Which film had your favorite Superman portrayal/performance?

[The Batman]

Keep in mind that your favorite performance isn't necessarily your favorite film. For example, you could hate STM as film, but love Reeve's performance in it.

 

[Boy Scout]

SII. Superman's arc in that movie - and Reeve's portrayal of it - always stuck with me.

 

[The Batman]

I'm probably gonna go with STM. I think Reeve's performance in that film is still one of, if not the best superhero performance of all time. I like how in STM, both Superman and Clark are treated as an anachronistic. They're both a bit too pure to fit in 1970's Metropolis.

 

[The Joker]

It's close between the first two Superman movies, but I went with SII. His emotional scenes with Lois give it the edge for me. Plus the face offs with General Zod are fantastic.

Reeve is the defining Superman performance.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

I went with STM. Some of his powers in SII (especially in the Lester Cut) are really goofy and there were some issues with the subplot where he gives up his powers. In particular, I didn't like the scene at the end where he goes back to the diner to cripple the guy.

 

[Fincher]

Superman II, then Man of Steel.

 

[Lantern Venom]

I've always respected the gravitas that Cavill brought to Man of Steel.

 

[Xrated48]

Superman II

 

[Greens]

Superman IV

The part where he assures people that the subway is save to ride is beautiful.

 

[Batmannerism]

I really like Henry Cavill as Superman, I loved Man of Steel - but I rewatched Superman the Movie a couple of times after Man of Steel came out and there's no comparison. I believe that if somebody wrote a half decent story for Cavill and gave him some actual lines, he'd be great. A serious Superman could work (plenty of DC's best Superman stories portray him as a very serious character e.g. Kingdom Come), but he needs a well-written story and a director who actually understands the character. Sadly, he's used as a prop more than anything else. So, he's number two.

And as for number one. Well, who else could it be ?
Christopher Reeve is the closest anyone's come to capturing everything that I believed Superman was about - sadly a couple of his films were garbage, but he was still amazing, so much so that he was the only good thing about
Superman III and Superman IV (other than the idea - that Superman would get involved in nuclear disarmament, now that's gold).

Also, Superman the movie has the worst deus ex machina ending of all time - but still Reeve manages to sell it. While Donner was a good director, he had the all-time best ever casting choice to work with.

The only good bit in Superman III is where Superman fights himself, and only Reeve could have pulled that off.

And of course, that last moment in each of Reeve's Superman films, as he flies off into the sunrise, where he smiles at the audience.....well that gets me every time, and now, nearly 40 years after I saw it as a child, it takes me straight back to seeing that film as an 8 year old, and walking out feeling like
I could fly.

BTW I love the title/question of the thread because it uses the word "favorite" it's straight up about opinion, not an invitation for debate but just a chance to sound off about our preferred option.

 

[Cobblepot]

MOS, when Supes destroyed that World Engine it took everything out of him.

 

[Erzengel]

Superman asking Zod to step outside is my favorite.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Reeve just nailed the role immediately too. Even in his screen test, which was later inserted into the Donner Cut, he was perfect.

 

[Cobblepot]

Nah that screentest was with another actress as Lois. They just played out the interview scene.

 

[halo10]

(Christopher reeves)

Superman the movie –the memorable emotional moment where we felt the agony and pain of Superman’s loss from the apparent death of Lois Lane, through C. Reeves’ facial expression – one of the biggest emotional moments in all of the superhero films of all time, IMO.

Superman 2: I've loved the relationship impact it had on me with Lois/Superman … how he risked and sacrifice being the world savior to be with woman he loved. how he cried in anguish for his father's help amend the mistake of being a mere mortal and asking him return him to Supey to face/battle his biggest enemies. With each Clark and Lois with quotes …. " just say you love me" ……

As ancient and corny as the love- line may seem to nowadays Superman, the emotional content and character development of the later Superman movies ( Man of Steel, Superman Returns ) doesn’t come close in comparison to the Christopher Reeves’ first versions of Superman films.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Nah that screentest was with another actress as Lois. They just played out the interview scene.

I stand corrected. I thought it was cut with material from Reeve's and Kidder's screentests. Anyways, it shows he had it nailed really early. He didn't have to grow into the role.

 

[Kyle]

Misread poll. Best Superman - Reeves. Best Clark Kent - Cavill; it's the most realistic.

 

[Superchan]

Misread poll. Best Superman - Reeves. Best Clark Kent - Cavill; it's the most realistic.

Do you mean George Reeves or Christopher Reeve (no S)?

I voted STM as it is the best superman IMO but I have to give a shout out to superman and the mole men, which was a cheap backdoor pilot for the adventures of superman but the story is about superman standing up for the little guy (figuratively and literally) and the film captured the spirit of superman better than any of the recent so called superman films.

 

[Kyle]

Reeve

 

[AnneFan]

Superman II.

 

[Batmannerism]

Reeve just nailed the role immediately too. Even in his screen test, which was later inserted into the Donner Cut, he was perfect.

Yeah, if ever there was someone who was "born to play..." a role then it was Reeve for Superman.

Still, I like that there are a few votes for MOS, because while Reeve has been the best Superman so far, IMO, that doesn't mean
he should be the only Superman ever - the role has to move on with the times, and I liked what Cavill did in MOS, shame about
B v S, which I see as one of the worst Superman movies (not performance wise but characterization and story, ugh ! )

 

[AnneFan]

Superman II's Superman has a lot to offer. He's trying to maintain his secret identity, which is fun. And when the act falls away, he embraces his humanity and becomes a mortal, quickly learning as long as he has power, it has to be used to help humanity. But he's also something of a badass, "would you care to step outside?", and I like him getting revenge in the diner. He uses his smarts to outwit Zod, and is patriotic in flying back the American flag to the president. The arc he goes through is significant and satisfying. And the Theatrical is my preference.

 

[Peyton Westlake]

I think Cavill did an admirable job in Man Of Steel.
He humanized him in a way that was believable & also made him fallible.
BvS did not show that but MoS did that very well.

 

[Doctor Octopus]

Reeve is best.