Superman Movies in Order: Release and Chronological Guide

The Superman movies in order of release run from Superman (1978) in December 1978 to Supergirl (2026) in June 2026, ten films in total. The list follows the US calendar, with the two Henry Cavill team-up appearances numbered where they landed.

1. Superman (1978), directed by Richard Donner, with Christopher Reeve as Superman.
2. Superman II (1981 in the US), directed by Richard Lester, with Reeve.
3. Superman III (1983), directed by Richard Lester, with Reeve.
4. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987), directed by Sidney J. Furie, with Reeve.
5. Superman Returns (2006), directed by Bryan Singer, with Brandon Routh.
6. Man of Steel (2013), directed by Zack Snyder, with Henry Cavill.
7. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), credited to Zack Snyder, with Cavill and Ben Affleck as Batman.
8. Justice League (2017), credited to Zack Snyder, with Cavill, Affleck and Gal Gadot.
9. Superman (2025), directed by James Gunn, with David Corenswet.
10. Supergirl (2026), directed by Craig Gillespie, with Milly Alcock in the lead and Corenswet in the cast as Superman.

Superman II carries a 1981 date in the US, although TMDB lists an earlier Australian opening in December 1980 and a UK opening in April 1981. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League belong to Cavill's run and sit between Man of Steel and Superman (2025) on the calendar.

There is also a long gap to notice. Superman Returns arrived nineteen years after Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, with a $270 million budget against the $17 million spent on that earlier film. If you want the full picture of who plays what, the Superman cast page lists every actor era.

Start with Superman (2025), because it is the easiest entry point to the character and leads directly into Supergirl (2026) and Man of Tomorrow. It runs 130 minutes, it follows David Corenswet's Superman through his first defeat in Metropolis, and its world continues in Supergirl (2026) and in Man of Tomorrow.

What if you prefer the classics? Then begin with Superman (1978) and Superman II back to back, because the second film picks up the Zod, Ursa and Non storyline that Jor-El set in motion in the first. Those two are the heart of the Reeve era, and Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace are for completists. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace is the shortest film of the lot at 90 minutes and grossed about $30 million worldwide on a $17 million budget, so watch it last.

If you want Henry Cavill's version, watch Man of Steel, then Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, then Justice League, all in release order. Superman Returns is worth watching on its own for Brandon Routh's performance, and it needs no homework beforehand.

As of November 3, 2026, all ten released Superman films stream on HBO Max in the US, the UK and Australia, according to JustWatch data via TMDB, while Man of Tomorrow is not yet released. Availability moves around, so the where to watch Superman page tracks it. When you finish, head to the Man of Tomorrow page for the July 9, 2027 release details.