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Summary
Supermanhas plump up against many villains over the form of his cinematic career , with some cultivate better than others as genuine threats to Metropolis and the world . Though perhaps not as numerous or wide-ranging as Batman ’s scallywag gallery , Superman still has a colorful cast of nemeses in the original DC Comics that have provided film with plenty of inspiration . AcrossSuperman ’s 10 picture show , he has battle a various array of villains with varying degrees of cinematic value , some of them act as as a cracking menace to the bill boy DC hero than others .
Finding an opposer capable of going toe - to - toe against Superman is a difficult endeavor , but the plastic film have pull off to find many villains who fit the notice , such as Doomsday and General Zod . Of course , being the most iconic bane of the hero ’s world , Lex Luthor ’s more manipulative Einstein maneuver have also gotten their fair share of flatware screen representation . Every live - action reading of Supermanhas had to confront his own unique challenges , but not all of these villains have allow for a long-lasting critical stamp .
Superman is the first entry in James Gunn ’s much anticipated new DCU , and here is everything we sleep together from cast to story and outlet date .
10Nuclear Man Was An Original Creation For Superman IV
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
Cast
For Christopher Reeve ’s final time wearing the notable Superman cape , Superman IV : The Quest for Peacemade the bizarre conclusion to nether region Superman against a wholly original baddie , Mark Pillow ’s savage Nuclear Man . Somehow mutate out of Superman ’s DNA when display to a combining of solar and atomic radiation sickness , Nuclear Man had ferocious king capable of nearly taking down the Man of Steel . alas , his ridiculous outfit , paper - thin origin taradiddle , and dreadful ADR dub by Gene Hackman all contributed to dragging down the final Christopher Reeve Superman film into the annals of funny book moving-picture show infamy .
Nuclear Man had ferocious baron capable of nigh accept down the Man of Steel .
9Doomsday Was Rushed
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Of the manyfailings ofBatman v Superman : Dawn of Justice , foreshorten one of Superman ’s most terrifying villains into aLord of the Ringsbackground plus was one of the most rank . FumblingTheDeath of Supermanstory by wring it into the already crowded third human action of the film did Doomsday no favors , and his stock fantasy ogre appearance was a pale caricature of the fabled monster ’s design from the comics . Still , at least Doomsday can take to have been one of the few villain to pour down Superman on - screen , something Nuclear Man could only woolgather of .
8Ross Webster Is Too Similar To Another Superman Villain
Superman III (1983)
Having already sport Lex Luthor heavily by this point in the original Christopher Reeve run of Superman movies , Ross Webster was a similar corporate slimeball rife with nefarious program to corner the energy market . Webster spend most of his covert time inSuperman IIImanipulating Richard Pryor ’s Gus Gorman into using his intellect to manufacture disasters his troupe could capitalize on . Robert Vaughn ’s performance as Webster was certainly serviceable , buthe was n’t an especially memorable villain , feel like a exculpated placeholder for Lex Luthor . He was also made less intimidating by being so reliant on lackeys to pursue his program .
7Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor Tried Something New
project Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor forthe DCEU filmswas a bold scheme that did n’t go uncriticized , and Eisenberg ’s performance inBatman v Superman : Dawn of Justiceultimately validated buff ' concerns . Rather than being the unruffled , magnetic manipulator Luthor is known as , Eisenberg ’s Lex was more of a neurotic millennial , with rummy mannerisms and annoying speeches that betrayed Eisenberg ’s acting ability . This version of Lex definitely had the voltage to rise into the " traditional " Luthor audience were athirst to see , but the DCEU hang asunder before Eisenberg ’s character could evolve .
6Steppenwolf Was Improved In The Snyder Cut
Justice League (2017), Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
The original personification of Steppenwolf in 2017’sJustice Leaguewas as generic of a supervillain as they come , a bare opening deed for Darkseid ’s incoming into the DCEU . However , inZack Snyder ’s Justice League , the character was cave in an intriguing redesign and an real personality , prove off his sensitive side and zealous desire to please his master copy so as to atone for his retiring unsuccessful person . While physically imposing and commanding a human beings - threatening army of Parademons , the disconnection in quality between Steppenwolf ’s two movie iteration average him out among the middle of Superman ’s cinematic villains .
Steppenwolf ’s two movie iterations average out him out among the middle of Superman ’s cinematic villain .
5Kevin Spacey’s Lex Luthor Pays Homage To Hackman
Superman Returns (2006)
seek to meet Gene Hackman ’s shoes as Lex Luthor was no leisurely task , but Kevin Spacey ’s unclouded - shaved conniving capitalist was as perfect of a casting selection asSuperman Returnscould’ve hoped for . Like many of Kevin Spacey ’s characters , Lex Luthor ’s simmering callousness and bursts of explosive anger suited the doer well , even if his performance was clearly color by an imitation of Hackman at metre . More than anything else , Spacey ’s own controversial bequest acidulate his portrayal , stop him from the prerogative of being among thebest player to play Lex Luthor .
4Evil Superman Is An Interesting Twist
The real nefarious gem ofSuperman III ’s in use plot of ground , Evil Superman , was created when Clark Kent had a neural partitioning , manifesting a version of himself harboring Superman ’s dark side . Thoughthe construct of an malevolent Supermanhas become a tired trope in late years , at the time , the land - breaking idea was one of the best parts ofSuperman III . see Christopher Reeve unveil a young side of his acting range as the dastardly dark reflection of Kal - El was a delicacy that do and run far too presently .
3Michael Shannon’s General Zod Is Among The DCEU’s Best
Man of Steel (2013), The Flash (2023)
The 2nd actor to body forth the world - conquering zeal of the Kryptonian General Zod , Michael Shannon gave a world - class performance that went underappreciated in mirthful book motion-picture show villain history . Knowing when to overplay it up and when to tone things down , Shannon ’s Zod was a scheming tactician with no clemency in his heart for human being , forcing Henry Cavill ’s Superman to make a decision that would go on to obsess him for the rest of the DCEU . Seeing his return key in 2023’sThe Flashwas one of the best parts of the otherwise disappointing plastic film .
Man of Steel ’s most controversial scene ask Superman belt down General Zod , something that DC author are as part on as moviegoers .
2Terence Stamp’s General Zod Defined The Character For Many
Superman II (1981)
As large as Michael Shannon ’s Zod was , there ’s no disputing that the character would n’t be nearly as popular as a DC scoundrel if it were n’t for Terence Stamp ’s original take on the character . Stamp ’s deliciously campy concealment presence conveyed instant authority , withhis command for Earth to " Kneel before Zod ! " still being an iconic line over 40 year after . Compared to Shannon , Stamp ’s Zod also managed to number across as an actual extraterrestrial , commenting on Earth ’s strange customs and technology with astonishingly hilarious comedic timing .
1Gene Hackman’s Lex Luthor Remains Iconic
Superman (1978)
Even if Gene Hackman ’s Lex Luthor did n’t start off as the most comic - precise depiction of the villain , no other Superman moving-picture show antagonist has been capable to retake his artistry as a foil to Superman that shows off the worst tone of mankind . Despite initially not shaving his headland for the use , Hackman give the part the gravitas it deserved , play Lex Luthor as a serious menace within the campy franchise . With a roll of minions of varying usefulness and a flamboyant wardrobe that needs to be seen to be believed , Hackman ’s Lex Luthor is undeniably the single greatestSupermanvillain .
