Uncover the Truth: Every Superman Movie Ranked by Runtime – The Longest Will Shock You!

Without the introduction of Superman in 1938, the world of superheroes as we know it wouldn’t be here. His adventures have spanned the decades up until his first century, consistently remaining relevant. The iconic character has served as the foundation for the entire superhero genre, and the upcoming arrival of a new Superman in 2025 promises to pen a fresh chapter in DC Comics’ rich history. The presence of Superman can be traced back to the animated Fleishcer cartoons from the early 1940s, transitioning from movie-serial shorts to live-action features approximately a decade later.

2025 marks the addition of the new “Superman” film to the collection of more than a dozen movie adaptations based on The Man of Steel. Many of these movies are lengthy, and as fans revisit older Superman films ahead of the new release, it’s worth noting their varying lengths. These durations provide insights into the eras in which they were produced, while also serving as a reminder for fans with time constraints about potentially long-running movies. This tally doesn’t account for television series, animated features, or the two Superman serials from the 1940s and 1950s, either of which would rank first if watched consecutively.

George Reeves Kicked Off the Seminal TV Series with a Feature-Length Movie

In 1951, when movie theaters commonly presented multiple features along with many shorts and cartoons, the term “feature-length” had a different connotation. For instance, the film “Superman and the Mole Men“, which lasts for only 58 minutes, was initially produced as an introductory pilot for what later turned into a highly successful series. Consequently, “Superman and the Mole Men” is relatively short in length at 58 minutes. Following its successful theatrical release, it was combined with the subsequent TV series to form a two-part episode titled “The Unknown People.

The film, produced on a modest budget, offers relatively simple effects and a plot tailored for young viewers. Nevertheless, it holds historical significance as the first full-length movie featuring any DC Comics character. Moreover, it marked George Reeves’ iconic portrayal of Clark Kent, a role he continued to play in television for over two decades, shaping the character’s image. Additionally, the film carries a heartwarming theme about empathy, as the “Mole Men” are ultimately revealed to be harmless and friendly despite initially appearing menacing.

Christopher Reeve’s Durable Run Crash Lands Hard

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace isn’t just the poorest Superman film ever made, but it might even be among the worst films ever created. It marked the end of Christopher Reeve’s tenure as the character in a rather disgraceful manner, and kept Superman away from the big screen for almost 20 years. Regrettably, its reputation has not become more favorable over time. Reeve was passionate about the film’s moral message, which saw Superman pledging to eliminate nuclear weapons worldwide.

Regrettably, the film (backed by Cannon Pictures) was severely limited in budget, resulting in many potential strengths being discarded along with it. Later, Reeve expressed his disappointment about the insufficient funding and disregard from Cannon’s management in his memoir, “Still Me.” Consequently, this marked one of the briefest big-screen appearances for the Man of Steel, running only 90 minutes. Superman and Reeve truly deserved a better experience.

The Movie Is Deeply Flawed, But Contains Compelling Moments

Christopher Reeve filmed the first two Superman movies consecutively, hoping that the initial film would be successful enough to warrant a sequel. Fortunately, their gamble paid off, and the success of Superman: The Movie paved the way for Superman II, which began with the Kryptonian prelude involving General Zod. However, director Richard Donner was dismissed midway through production, leaving 75% of the sequel unfinished. Director Richard Lester was then brought on to complete Superman II, resulting in a version that showcased his penchant for action-comedy rather than the epic style envisioned by Donner. This version is the one that eventually hit theaters.

2006 saw the debut of a version of Superman II, as originally envisioned by director Donner, on DVD and Blu-ray. This release included Donner’s personal commentary. Interestingly, this version is slightly shorter than the original cinema release, lasting 1 hour and 56 minutes. The director admits that this cut isn’t perfect; it was pieced together years after filming, with the initial creative flow having faded away. Despite its flaws, it serves as an intriguing artifact, filled with clever ideas and some reimagined sequences. However, it struggles with logic inconsistencies and pacing issues due to its prolonged storage.

The Troubled Production Brings DC’s Super-Team Together on the Big Screen

The delightful aspects of the theatrical version of “Justice League” emerge amidst one of the most contentious movie-making histories in recent times. Originally, Zack Snyder was the director, but he had to leave during production due to a family emergency. Later, Joss Whedon, known for directing “The Avengers,” took over and completed the film. The final cut that was released theatrically is primarily attributed to Whedon’s direction and clocks in at just 120 minutes.

