All Superman Actors Ranked from Worst to Best

The first American superhero, Superman is a fan favorite and has been depicted in multiple movies, TV shows, and of course, comic books. Now, since Superman has been on screen for such a long time, several actors have taken on the red and blue costume to bring to fans their versions of the character. However, not all of them could be good. So, let’s take a look at all Superman actors who have played the role and we’ve ranked them from worst to best!

8. Dean Cain

Dean Cain appeared on screen as Clark Kent/Superman in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, released in 1993. However, there was a massive downside to this show. The New Adventures of Superman focused primarily on the relationship of Lois and Clark Kent with rather less screentime given to the “Adventures of Superman”.

The arc of the budding romance between Lois and Clark is pretty well done but Superman is not given the same treatment and is more like a side character in a show titled after him. So, for obvious reasons, his adaptation of Superman has been ranked the lowest in this list of Superman actors.

7. Kirk Alyn

Kirk Alyn was the first person to play Superman on screen in 1948. He donned the suit of Superman on-screen courtesy of Columbia Pictures, who hired him for his dancing expertise so he could jump over cameras to create the effect of him flying into action.

His mannerisms made him a perfect Clark Kent, however, he was not built like Superman and the suit did not fit him well. On top of that people had complaints regarding the scriptwriting of the show which gradually diminished the popularity of Kirk Alyn’s Superman.

6. Tom Welling

Now when it comes to Tom Welling, he is technically Superman, but also isn’t. While Smallville was a story of Superman, Tom never got to wear the suit nor did he ever get the name of Superman. Througout the series, he was Clark Kent and even though he never took up the persona of Superman, he did well when it came to playing Clark Kent.

However, in later seasons of Smallville, the series started using elements from Superman and comic storylines without once using the character. Tom deserves appreciation for the way he acted out Clark but he is ranked low simply because his potential was underutilized.

5. Brandon Routh

Brandon Routh is one actor to adapt Superman for whom I feel bad. He appeared in Superman Returns, a continuation of the original Superman films starring Christopher Reeves but also ignored everything after Superman 2. Christopher Reeves sadly passed away a couple of years before the release of this film which also impacted how people received Brandon Routh, who was essentially replacing Reeves in the franchise.

The main reason Brandon was cast as Clark Kent was his striking resemblance to Reeves but as it turns out, he was not just a look-alike but also a wonderful actor who held his own as both Superman and Clark Kent. However, the script of the movie was flawed, the timeline was not well defined, and overall, the creative part of the movie sucked which in turn, impacted how people received Brandon in the role.

Anyone who is a fan of the character will agree that Brandon Routh did a fantastic job as Superman even after being under the massive pressure of living up to Christopher Reeves. However, Brandon got his chance to redeem himself with his fantastic performance as Superman in “Crisis on Infinite Earths” set in CW’s Arrowverse.

4. George Reeves

George Reeves took up the mantle of Superman in 1952 with Adventures of Superman. His adaptation of the character is considered one of the best ones of that era. His popularity as Superman actor is rooted majorly in his appearance which looks strikingly similar to the comic book version of the hero in that time.

He was buff and fit perfectly into the costume, unlike his colleague Superman actor Kirk Alyn. Moreover, his version of Clark Kent was also portrayed as clever and confident very much like in the comics. However, his life and career were both cut short by his controversial death by a gunshot in 1959. The official cause of death was cited to be suicide but still, a large majority of people believe that he was murdered.

3. Henry Cavill

Probably one of the most loved adaptations of Superman was brought to us by Henry Cavill in Man of Steel. A Part of the DCEU, Henry Cavill’s Superman was very different from what we have seen previously. This version of Superman was much darker and more serious as compared to the optimistic tone of Superman generally carried in comic books and Christopher Reeves’ live-action movies.

Henry Cavill as Superman actor was perfect in almost every aspect of this Superman movie. His physique, appearance, perfect dynamic of a gentle giant. However, brooding personality and Superman are not meant to go together. The human side of Superman and his goodness is a defining factor of the character but the one created by Zack Snyder lacked the soft side to an extent which in turn, became a factor to be disliked by a vast section of people.

2. Tyler Hoechlin

Tyler Hoechlin is the newest in the long line of actors who have played Superman on screen. He took up the character in Superman and Lois and without taking much time, became one of the best recent adaptations of the Man of Steel. In my opinion, Tyler Hoechlin is the best of both the worlds Superman represents. You can visibly see that he is trying his best to be a good person for his family as well as a force to be reckoned with for all those who are a danger to Earth and its people.

Tyler brings in the best qualities of Cavill as well as Christopher Reeve’s Superman which makes him the best recent live-action Superman actors in my opinion.

1. Christopher Reeve

The man, the myth, the legend, none other than Christopher Reeves as Superman deserves to be at the top of this list of best Superman actors. Reeves is to date considered the best adaptation of Superman for his perfect physique, charm, and above all, his mannerisms. If you look at his version of Clark Kent, he seems to be a harmless reporter but you would not want to be on bad terms with him. On the other hand, when he put on the suit it seemed as if Superman stepped out of the pages of comic books itself with his unparalleled charm and optimism.

After the accident that disabled him, Reeves might have stepped out of the suit but embodied Superman till his very end. He and his wife dedicated their lives to the greater good and the name Christopher Reeves became a symbol of hope forever.

So, with that, we have reached the end of this list. Next, we’ll wait for David Corenswet’s Superman in the new DCU. In the comments, do let us know what you think about it and who is the Superman actor you like the most.