The Last Son of Krypton, the Man of Steel, the original superhero. Superman has been a part of the very fabric of pop-culture since he first arrived on the comic book scene in 1938 when he truly made people believe that a man could fly. It's no surprise that the awe, the wonder, and the hope that the DC Comics legend has inspired has lasted through the generations, entertaining audiences and readers around the world for almost a century.
We say "audiences" because, yes, the Man of Tomorrow has transcended his genre to become a movie legend, a TV legend, an animated legend, and a video game legend. There are so many fields that the hero has become a part of over the years (and so many more that we haven't mentioned) that it's hard to imagine what they all looked like without him. But that's just another clear example of the legacy that Supes has amassed over the years.
He's more relevant today than ever, as his enduring message of Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow is more important - and necessary - than it has ever been. And he's constantly been on our screens to remind us of that in recent years, from Tyler Hoechlin's four-season stint on Superman and Lois to David Corenswet's new take on the character in James Gunn's Superman - the first installment in the new DC Universe.
Speaking of the Man of Steel's on-screen legacy, let's take this opportunity to revisit the legendary superhero's cinematic and TV showdowns and deduce who played him the best? Is Christopher Reeve's timeless portrayal still the greatest of all time, or has Corenswet's DCU hero taken the crown? Let's rank the Men of Steel and find out.
Note: While many actors have voiced Superman in animated TV shows, movies and video games, this list will feature all of the live-action adaptations and the one animated adaptation that transcended its genre.
13. Nicolas Cage
Appeared in: The Flash (2023 movie cameo appearance)
It’s hard to believe that a star the level of Nicolas Cage was once attached to a Superman movie that never came to pass. How does that casting come to fruition only for the movie to never come to fruition? Well, the Kevin Smith-penned Superman Lives that was set to be directed by Tim Burton for a 1998 release ultimately didn’t happen because of studio interference.
Nevertheless, it’s become a huge focal point of Superman conversations as images of Cage in the Superman suit have made their way around the internet, treating fans to a what could have been. But that “what could have been” eventually became something of a reality as Cage appeared as the Man of Steel via a CGI de-aged cameo in The Flash in 2023.
Cage did do the motion capture and apparently suited up for the role as well, and questionable CGI aside, he certainly looked the part as the Man of Steel. And seeing him get to play the role for all of a few seconds was worth it – we just wish we got to see what he was really like as the character in Superman Lives.
We can’t rank the cameo any higher, but since he’s got such an incredible presence as an actor, we have a feeling he could have been much higher on this list if Superman Lives hit theaters in the ’90s.
12. John Haymes Newton
Appeared in: Superboy (season 1)
Superboy might refer to Conner Kent (the clone of Superman and Lex Luthor who becomes one of DC’s young superheroes) today, but back in 1988, it was simply young Superman. That’s where Superboy came in, as the syndicated TV series was essentially what Smallville would do better over a decade later; a show that spotlighted Clark Kent’s early days as a hero with superpowers.
Newcomer John Haymes Newton played the role in the first season, and he had a pretty hard time making the show look good. And you can’t really blame him, because the first season was not good. The special effects were poor, the dialogue bad, and it was corny without much of the heart that made Superman, well, Superman.
Newton certainly looked the part as the young Man of Steel, with his good looks and he did offer up some of that Clark Kent charm. Unfortunately, it just didn’t all come together in that first season as the whole thing was very rough. A new direction would be taken for the second that would see some improvement. Newton would not be around to benefit from that improvement as he was recast in the role after the season 1 finale.
11. Kirk Alyn
Appeared in: Superman (1948), Atom Man vs. Superman (1950)
Kirk Alyn has gone down in history for being the very first actor to ever bring Superman to life in live-action on any screen. A singer and dancer on vaudeville prior to his screen days, he starred in the 1948 movie serial Superman and the 1950 sequel Atom Man vs. Superman. While the low quality production values of the time haven’t aged well, Alyn did very well with what he was given, establishing that Superman could transcend the comic books he was born in and make his way to the silver screen.
We also must commend the actor for portraying the two different sides of Kal-El, with differing performances as Clark Kent and Superman – something that would become pivotal to the character’s future in live-action.
