It's A Bird! It's A Plane! Superman Movies, Ranked By Box Office Receipts

Quick Links

• Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (1987)

• Superman III (1983)

• Superman II (1980)

• Superman (1978)

• Superman Returns (2006)

• Man Of Steel (2013)

• Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016)

Highlights

• Superman movies have generated over $2.41 billion in total box office revenue to date.
• Various Superman movies saw shifts in tone and production quality over time.
• Superman IV showcased Christopher Reeve's portrayal amid production challenges.

Superman has been a staple of popular culture for over eight decades.

From his explosive debut in comic books to radio series, television shows, and blockbuster movies, he has built a strong audience worldwide and become synonymous with truth, justice, and the American way.

Though the quality of Superman films has varied throughout the years, the franchise consistently delivers blockbuster-level box office returns.

Some iterations have broken records, while others struggled to connect with audiences.

To date, there have been about seven theatrically released Superman films, all of which have generated a combined box office haul of $2.41 billion.

The character's portrayal in DC films has evolved over the years, highlighting changes in audience expectations and filmmaking technology.

As anticipation builds for a new era of DC Studios, excitement surrounds the upcoming Superman reboot film, titled Superman.

The film, penned and directed by James Gunn and set for release on July 11th, 2025, has already made headlines, with the casting of David Corenswet as the iconic hero.

This fresh start for the franchise invites a look back at some of the highest-grossing Superman movies to date.

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7 Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (1987)

Global Box Office, Superman IV: The Quest For Peace - $30,281,020

Marking Christopher Reeve's swan song as Superman, Superman IV tackled the politically charged issue of nuclear disarmament during the Cold War.

Though the execution was flawed, the ambition to address a real-world threat remains noteworthy.

Reeve's performance in Superman IV was imbued with a sense of urgency and idealism, reflecting his personal investment in the film's message.

The production budget of Superman IV was notably constrained, leading to compromises in special effects and production values that did not go unnoticed.

Critics and fans expressed disappointment, highlighting the film's inconsistencies and visual shortcomings. The film opened to $5.6 million in North America, a sum that underscored the franchise's waning appeal at the time.

In North America, it garnered a modest $15.6 million, supplemented by an additional $14.6 million from other territories, culminating in a global total of approximately $30.3 million.

This was a stark contrast to the astronomical figures of its predecessors, particularly the 1978 original, which had higher earnings.

6 Superman III (1983)

Global Box Office, Superman III - $80,250,623

Christopher Reeve's Superman faced a unique villain in Superman III: a wacky plot laced with synthetic kryptonite.

This comedic shift, spearheaded by the hilarious Richard Pryor, divided audiences. Although some embraced the lighter tone, others missed the more serious Superman of the previous films.

Reeve's portrayal of Superman continued to be a high point, praised for maintaining the character's integrity amid the film's shift towards a lighter, more whimsical tone.

Superman III grossed $60 million at the United States box office and $20.2 million internationally, for a total of $80.2 million worldwide.

Though these figures marked a downturn from the earlier films, the movie still succeeded in recouping its $39 million production budget.

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5 Superman II (1980)

Global Box Office, Superman II - $216,385,706

Building on the box office success of the first film, Superman II delivered a double dose of action and heart.

Superman II, in many ways, exceeded the expectations set by the original movie. The film was heralded for its compelling blend of action, romance, and humor, elements woven into the story's fabric.

Critics and audiences praised Reeve's performance, which was complemented by impressive visual effects that set new benchmarks for the superhero genre. In North America alone, Superman II grossed $108.2 million.

Its international appeal was equally strong, earning an additional $82.2 million, bringing its global total to $216.4 million, a stellar achievement against its $54 million production budget.

4 Superman (1978)

Global Box Office, Superman - $300,478,449

Superman marked a defining moment in superhero cinema and set a benchmark for all that followed.

The film's groundbreaking visual effects, from the crystalline grandeur of Krypton to Lois Lane's gravity-defying helicopter rescue, sparked imaginations worldwide.

Superman dazzled audiences with its innovative use of special effects, which allowed Reeve's Superman to convincingly fly, a feat that had seemed nearly impossible until then.

The film established the superhero genre as a serious part of mainstream cinema and demonstrated the vast, untapped potential for comic book adaptations.

The film's production budget of $55 million was the largest of its time, a testament to its grand scale and vision. The fervor for Superman spread like wildfire, with an estimated 120 million people flocking to theaters for its 1978 debut.

Superman went on to gross $134.5 million in the United States and Canada and $166 million internationally, totaling $300.5 million worldwide.

When adjusted for inflation, the film's earnings translated to an impressive $589 million.

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3 Superman Returns (2006)

Global Box Office, Superman Returns - $391,081,192

After a nearly two-decade hiatus, Superman swooped back onto the big screen, carrying the weight of his legacy.

Brandon Routh donned the cape, seeking to capture the spirit of Christopher Reeve while imbuing the character with a touch of modern melancholy.

Directed by Bryan Singer, Superman Returns aimed for a nostalgic grandeur, paying homage to its predecessors while grappling with Superman's place in a changed world.

Set against a production budget of approximately $204 million, Superman Returns sought to blend the grandeur of Superman's heroics with a deeply personal storyline, exploring his return to Earth after a mysterious absence.

The film was a visual spectacle, boasting state-of-the-art effects and grandiose set pieces. Superman Returns received generally positive reviews from critics, but was criticized for its screenplay and runtime.

Superman Returns scored $200.1 million in North America and $191 million in other markets, earning $391.1 million worldwide.

Warner Bros. was disappointed with the worldwide box office return, and canceled a sequel set for release in 2009.

2 Man Of Steel (2013)

Global Box Office, Man Of Steel - $670,145,518

Man Of Steel heralded the birth of the DC Extended Universe and, with it, a darker, more brooding Superman.

Henry Cavill donned the cape, his intensity mirroring the film's gritty tone. Man Of Steel confronted the raw, destructive power an alien on Earth might possess.

Visual spectacle reached new heights, with city-shaking battles that left audiences breathless. Yet, it was Cavill's vulnerability beneath the invulnerability that sparked debate.

The film distinguished itself with high-octane action sequences, although it faced mixed reviews from critics who were divided over its darker tone and departure from traditional Superman themes.

Man Of Steel grossed $291 million in the United States and Canada and $377 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $668 million, making it the highest-grossing solo Superman film of all time.

Deadline Hollywood reported that Man Of Steel made a net profit of $42.7 million, when factoring together all expenses and revenues.

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1 Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice (2016)

Global Box Office, Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice - $874,362,803

Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice was the first time Batman and Superman shared the silver screen.

As a sequel to Man Of Steel and the second installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), Dawn Of Justice broadened its scope and set the stage for future ensemble superhero films.

Directed by Zack Snyder, this epic crossover confronts two of the most iconic superheroes in a dramatic clash that reshapes their worlds.

Witnessing these characters share the screen for the first time proved irresistible, propelling the movie to impressive box office numbers — it remains the top-grossing Superman movie to date.

After a record-breaking opening weekend that brought in $166 million in the United States and Canada, the film experienced a historic decline in its second weekend and failed to regain its initial momentum.

Dawn Of Justice grossed $330.4 million in North America and $543.3 million in other territories, for a total of $873.6 million worldwide.

However, these numbers are misleading, considering the polarized reactions the movie elicited.

Despite being the highest-grossing film featuring Superman in a leading role, Batman V. Superman was met with substantial criticism from reviewers.

Deadline Hollywood estimated that Dawn Of Justice scored a net profit of $105.7 million when factoring together all expenses and revenues for the film.

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