On Friday, we asked our readers to pick their favorite live-action Superman film, after the new Superman movie from James Gunn just entered production. The results at the tippy top were not very surprising, but there were a few surprises a little further down the chain.
Surprising almost no one, Superman, the original Christopher Reeve film, cleaned up with 44.8% of the vote. Watching the movie recently, I was struck by how considered every single choice is. Yes, the ending is weird and nonsensical, but when you consider how this was an attempt to do as ‘classic’ a Superman story as possible, it all works. Reversing the Earth’s rotation to go back in time is such a comics idea, especially in order to save Lois.
Equally unsurprising was Superman II coming in second (24.1%). This film is sometimes placed ahead of Superman, but it’s a classic case of higher highs but lower lows, and those lows can’t all be blamed on the director shift from Richard Donner to Richard Lester, though some of the sin falls at his feet. What’s surprising is that the Donner Cut didn’t receive a single vote.
Here’s where things get spicy: In third place, just narrowly behind Superman II with 20.7% was Man of Steel. Now, I’m not arguing that there are too many Superman films that are clearly, head and shoulders better than Man of Steel, but that movie was pretty universally shit on when it came out, so it’s surprising to see anyone but the most ardent Snyder freaks voting for it.
And, for the most fun result of all, fourth place, with 10.3% is Superman III, my childhood favorite Superman film and the one that feels the most like a mediocre comic of any Superman film ever made. And, since most comics are mediocre, it might be the most comics-accurate film of all time. It’s just so goofy, and yet when the [spoiler alert] evil sister gets sucked into the computer, it is still legitimately scary.
Pop back on Friday for the next Reader Poll!