Alyn would reportedly turn down the chance to reprise the role in the 1950s TV series Adventures of Superman (which would be played by George Reeves) but his contributions to the legacy of the Man of Steel were not forgotten, as he played Sam Lane (the father of Lois Lane) in 1978’s game-changing Superman: The Movie. His own Lois Lane, Noel Neill, would join him as Lois’ mother in the scene.
10. Gerard Christopher
Appeared in: Superboy (seasons 2 – 4)
After Superboy‘s first season was, well, not very well-received, the show underwent a complete overhaul that saw a change in its direction. While comic book fans certainly noticed some of those changes, they were visible to everyone simply because the Boy of Steel himself had been recast.
Gerard Christopher stepped into the role from the second season onwards, replacing John Haymes Newton as the young Clark Kent and his heroic alter-ego. He fared better in the role than his predecessor but that could be down to the fact that he had stronger material to work with. The show’s new direction meant that it had become much more comic-accurate, allowing us to meet many of Superman’s enemies from the source material. By the time the show concluded, it was essentially a Superman show, and that probably played into how it ultimately managed to run for four seasons after such a shaky start.
Christopher’s performance was a large part of that improvement though as he led the series well. Even though Superboy wasn’t cutting edge or particularly great, he was very convincing in the role as he oversaw Clark’s growth into Superman. He looked the part and acted it well, and so it’s no surprise that he then landed the same role in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (before the producers discovered he had already played the role and went with Dean Cain).
9. Dean Cain
Appeared in: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Superman might be a regular of the silver screen, but one thing about the Man of Steel is that he has enjoyed an even more successful run on television. One of the greatest examples of that is the classic ’90s TV series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.
What made the show different from previous iterations was how it balanced Clark’s personal and professional lives at the Daily Planet with his adventures as Superman, meaning that his relationship with Lois Lane was the most important part of the series. To say Dean Cain had to do something never seen on-screen before would be an understatement, but he pulled it off very well.
His performance as Clark Kent was charming, as was his Superman, but there was a subtle distinction between the two that really made the show work. And his chemistry with co-star Teri Hatcher was undoubtedly the best thing about the show.
After the iconic Superman movie franchise’s poor third and fourth offerings, the Man of Steel was on a big screen hiatus. Thankfully, it was time for a new generation-defining Superman to take over, and he made himself right at home on our TV screens for four super years. While not all of it has aged well, and we could have had a bit more super to that Superman, this outing was an important and pivotal part of the Man of Steel’s on-screen legacy.
8. Tim Daly
Appeared in: Superman: The Animated Series
While we’ve only included the actors to play Superman in live-action on this list up until now, it would be wrong of us to go on without appreciating the performance of Tim Daily in Superman: The Animated Series. The often underappreciated spinoff of Emmy-winning juggernaut Batman: The Animated Series , this classic show ran from 1996 until 2000 and it was part of the iconic DC Animated Universe.
Daly provided the voicework for Clark Kent and his heroic alter-ego, and he really helped shape the idea of what a modern Man of Steel should sound like. Gone were the days of bellowing voiceover and movie-star accents, and in its place was a gentle, reassuring, and soft-spoken hero. As the series showcased the beginnings of Superman, it was important that those around him, including Lois Lane, as well as those watching at home, could understand that he wasn’t a threat. He really was there to do good, and Daly’s gentle, nuanced performance went a long way in capturing that.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to reprise his role for Justice League and Justice League Unlimited (likely due to his work on the series The Fugitive at the time), but his successor George Newburn was a worthy one, channelling Daly’s beloved performance while also approaching it from a more authoritative angle, which worked perfectly now that the character was one of the leaders of the Justice League.
7. Henry Cavill
Appeared in: Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Black Adam
Henry Cavill was tasked with launching a brand new Superman franchise when he headlined 2013’s Man of Steel. This was a post-Dark Knight world, where many superhero origin stories were trying to follow the Batman movie’s example and offer up more serious and grounded stories, and Cavill certainly delivered in the role, updating the Man of Steel for a modern generation while also giving us the beginnings of the triumphant hero we were familiar with.
Unfortunately, the DC Extended Universe would drop the ball with follow-up installments, with tonal inconsistencies and grim scripts preventing Cavill from following through on Kal-El’s evolution. Instead of the hopeful hero bringing light to the darker DCEU, we were given a Superman that also struggled under all that darkness.
