The Superman film series is a set of several live-action feature film adaptations of the DC Comics superhero Superman, produced by Warner Bros. between 1978 and 2006.
While not the first theatrical adaptations (that would be the 1948 Superman Film Serial with Kirk Alyn), the series, and its first film in particular, ushered in a new era of blockbusters where comic book heroes could be taken seriously, combining the verisimilitude of director Richard Donner, the instant charisma of Christopher Reeve in the title role, and a memorable score and main theme by John Williams.
The series' fortunes after the big hit that was the 1978 film varied, mostly because of Executive Meddling, Troubled Productions, Creative Differences, smaller budgets, Reeve's crippling accident and a spinoff and a 2006 unreboot/homage that didn't pan out (though, about the latter, Brandon Routh returned as Superman for a Multiverse Crisis Crossover in 2019). Superman formally underwent a Continuity Reboot on film in 2013 with the DC Extended Universe, which started with Man of Steel.
See also the Batman film series, for the other major DC Comics superhero's first modern blockbusters.
Films and extended franchise:
Films:
- Superman: The Movie (1978)
- Superman II (1980)note
- Superman III (1983)
- Supergirl (1984)
- Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
- Superman Returns (2006)
Comics:
Television:
- Krypton (2018-2019)note
- Crisis on Infinite Earths (2019)note
