How to Watch the Superman Movies in Order

If you’re ready to watch all cinematic portrayals of the mild-mannered reporter by day and Superman by, well, any time of day or night, now is a perfect time to be an HBO Max subscriber. You can watch all of the movies from the original run featuring Christopher Reeve and two of the reboots from the 2010s, courtesy of the DC Universe integration with HBO’s streaming platform.

These and other Superman movies are spread across various streaming platforms for streaming with a subscription, rental, or purchase. Grab your popcorn and watch them in the order of release, by series, or have a little fun with the screening order.

How to Watch the Superman Movies in Release Order

If you have a healthy chunk of time to spare for a movie marathon, you could easily get through the original four Superman movies in a weekend. The whole gang is there: ambitious Lois Lane who inexplicably can’t spell, Clark Kent’s gee-whiz disguise marked by oversized glasses and a different hair part, Jimmy Olsen’s trusty camera and enthusiasm, and the no-nonsense Daily Planet editor Perry White.

Let’s not forget two other important supporting characters from these films: the impressive precision of Superman’s S-shaped forehead curl and his favorite changing vessel: the trusty phone booth. 

The Superman retellings from the 2000s largely phase out the trademarks of the Man of Steel’s 80’s hairdo and his penchant for phone booths, but your favorite characters are the same and different in a timeless fashion. Ready to compare notes? Here’s the best way to do that on your chosen streaming platform.

How to Watch the Superman Movies By Series

You could also break up your viewing with a couple of strategic groupings by series.

Alternate Ways to View the Superman Movies

If you’re less concerned about chronological order or release order and more interested in comparing similar storylines, here are a few suggested non-linear pairings.

Compare Origin Stories

Origin stories are a quintessential part of superhero anything. Watch the original Superman: The Movie and Man of Steel to see where the two meet and diverge. There’s a considerable time gap between the two, 1978 versus 2013, but all things considered, the special effects from 1978 still hold up in their own (often comical) way.

Something Old, Something New, Something Newer

If you want to experience the Christopher Reeve era but don’t want to watch the whole series, you don’t have to. Superman II does a great job of summarizing the first movie in the intro credits and features two formidable enemies: General Zod and Lex Luthor.

As for the newer options, you have your pick between a few. You could opt for the stand-alone retelling in the mid-aughts or one or both of the movies from the DCEU series.