Superman does have the weight of the world on his shoulders, but the thing about him is that he’s supposed to remain a hopeful, positive symbol through all of that. While we always appreciate seeing the more human side to him that struggles with that balance (see: Superman and Lois), the DCEU failed to get the balance right. It looked like Zack Snyder’s Justice League might finally set him on the right path, but Warner Bros.’ refusal to acknowledge that movie as canon created a huge roadblock. And that robbed Henry Cavill of the heroic Man of Steel sequel we all wanted to see.
Just like the controversy over his exit from the DCEU, the fault here lies with the powers that be. Cavill had all the makings of an excellent Superman and did a great job with the material he was given, but he deserved so much better.
6. Brandon Routh
Appeared in: Superman Returns, Crisis On Infinite Earths (Arrowverse crossover)
Brandon Routh got his big career break when he was cast as the title character in 2006’s Superman Returns. The movie was technically a sequel to the Christopher Reeve film series, but also a reboot of sorts that was supposed to launch its own chapter within the franchise. And from that sentence alone, it’s clear that were was a lot of pressure on it to succeed.
History hasn’t been kind to the movie, but we shouldn’t overlook Routh’s performance as the Man of Steel. It’s a tough task to play any role that once belonged to someone else (let alone one so beloved) but he did a great job, giving us a Kal-El that felt young and seasoned at the same time. While the stars just didn’t align as much as we hoped they would for Superman Returns, the fault did not lie with Routh as much as it did with its solid-but-not-particularly-great script.
He would get the chance to prove that years later when he reprised the role in the Arrowverse’s Crisis On Infinite Earths crossover event, playing a veteran version of Clark inspired by the Kingdom Come iteration of Superman from the comics. From the incredible outfit (that he pulled off to perfection), to the gritty performance he delivered, it was Routh’s moment to shine with stronger material, and he excelled at it; proving just how exceptional of a Superman he could truly be.
5. George Reeves
Appeared in: Adventures of Superman
We’ve talked a bit about Superman’s success on television, and it all began with the 1950s TV series Adventures of Superman. George Reeves would put on the House of El symbol for this one and for decades after that, he would be considered by many to be the definitive portrayal of the Man of Steel, and if you’ve seen the program, it’s easy to see why.
While Reeves’ versions of Clark Kent and Superman weren’t all that different from one another, he played the role in a way that captured that nobility that the character is known for. As Superman, he embodied what the hero was all about, portraying him as a kind, gentle hero who wasn’t afraid to teach those around him (even the viewers) a few important lessons along the way. As Clark, he would do the same, albeit with a little more humor as he protected his secret identity when around others.
The show evolved a lot throughout its six-season run, straying from its darker roots when it began filming in color and getting sillier in the process, causing some frustration among comic book fans. In spite of that, and the limitations of television at the time, Reeves delivered a hearty performance incredibly comic-accurate for the time, personifying the Man of Steel for a whole generation.
4. Tom Welling
Appeared in: Smallville, Crisis On Infinite Earths (Arrowverse crossover)
The turn of the century saw a new wave of television geared towards teens, and this would prove to be a pivotal part of the Man of Steel’s small screen success as it paved the way for the era-defining Smallville. Superboy may have shown us Clark Kent’s younger years already but what made Smallville stand out is how, like many dramas of the time, it leaned into the teen element of its concept far more than it did the superhero element. That made it accessible to a wider audience, and it proved to be incredibly effective from a storytelling standpoint as well.
Front and center was Tom Welling, who portrayed the young Man of Steel as he navigated his way through the most treacherous of environments: Smallville High School. Not only would he have to learn more about his powers and where he came from, he would have to do that while being madly in love with Lana Lang, forming an unlikely friendship with Lex Luthor, and using his abilities to protect the town of Smallville from evildoers.
The Clark Kent and Superman personas did not exist at this point in Clark’s life; only the teenager who would become both, but Welling expertly balanced characteristics of both as he brought the young superhero to life. There was an earnestness in his performance that made it easy to root for Clark, the slightly awkward farmboy who felt like an outsider before he knew was from a different planet, but there was also a determination that made it clear Clark was destined for heroism right from the start.
Smallville might have been about Clark’s journey to becoming Superman, but by the end of the show’s 10-season run, we knew the Man of Steel well; putting on the cape was just a formality at that point. And Welling’s committed performance was the reason for that, as he produced the most nuanced and layered version of Clark Kent that we had ever seen – one that felt, well, human.
