All 13 Superman Animated Movies Ranked Worst To Best

May 12, 2024, 2 p.m.

Movies

All 13 Superman Animated Movies Ranked Worst To Best

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Summary All-Star Superman stands out as a great animated film adaptation of a heady and philosophical Superman storyline.

Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons delivers on both emotional and action fronts, surpassing expectations.

Superman vs. the Elite is a thought-provoking Superman story, showcasing his unwavering morals in a spectacular battle.

As one of DC's flagship characters, Superman has had a wide variety of animated films, some of which present the Man of Steel better than others. Superman's live-action films may be well known, but his animated filmography presents some stories that can contend with the best of the hero's traditional cinema fare, if not surpass it. While Superman might not be able to hold a candle to Batman's 29 animated films, having only 13 projects to his name, he has just as big of a gulf in quality from his best movies to his worst ones.

DC has always outdone Marvel in the animated film department, with franchises like the DCAMU and the Tomorrowverse producing some stellar content. Indeed, many of Superman's films fall into the scope of these animated continuities, with Superman featuring heavily as a focal character in animated Justice League movies. Otherwise, Superman has a healthy number of one-off animated stories that replicate the pages of some of the character's most famous comic storylines, to varying degrees of success.

Related All 8 Live-Action Superman Movies Ranked By Box Office Performance Superman has had 8 live-action appearances throughout the DCEU, but some movies have performed significantly better than others at the box office.

13 Superman: Doomsday Fumbled The Death Of Superman

Released In 2007

Superman: Doomsday Director Lauren Montgomery , Bruce W. Timm , Brandon Vietti Release Date September 18, 2007 Writers Duane Capizzi , Bruce W. Timm Cast Adam Baldwin , Anne Heche , James Marsters , John Di Maggio , Tom Kenny , Swoosie Kurtz Runtime 75 minutes

Long before the DCEU clumsily tacked on the infamous Death of Superman storyline into its already busy team-up movie, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, an animated film brought the storyline to film for the first time. Featuring the fearsome Doomsday, the original comic reminded the world of Superman's importance by killing him, a daring move that re-invigorated public interest in the character. Unfortunately, the first animation to tackle the same story got some key elements wrong.

He epic weight of Superman and Doomsday's battle was utterly lost in the translation to the screen.

Beyond an awkward-looking art style, the film betrayed audience expectations by killing Superman off so early in the film, leaving Lois Lane and an overly-emphasized importance on Lex Luthor's cybernetic replacement to fill the void. The epic weight of Superman and Doomsday's battle was utterly lost in the translation to the screen, leaving fans eager to see the iconic story represented in other media for the first time bitterly disappointed. While the film is able to throw a handful of decent action scenes the audience's way, it misses the mark in undertaking an adaptation of such an important Superman story.

12 Superman: Brainiac Attacks Failed To Eclipse The Animated Series

Released In 2006

Despite more than a few surface-level similarities to the DCAU, including a similar art style and the returning vocal talents of Tim Daly as Superman himself, Superman: Brainiac Attacks is entirely removed from the lauded cartoon continuity. At just 77 minutes long, the film is essentially an extra-long episode of Superman: The Animated Series anyway, though fails to capture the character's charm quite as well. The plot revolves around the appearance of Superman's hyper-intelligent alien nemesis, Brainiac, eclipsing Lex Luthor as a threat.

Beyond the surface-level terror of Brainiac, the film follows Clark's hesitance to reveal his true identity to Lois, staking the emotional crux on the film on a well-worn secret identity crisis. Though a passing effort with clear heart behind it, the ultimate experience of Superman: Brainiac Attacks is somewhat empty, offering nothing other Superman media hadn't done better at the time, let alone nearly 20 years later. Despite crisp animation cells, excellent vocal performances and a passing story, Superman: Brainiac Attacks is a painfully forgettable experience.