Looking back, the movie encountered obstacles that it couldn’t overcome effectively. The switch in directors was aimed at offering a brighter perspective following the dark tone of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which left Warner Bros. in need of a correction. However, the film has been tainted by serious accusations of mistreatment on set that were made against Whedon. While the movie is more enjoyable than its reputation implies, it fails to exceed being just satisfactory due to its confusing production process, and the allegations against Whedon make watching it a challenging endeavor.

The 80s Misfire Wastes a Terrific Helen Slater

Supergirl’s many issues don’t affect star Helen Slater, whose lively and enjoyable portrayal of Kara Zor-El largely compensates for the overall disappointing quality of the film. Originally produced by the Salkinds, the movie started struggling early on, with plans to include a cameo from Reeve who left the project in the initial stages. Despite its flaws, it shares the same universe as indicated by a news broadcast that references Superman leaving Earth for a deep-space mission. The 2006 film Superman Returns, proposed as a loosely connected sequel, continues the story when Superman returns to Earth.

Despite this, director Jeannot Szwarc seems to be struggling, as the film’s narrative revolves around an enigmatic “Omegahedron” that Kara is tasked with retrieving for unclear and underwhelming motives. Peter O’Toole and Faye Dunaway appear to be cashing their A-list paychecks, with O’Toole having a tenuous connection to the plot and Dunaway struggling as the film’s antagonist. Slater shines in her role, but is let down by a subpar script that doesn’t fully utilize her talents. At nearly 2 hours and 4 minutes long, it’s unfortunate that the movie doesn’t provide a more compelling story for her to bring to life.

The Durable Christopher Reeve Movies Hit Their First Serious Trouble

Following the impressive showing of “Superman II”, the series experienced a significant fall from grace with “Superman III”. Initially promising to be another timeless masterpiece, it unfortunately failed to deliver. The director, while proficient in handling light-hearted action, found it challenging to maintain cohesion among the movie’s various components. Several opportunities for impactful scenes were missed, like the villainous supercomputer not being Brainiac as one might expect. Additionally, the film’s focus on Richard Pryor’s character, Gus, instead of Superman played by Reeve, seems illogical.

Some notable moments rise above the mediocrity, such as the charming Chaplin-esque opening credits displaying an absurdly routine day in Metropolis. Christopher Reeve impressively transforms into a supervillain when a flawed piece of Kryptonite takes hold, and the battle between him and Clark Kent could benefit from a stronger film to support it. The runtime, at approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes, is relatively short for a movie with much room for improvement.

A Superior Sequel Perfectly Complements the Classic Original

In no sequel surpasses the greatness of “Superman II” as Kal-El confronts a group of three Kryptonian criminals with powers similar to his own. Taking over from departing director Richard Donner, Richard Lester brings a more humorous touch to the film, which suits the movie well. Running for 2 hours and 7 minutes, it’s slightly shorter than “Superman: The Movie.

In this tale, Superman, or Kal-El, chooses to relinquish his powers to be with Lois Lane, all while General Zod and his cohorts unleash an assault on Earth. Notably, Gene Hackman reprises his role as Lex Luthor, while Reeve and Kidder skillfully craft their portrayal of Clark Kent and Lois Lane’s romance. However, it is Terence Stamp’s portrayal of the ruthless and determined Zod that truly shines, earning a place among the greatest villains ever brought to the big screen.

Superheroes Arrive on the Big Screen in a Durable Evergreen

Superheroes have often been viewed as an unrefined genre, and despite his widespread appeal, even Superman struggled to secure top-tier film production. Even with superheroes flourishing on television, a large-scale theatrical blockbuster felt like an impossible goal. However, Richard Donner’s Superman: The Movie transformed this perception significantly, leveraging the renewed interest in grandiose entertainment spurred by Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.

In a skillful manner, Richard Donner handled the assignment with meticulous attention, portraying Superman’s unblemished idealism as a beacon in a world growing more skeptical, while subtly blending his campier aspects with sincere and enduring beliefs. Christopher Reeve brilliantly encapsulates both Clark Kent and Kal-El, fitting the director’s style like a custom-made glove. The initial hour of the movie is devoted to his backstory, masterfully crafted and, in many respects, still considered the gold standard. Given this depth, the film runs for 2 hours and 23 minutes.

The DCEU Begins with Zack Snyder’s Ambitious Reboot

Remarkably, the film “Man of Steel” shares nearly identical runtime with “Superman: The Movie,” both offering extensive portrayals of Kal-El’s origins as a means to initiate the DC Extended Universe. Similar to other works by Zack Snyder, “Man of Steel” has sparked debate among fans, with both supporters and critics expressing strong opinions about it. This film’s thoughtful reboot of Superman’s early life includes several contentious scenes, particularly his choice to end a life at the climax. Additionally, it offers a commendable platform for showcasing various facets of the character.