3. David Corenswet
Appeared in: Superman (2025)
When Ben Platt's character told David Corenswet that he looked like Superman in The Politician, we couldn't have predicted that he would actually go on to play Superman. But in one of the most unique cases of Hollywood irony, that's exactly what happened as Corenswet was cast as the Man of Steel in James Gunn's new DC Universe just a few years later. It was a move that would bring to life one of the biggest fan-castings of all time, and it was a move that paid off in spades.
After much anticipation, Corenswet made his debut as the Man of Tomorrow in James Gunn's Superman. This is the first movie in Gunn and Peter Safran's new DC Universe franchise, so there was a lot of pressure on him to succeed. To say he pulled it off would be a super understatement.
There's a gentle charm in Corenswet's performance that is just so natural to him; it's what both Clark Kent and Superman should be and it's not the kind of thing that can be manufcatured. Just as Christopher Reeve did years before him, he found a way to maintain that charm through both of the personalities of the character while also ensuring that they are each different in their own way. As Clark Kent, he's reserved, dorky, and kind of adorable, while as Superman he is assured, confident, and steadfast in his approach.
It's the blend that is so necessary for the success of the character and yet so hard to get right. But Corenswet nails it. There is a scene in the movie - which first made its presence felt in the film's second trailer - where Clark is being interviewed by Lois Lane (but as Superman). The moment that Lois switches the recorder on, Corenswet's whole demeanor changes as the uptight, sheepish Clark disappears as he sits forward with confidence, simply saying "Ms. Lane" in that beautifully-accurate Superman voice. No words can describe how good Corenswet is in the role better than that scene. From that moment on it was clear: Superman had arrived.
There is no doubt about it: David Corenswet could be on his way to becoming the definitive Superman of this generation.
2. Christopher Reeve
Appeared in: Superman: The Movie, Superman II, Superman III, Superman IV: The Quest For Peace
It’s truly impossible to imagine where Superman would be without Christopher Reeve. The beloved actor stepped up to play the Man of Steel in what many consider to be the first modern superhero film in 1978’s Superman: The Movie and instantly etched his place in the comic book genre’s history.
Kindness, heart, triumph, integrity; qualities that come to mind when you think of Superman, and Reeve had them all, delivering a performance so incredible it looked and felt like the Man of Steel had just stepped out of a comic book and onto the big screen. And he merged it all with the “golly gee!” dorkiness that Clark Kent is renowned for, gifting us with the two sides of the same coin we had never quite seen before. It’s honestly no wonder why he returned for three sequels after the timeless Richard Donner movie’s success.
Though the third and fourth movies in the franchise paled in comparison to the first two, Reeve remained a touch of class in both of them, with his performance being the only good thing about the notoriously poor Superman IV.
A lot of the great actors on this list have earned the title of “definitive Superman” to many people, but none are more deserving than Christopher Reeve; the man who made Superman a legend all over again, and his endearing performance will never be forgotten.
1. Tyler Hoechlin
Appeared in: Superman and Lois, Supergirl, The Flash, Arrow, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Batwoman
Tyler Hoechlin joined the cast of Supergirl in 2016 and instantly proved any naysayers wrong when he brought a triumphantly comic-accurate Superman to life. He was strong, joyous, heartfelt, and even had that cheesy toothy grin that the Man of Steel is renowned for – the perfect antidote to the DCEU’s unnecessarily grim iteration. The script didn’t always do him justice in later appearances but Hoechlin’s portrayal was a breath of fresh air.
But it wasn’t until he led offshoot Superman and Lois that he truly got a chance to shine. The show is different from previous adaptations of the character as it shows us how a veteran Superman struggles to balance being the world’s greatest hero with being a parent to teenage sons, husband to Lois, and part of the Smallville community, showcasing layers of the character that we don’t often see.
Clark Kent can be serious and emotional, but Hoechlin balances that well with an endearing performance that conveys all of the qualities that makes Clark, well, Clark. And that’s where he shines best, gifting us a Clark Kent that is assured and heartfelt as a husband and father, but also still a complete dork – the nuances of which Hoechlin manages to bring to life with ease.
Tyler Hoechlin was a surprise to many as Superman, but he showed us all what he was capable of with a hero that can be corny and triumphant like the classic Man of Steel, and also deeply layered like his more modern counterpart. And that makes him the best Superman of this current generation, and indeed of all time.