Watch the Christopher Reeve Superman movies in release order: Superman (1978), Superman II (1980), Superman III (1983) and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987). Supergirl (1984) shares the world but not the story and is optional.
- Titles
- 5
- Films
- 5
- Watch time
- 10 hours
- Box office
- $648 million
- Avg IMDb
- 5.5
Christopher Reeve Superman movies in release order
Here is every Christopher Reeve Superman title in the order it came out, 1978 to 1987: 5 films. Optional entries are marked; you can skip them on a first watch.
| # | Title | Year | Type | Runtime | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Superman | 1978 | Film | 2h 24m | 7.4 |
| 2 | Superman II | 1980 | Film | 2h 7m | 6.8 |
| 3 | Superman III | 1983 | Film | 2h 5m | 5 |
| 4 | Supergirl optional | 1984 | Film | 2h 4m | 4.4 |
| 5 | Superman IV: The Quest for Peace | 1987 | Film | 1h 30m | 3.8 |
Release or chronological: which order is best?
For Christopher Reeve Superman, release order and story order are the same thing: every film picks up after the one before it. There is no prequel to slot in early and no flashback to reshuffle, so the list above is the only order you need.
Where to start
Start with Superman and go in release order, skipping the 1 optional titles on the first pass.
The essentials are 4 titles and about 8 hours, 20% less than the full run.
The three highest rated: Superman (7.4), Superman II (6.8), and Superman III (5).
Every Christopher Reeve Superman movie, explained
One entry per title in release order: what it is about, why it matters to the bigger story, who is in it and how it did.
No. 01 · 1978 · Film · 2h 24m
Superman
Mild-mannered Clark Kent works as a reporter at the Daily Planet alongside his crush, Lois Lane. Clark must summon his superhero alter-ego when the nefarious Lex Luthor launches a plan to take over the world.
Why it matters: Christopher Reeve's classic; the place to start.
- Starring
- Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, and Gene Hackman
- Director
- Richard Donner
- Box office
- $300 million on a $55 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 7.4 · Rotten Tomatoes 87%
No. 02 · 1980 · Film · 2h 7m
Superman II
Three Kryptonian criminals led by General Zod team up with Lex Luthor to conquer Earth, forcing a depowered Superman to regain his strength and stop them.
Why it matters: Zod and the Phantom Zone villains.
- Starring
- Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, and Terence Stamp
- Director
- Richard Lester
- Box office
- $216 million on a $54 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.8 · Rotten Tomatoes 88%
No. 03 · 1983 · Film · 2h 5m
Superman III
Aiming to defeat the Man of Steel, wealthy executive Ross Webster hires bumbling but brilliant Gus Gorman to develop synthetic kryptonite, which yields some unexpected psychological effects. Between rekindling romance with his high school sweetheart and saving himself, Superman must contend with a powerful supercomputer.
Why it matters: Richard Pryor co-stars; lighter.
- Starring
- Christopher Reeve, Richard Pryor, and Annette O'Toole
- Director
- Richard Lester
- Box office
- $80 million on a $39 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5 · Rotten Tomatoes 31%
No. 04 · 1984 · Film · 2h 4m · optional
Supergirl
After losing a powerful orb, Kara, Superman's cousin, comes to Earth to retrieve it and instead finds herself up against a wicked witch.
Why it matters: A spin-off in the Reeve continuity; optional.
- Starring
- Helen Slater, Faye Dunaway, and Peter O'Toole
- Director
- Jeannot Szwarc
- Box office
- $14 million on a $35 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 4.4 · Rotten Tomatoes 19%
No. 05 · 1987 · Film · 1h 30m
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
With global superpowers engaged in an increasingly hostile arms race, Superman leads a crusade to rid the world of nuclear weapons. But Lex Luthor, recently sprung from jail, is declaring war on the Man of Steel and his quest to save the planet. Using a strand of Superman's hair, Luthor synthesizes a powerful ally known as Nuclear Man and ignites an epic battle spanning Earth and space.
Why it matters: Reeve's last outing.
- Starring
- Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, and Gene Hackman
- Director
- Sidney J. Furie
- Box office
- $37 million on a $17 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 3.8 · Rotten Tomatoes 17%
Christopher Reeve Superman box office and budgets
The 5 Christopher Reeve Superman films with reported numbers have grossed $648 million worldwide on about $200 million in combined budgets, roughly 3.2 times what they cost. The biggest is Superman at $300 million, 46% of the franchise's total on its own, followed by Superman II ($216 million) and Superman III ($80 million).