11 Superman/Shazam: Return Of Black Adam Is Muddled By Superman's Presence

Released In 2010

Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam Director Joaquim Dos Santos Release Date November 16, 2010 Writers Michael Jelenic Runtime 22 minutes

One of many DC Showcases that sought to team Superman up with other prominent DC characters, Superman/Shazam: Return of Black Adam sees Superman stepping into the ring with the magical side of DC's mythology. Taking on Black Adam alongside the adolescent hero Billy Batson long before the DCEU tried their hand at both concepts, the 2010 film is commendable for the spotlight it sheds on what was then a lesser-known DC hero. However, the lack of confidence DC had in the success of a solo Shazam/Black Adam film is painfully obvious due to Superman's shoehorned-in inclusion.

Despite his voice actor getting top billing, Superman/Shazam: Return of Black Adam is very much not a Superman film, with the Man of Steel being more of a supporting character. Instead, the events of the film function more as an origin story of Billy Batson's Captain Marvel, back when he was still allowed to be referred to as such, and Black Adam. While a great Shazam movie, Superman's awkwardly wedged-in presence appears at the detriment to both his own character and a story that very clearly didn't need to have him in it.

10 Superman/Batman: Apocalypse Was A Disappointing Follow-Up

Released In 2010

Continuing the events of Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse further develops the relationship of DC's two most famous heroes with a healthy dose of Darkseid. Peppering Supergirl, Wonder Woman and Big Barda alongside the big two, the film is more of a crossover event than a standalone Superman film, as the grand cosmic stakes of Darkseid's threat are reiterated. Kevin Conroy as Batman is once again a welcome pairing with Tim Daly's Superman, making the film worth watching for their vocal chemistry alone.

As great a job as the film does at portraying Superman and Batman's buddy cop relationship, it certainly has its failings. The plot is incredibly busy, squeezing in entirely too many moving parts in a single animated film. While this might be a conceit of the comic story the film is adapting, it doesn't make for a graceful animated translation. The fight scenes are excellent, but cringeworthy moments like Supergirl's makeover montage hold the film back. For all of Superman/Batman: Apocalypse's ambition, 12-minute Green Arrow animated short packaged with the film manages to outdo it.

9 Superman/Batman: Public Enemies Is A Fun Buddy Underdog Story

Released In 2009

Debuting the previous year, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies is the superior film in the brief duology containing it and Superman/Batman: Apocalypse. With narrower stakes and a tighter focus, the film describes Lex Luthor's advantageous political maneuvering in the wake of an economic depression and a world-ending meteor, as well as the debut of his own cadre of government-backed superheroes. It's up to Superman and Batman, the only two heroes not to fall for Luthor's wiles, to stop the meteor and save Superman's public perception.

Pressure-forging Superman and Batman's bond by having them as the only two heroes outside the system privy to Luthor's true goals is an incredibly smart gambit that allows the duo to play off one another in a fantastic way. Granted, their fantastic bond is muddled by an avalanche of cameos by other DC characters, eager to reap the rewards of diehard fans' name recognition. The animation also isn't as strong as other Superman projects, even if it does convey a clever story that features the best of Superman and Batman playing off of one another's strengths and personalities.

8 All-Star Superman Adapts One Of The Most Impactful Superman Stories

Released In 2011

All-Star Superman Director Sam Liu Release Date February 22, 2011 Cast Christina Hendricks , Matthew Gray Gubler , Linda Cardellini , Edward Asner , Arnold Vosloo , Anthony LaPaglia Runtime 75 minutes

Just like the comic, the story revolves around Superman's fate following a lethal dosage of solar radiation that drastically improves his powers at the cost of acting like a terminal disease.

Named after the same Superman comic that inspired James Gunn's upcoming Superman, All-Star Superman is when the Man of Steel's animated films start to become truly great. Just like the comic, the story revolves around Superman's fate following a lethal dosage of solar radiation that drastically improves his powers at the cost of acting like a terminal disease. This compelling premise isn't necessarily the easiest or most bombastic DC story to adapt, but as the last project of the great writer Dwayne McDuffie, known for Ben Ten: Alien Force and Static Shock, All-Star Superman was in great hands.

