OrderToWatch

Superman watch order

Superman movies in order, release and chronological. Updated October 20, 2026.

Watch the Christopher Reeve films in order from Superman (1978); Superman Returns (2006) is a sequel to Superman II that ignores the third and fourth films. Lois & Clark, Smallville and Superman & Lois each stand alone.

How to watch the Superman movies in order: the full guide

All 11 films and series in the Superman franchise, in release order and in chronological (story) order. The first in release order is Superman and the Mole Men (1951); the first in chronological order is Superman and the Mole Men (set in 1951).

Release order

  1. Superman and the Mole Men (Movie, 1951): George Reeves' first outing as Superman; optional.
  2. Adventures of Superman (Series, 1952): The 1950s TV series with George Reeves.
  3. Superman (Movie, 1978): Christopher Reeve's classic; the place to start.
  4. Superman II (Movie, 1980): Zod and the Phantom Zone villains.
  5. Superman III (Movie, 1983): Richard Pryor co-stars; lighter.
  6. Supergirl (Movie, 1984): A spin-off in the Reeve continuity; optional.
  7. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (Movie, 1987): Reeve's last outing.
  8. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (Series, 1993): A 1990s romance-first series.
  9. Smallville (Series, 2001): Clark Kent's journey before the cape, over ten seasons.
  10. Superman Returns (Movie, 2006): A sequel to Superman II that ignores III and IV.
  11. Superman & Lois (Series, 2021): Clark and Lois as parents.

Chronological order

  1. Superman and the Mole Men (set in 1951): George Reeves' first outing as Superman; optional.
  2. Adventures of Superman (set in Metropolis): The 1950s TV series with George Reeves.
  3. Superman (set in Krypton & Metropolis): Christopher Reeve's classic; the place to start.
  4. Superman II (set in Metropolis): Zod and the Phantom Zone villains.
  5. Superman III (set in Metropolis): Richard Pryor co-stars; lighter.
  6. Supergirl (set in Argo City & Earth): A spin-off in the Reeve continuity; optional.
  7. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (set in Metropolis): Reeve's last outing.
  8. Superman Returns (set in Five years after Superman II): A sequel to Superman II that ignores III and IV.
  9. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (set in Metropolis): A 1990s romance-first series.
  10. Smallville (set in Smallville): Clark Kent's journey before the cape, over ten seasons.
  11. Superman & Lois (set in Smallville): Clark and Lois as parents.

Common questions

What order should I watch the Superman movies in?

Watch the Christopher Reeve films in order from Superman (1978); Superman Returns (2006) is a sequel to Superman II that ignores the third and fourth films. Lois & Clark, Smallville and Superman & Lois each stand alone.

How many Superman movies and shows are there?

There are 11 titles in the Superman franchise: 7 films and 4 series, released from 1951 to 2021.

How long does it take to watch all the Superman movies?

About 314 hours for all 11 titles, counting every episode. The essentials only (9 titles) take about 311 hours.

What is the first Superman title in chronological order?

Superman and the Mole Men, set in 1951. In release order the first is Superman and the Mole Men (1951).

Which Superman titles can I skip?

Superman and the Mole Men and Supergirl. They are spin-offs, side stories or non-canon entries; the main story holds without them.