Measured against what it cost, the best return belongs to Superman, which made 5.5 times its $55 million budget. The weakest was Supergirl at 41% of its $35 million budget. As a rule of thumb, a film needs about two and a half times its budget at the box office to cover marketing and the theaters' cut.
The best and worst rated Christopher Reeve Superman movies
Across 5 rated titles, Christopher Reeve Superman averages 5.5 on IMDb. The top of the list is Superman at 7.4, then Superman II (6.8) and Superman III (5). At the bottom: Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (3.8) and Supergirl (4.4).
- Superman7.4 · RT 87%
- Superman II6.8 · RT 88%
- Superman III5 · RT 31%
- Supergirl4.4 · RT 19%
- Superman IV: The Quest for Peace3.8 · RT 17%
Who appears in the most Christopher Reeve Superman movies
Christopher Reeve leads with 4 appearances as Superman and Clark Kent, ahead of Margot Kidder (4) and Jackie Cooper (4). Counted from each title's top-billed cast.
| Actor | Role | Titles | First and latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Reeve | Superman / Clark Kent | 4 | Superman (1978) to Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) |
| Margot Kidder | Lois Lane | 4 | Superman (1978) to Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) |
| Jackie Cooper | Perry White | 4 | Superman (1978) to Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) |
| Gene Hackman | Lex Luthor | 3 | Superman (1978) to Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) |
| Marc McClure | Jimmy Olsen | 3 | Superman III (1983) to Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) |
| Ned Beatty | Otis | 2 | Superman (1978) to Superman II (1980) |
| Jack O'Halloran | Non | 2 | Superman (1978) to Superman II (1980) |
| Valerie Perrine | Eve Teschmacher | 2 | Superman (1978) to Superman II (1980) |
| Terence Stamp | General Zod | 2 | Superman (1978) to Superman II (1980) |
Christopher Reeve Superman directors and creators
4 filmmakers have directed or created Christopher Reeve Superman; Richard Lester has the most, with 2.
- Richard LesterSuperman II (1980) and Superman III (1983)
- Richard DonnerSuperman (1978)
- Jeannot SzwarcSupergirl (1984)
- Sidney J. FurieSuperman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
How long it takes to watch every Christopher Reeve Superman movie
All 5 titles add up to 10 hours. That is about 6 two-hour evenings, or 2 days of ten-hour binges. The essentials cut it to 8 hours. The longest film is Superman at 2h 24m.
The 4 best rated films: Superman, Superman II, Superman III, and Supergirl.
Everything takes about 2 weeks; the essentials about 9 days.
Track what you've watched on the timeline and it counts the hours left.
Which Christopher Reeve Superman movies can you skip?
1 title can go without losing the main story. They are side stories, spin-offs or entries the later films ignore. Dropping them saves 2 hours.
- Supergirl1984 · Film · 2h 4m · optionalA spin-off in the Reeve continuity; optional.
Common questions
What order should I watch the Christopher Reeve Superman movies in?
Watch the Christopher Reeve Superman movies in release order: Superman (1978), Superman II (1980), Superman III (1983) and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987). Supergirl (1984) shares the world but not the story and is optional.
How many Christopher Reeve Superman movies and shows are there?
There are 5 titles in the Christopher Reeve Superman franchise: 5 films and 0 series, released from 1978 to 1987.
How long does it take to watch all the Christopher Reeve Superman movies?
About 10 hours for all 5 titles, counting every episode. The essentials only (4 titles) take about 8 hours.
What is the first Christopher Reeve Superman title in chronological order?
Superman, set in Krypton & Metropolis. In release order the first is Superman (1978).
Which Christopher Reeve Superman titles can I skip?
Supergirl. They are spin-offs, side stories or non-canon entries; the main story holds without them.
What is the best Christopher Reeve Superman movie?
By IMDb score, Superman (1978) at 7.4, followed by Superman II at 6.8.
What is the highest-grossing Christopher Reeve Superman movie?
Superman (1978), with $300 million worldwide. Christopher Reeve Superman films have made $648 million in total.
Who has appeared in the most Christopher Reeve Superman movies?
Christopher Reeve, in 4 of them as Superman.
What is the longest Christopher Reeve Superman movie?
Superman, at 2h 24m.
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