two Reeve films, and its branch dead-ends there.
Is Man of Steel 2 with Henry Cavill still happening?
No. Cavill's teased return in Black Adam (2022) was scrapped in December 2022 when James Gunn and Peter Safran rebooted DC, and the Snyder era's planned Justice League sequels were never greenlit. Any Man of Steel 2 release dates circulating online are fake; the actual next film is Man of Tomorrow (2027).
Is Steel (1997) a Superman movie?
Not really. Shaquille O'Neal plays John Henry Irons, a character created in the Death of Superman comics, but the critically panned film contains no Superman references or continuity links, so it belongs in no watch order.
What about the black and white Superman serials?
Superman (1948) and Atom Man vs. Superman (1950) are 15-chapter theatrical serials starring Kirk Alyn, featuring the first live-action Superman and the first live-action Lex Luthor. They form their own mini continuity that leads nowhere modern and they are not reliably streaming, so they are strictly for the curious.
Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, variety.com, cbr.com
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