Over time, it has become clear that the ambitious “Man of Steel” movie is simply an average superhero film within the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Despite having many intriguing ideas, these concepts don’t quite mesh as they ought to. However, the film does establish the atmosphere for the DCEU effectively, and Snyder offers a fresh and engaging portrayal of Clark Kent that remains true to the original character. Michael Shannon delivers an outstanding performance as a reimagined adversary to Superman, General Zod.

The DCEU Goes Dark While Setting Up The Justice League.

Snyder’s sequel to “Man of Steel” aimed to debut, not just continue the story, but also introduce a fresh take on Batman, portrayed by Ben Affleck as the weary Bruce Wayne. Regrettable errors, such as killing off Jimmy Olsen early in the movie, were offset by some brilliant concepts and standout scenes. However, Gal Gadot’s entrance as Wonder Woman, marking her first appearance on the big screen, undeniably outshone the other two heroes in the title.

In line with Snyder’s style of grand storytelling, the movie spans an extensive 2 hours and 32 minutes, while the Ultimate Edition adds an additional 3 hours and 1 minute. Given the need to establish numerous new characters and lay the groundwork for the plot, the film makes efficient use of every moment on screen, consistently introducing fresh elements throughout its length. This isn’t unusual for Snyder’s DC films, but it’s worth noting that other Superman tales also tend to extend into their third hour.

A Solid Onscreen Adventure Is Marred by Offscreen Allegations

Following multiple attempts by filmmakers like Kevin Smith and Tim Burton, it was Bryan Singer who eventually reintroduced Superman on the big screen through the 2006 movie “Superman Returns“. Essentially serving as a continuation of the Christopher Reeve films’ storyline, this movie finds Superman embarking on a quest to discover any traces of life from Krypton. Upon his return, he discovers that Lois Lane has had a child, seemingly with another man, and Lex Luthor is up to his old tricks, this time with a potentially destructive real estate plan that threatens not only Kal-El but the entire planet as well.

Despite not quite reaching the same level of success as another well-known film, this movie manages to work surprisingly effectively. Brendon Routh shines particularly brightly in the leading role, skillfully emulating the character portrayal of Reeve while still creating a distinct and captivating superhero performance of his own. However, off-screen scandals involving director Bryan Singer and star Kevin Spacey have cast a shadow over an otherwise entertaining standalone film. Fortunately for Routh, he went on to play The Atom in the TV series “Legends of Tomorrow”.

The Three-Hour Version Is Unnecessary, But Fun

In essence, “Superman: The Movie” television version isn’t supposed to be part of the list, as it was never officially shown in theaters. However, you might find it included in DVD or Blu-ray collections of the movie. Although the extra content is not essential, it’s quite enjoyable. Alexander Salkind compiled this version for television broadcast from a theatrical cut that had been edited down. Since then, a 3-hour-and-8-minute “international television edition” has been aired on various networks and cable TV, with a physical media release occurring in 2017.

Richard Donner had criticized the extended version prior to his death, and it’s undeniable that the theater release maintains a superior rhythm. However, the television edition offers exclusive perks for Superman enthusiasts. The most notable addition is an expanded sequence featuring young Clark Kent alongside a speeding train (demonstrating his strength surpassing that of a locomotive), with a young girl observing. Remarkably, this girl turns out to be a young Lois Lane. Notably, the actors portraying her parents are none other than those who played Lois and Superman in the 1948 Superman serial.

The Director’s Fans Received His Version as a Parting Gift from the DCEU

Zack Snyder’s Justice League stands out among most live-action Superman films for its length, as it clocks in at 242 minutes – just 2 minutes shorter than the 1948 serial of Superman, which was spread across a massive 15 chapters. The demand for Snyder’s cut has been extraordinary, leading to the addition of over 1.5 hours of new footage and restoring the brooding atmosphere that was toned down in the initial theatrical release of Justice League.

Originally shown in select cinemas, the movie later became available on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K. The updated version is more aligned with Snyder’s darker portrayal of the DCEU, reflecting his past work within the franchise. A black-and-white adaptation was also released. Since the DCEU has come to an end, Snyder’s Justice League stands as a unique offering for fans who appreciate the director’s style.

Superman 2025 opens July 11 in theaters.

2025-04-19 00:39