Beyond successfully adapting a heady and philosophical Superman story that a lesser cartoonist could easily fumble, All-Star Superman boasts some breathtaking art courtesy of Warner Bros. Animation. Admittedly, the plot suffers from the same comic-accurate overload of ideas as Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, and some key changes to Superman's choices put his characterization in the film in jeopardy. However, seeing All-Star Superman put earnestly into motion is special enough to be worth praise.

7 Batman And Superman: Battle Of The Super Sons Is Surprisingly Well-Done

Released In 2022

Despite the mouthful of a title, Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons manages to prove that DC animation hasn't lost their step in recent years. Focusing on the next generation of Superman and Batman's legacy, Jonathan Kent and Damian Wayne, the film is a dual-pronged coming of age story detailing two sons' struggle to live up to their fathers' heroic legacies against the backdrop of the alien threat of Starro. In truth, Jon and Damian are the stars of the show, with both Superman and Batman taking a backseat to their sons' struggle.

The pairing of the naive Jon and the edgy Damian slowly gaining respect for one another is a dynamic that works, and the films' vision of Starro is nearly more menacing than James Gunn's depiction of the creature in The Suicide Squad. The CGI animation divided audiences on a matter of preference, and the tone of the film can be somewhat inconsistent, but neither element is too distracting to disrupt the efficacy of the core duo's arcs. Delivering on both emotional and action fronts, Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons is better than it may seem at first glance.

6 Reign Of The Supermen Explores The Importance Of Clark Kent

Released In 2019

Releasing shortly after companion film The Death of Superman, Reign of the Superman explores a variety of copycat heroes attempting to fill the void of Superman's absence following his death at the hands of Doomsday. Candidates include the cloned Kryptonian Superboy, the self-made hero Steel, the duplicitous cyborg Superman, and the mysterious Eradicator. All the would-be Supermen vie for supremacy as the world, especially Lois Lane, grapples with the loss of the real deal.

Each of the various Supermen are able to have their own moments to shine, with clearly-defined motives and personalities, even if Superboy's father-son dynamics with Lex Luthor steal the show. The failings of each figure proves how Clark Kent is the necessary beating heart of the Superman persona, dedicated to justice even when depowered, as the movie is happy to show off. Somehow, Reign of the Supermen is still overshadowed by its senior film, and struggles to balance a buzzer-beater Darkseid appearance towards the end.

5 The Death Of Superman Did Doomsday Better

Released In 2018

While both the first animated film to undertake Superman's death and the DCEU's disastrous Doomsday appearance fell short of the promise of the iconic storyline, The Death of Superman did far more justice to the comic of the same name. This time around, Doomsday feels like a truly Earth-shaking threat, nearly killing Wonder Woman with his first appearance. The actual battle with Superman and the beast actually is given far more room to breathe, as well, rather than being crammed into the first act.

Yet the relationship between Superman and Lois Lane is given just as much weight as the monstrous Doomsday, the film not afraid to center the emotional fallout on Lois' complicated relationship with Clark Kent. In this version of events, the Kyrptonian's death actually feels like a tremendous absence opening up in the world. Having him go out attempting to save his worst enemy, Lex Luthor, only further proves the film's understanding of Superman's character.

4 Superman: Red Son Provides A Fascinating Alternate History

Released In 2020

By the modern age, the novelty of an evil Superman has more than worn off, with shows like Invincible and The Boys thriving on the idea. However, Superman: Red Son maintains intrigue with the idea of a Superman that isn't necessarily evil, but holds values differing from the traditional American ideals baked into most versions of the Man of Steel. Superman: Red Son explores a world in which Superman's vessel crashed in the Soviet Union rather than Kansas, utterly re-shaping world events due to Superman's new Russian identity.

if nothing else, the film's striking animation and clever ideas of worldbuilding keep things interesting, with Superman's role expanding far beyond the bounds of Soviet control. The question of nature vs nurture makes for a fascinating exploration of the Kents' true influence on Clark, and the film's often brutal tone helps sell the bleak reality of a Soviet Superman. As great as it is, the movie's legacy is somewhat tarnished by a frosty Russian reception, which largely objected to the film's portrayal of the culture.

3 Superman: Man of Tomorrow Began A Whole New Universe

Released In 2020

Superman: Man of Tomorrow Director Chris Palmer Release Date August 23, 2020 Cast Alexandra Daddario , Ryan Hurst , Darren Criss , Bellamy Young , Zachary Quinto , Brett Dalton Runtime 86 minutes

Kicking off the Tomorrowverse series of films, which gets its title from Superman: Man of Tomorow, this new interpretation of an animated Superman stuck with audiences for good reason. With a bold new art direction evocative of Silver Age comics, the film walks audiences through a Superman story featuring the earliest days of Clark Kent's career as the Man of Steel, including appearances of Lex Luthor and lesser-known villain, Parasite. The beloved anti-hero Lobo also gets a welcome role as a supporting character.

Despite a stuffed cast and plot, Superman: Man of Tomorrow is shockingly balanced, instantly familiarizing audiences with a new universe with room to grow while telling its own worthy story. Charmingly simple and perhaps a little cheesy, Superman: Man of Tomorrow settles for crafting a solid Superman adventure to springboard the latest animated DC continuity off of, not getting as caught up in overblown stakes or gratuitous religious iconography as other Superman adaptations. The fantastic freshman performance of the Tomorrowverse's cast also deserves special mention.

2 Superman: Unbound Is Refreshingly Straightforward

Released In 2013

Superman Unbound Director James Tucker Release Date May 7, 2013 Cast Diedrich Bader , Alexander Gould , Stana Katic , Stephen Root , Melissa Disney , John Noble , Molly C. Quinn , Wade Williams , Frances Conroy , Will Yun Lee , Matt Bomer , Sirena Irwin

Another animated Superman film to center on Brainiac as the big bad, Superman: Unbound is one of the cleanest Superman movies in terms of moving parts. Whereas most animated ventures seem allergic to letting Superman shoulder his own story, the 2013 animated film keeps things within the Super-Family, with only Supergirl as his sole heroic ally. The film centers on the struggle for the last Kryptonian city of Kandor, an important location from the comics that usually only gets love in the films as a mere cameo.

Superman's love for Earth and relentless optimism is given plenty of room to breathe in his fight against the insidious Brainiac, without unnecessary extra villains or superfluous Justice League members needing to get involved. The fight choreography is also visually stunning, suiting Matt Bomer's stellar voice acting. A better adaptation of the Superman: Brainiac comic than its fellow animated film of the same name, Superman: Unbound is a simple, but effective story that could be considered the definitive animated Superman film experience.

1 Superman Vs The Elite Is A Thought-Provoking Superman Story

Released In 2012

Based on the little-known comic What's So Funny About Truth, Justice, & the American Way?, Superman vs. the Elite manages to surmise all that and more with a perfectly-paced Superman story. One of the only animated films to allow Superman to carry a story without backup heroes, the story unveils the sinister intentions of the titular "hero" team, The Elite, who are willing to wantonly kill in the name of peace. Despite sharing a goal, the methods of the group come into contact with Superman's unbreakable morals, leading to a spectacular battle.

The Elite are a great set of villains for Superman to face on his own, with a wide variety of powers that each require a unique response. The film demonstrates one of the best cinematic representations of Superman ever by exemplifying his will to go above and beyond when it comes to avoiding taking a life, in contrast to The Elite's cheap views of morality and dangerous involvement on the world stage. Even if the animation falls a little short, the strength of the narrative and thought-provoking themes makes Superman vs. the Elite a standout Superman animation.