Since its launch in 2013, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) has struggled to match the roaring success of its biggest competitor, the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite a few standout moments, the franchise has been plagued by inconsistency, creative overhauls, and numerous box office bombs.

Now, Superman is flying back onto the big screen in what's being touted as a soft reboot of the DCEU. Whether this new chapter will succeed remains to be seen. The Man of Steel's cinematic outings – within the DCEU and beyond – have been a rollercoaster of hits and misses.

As James Gunn's new movie hits cinemas across the world, we’ve ranked every Superman film since Richard Donner’s 1978 classic by box office gross, adjusted for inflation. Read on to explore the highs and lows of the franchise and discover which movie tops the pile.

All dollar amounts in US dollars.

The lowest-grossing entry in our round-up is Supergirl (1984). Directed by Jeannot Szwarc and starring Helen Slater in the titular role, the film marked the character’s first-ever on-screen appearance.

While the cinematic debut of DC’s iconic hero seemed like a guaranteed hit, the film flopped. Panned for its cheesy acting and subpar special effects, Supergirl earned two Razzie nominations – annual parody awards that 'honour' the worst films of the year.

Domestically in the US, it earned just $14.3 million (the equivalent of $44m/£33m in today's money) against a budget of $35 million ($108m/£80m today). Worldwide box office figures aren't unavailable, so exactly how much money the film lost is unclear. However, given the overwhelmingly negative reception, the ill-fated flick almost certainly stands as the franchise’s biggest failure.

Directed by Sidney J. Furie, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) was the fourth entry in the Christopher Reeve–led series. Rather than soar to success, the movie flopped so badly that it effectively killed the entire franchise, with plans for a fifth outing scrapped.

Scathing reviews slammed everything from the plot to the cheap special effects, with the film receiving two Razzie nominations. Even star Christopher Reeve had nothing positive to say, writing in his memoir: "Superman IV was a catastrophe from start to finish. That failure was a huge blow to my career".

The film earned a pitiful $36.7 million worldwide (around $104m/£77m today) against a production budget of $17 million ($48m/£36m today). However, when factoring in additional costs such as marketing and distribution, it’s likely the movie lost money.

Superman III (1983) saw Christopher Reeve return as the Caped Kryptonian for a third outing, while Richard Lester directed for the second time.

Yet another entry in the franchise to bomb critically, the film received two Razzie nominations. Both critics and audiences were unimpressed by the cringeworthy acting and lacklustre musical score.

Despite the negative reviews, Superman III was a modest box office success, grossing $80.2 million (approximately $258m/£191m today) against an estimated production budget of $39 million (around $126m/£93m today). However, when factoring in marketing and distribution costs, it's unclear whether the film ultimately turned much of a profit.

After a 19-year hiatus, the superhero franchise flew back onto the big screen with Superman Returns (2006). The film starred Brandon Routh as Clark Kent and Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane, while Bryan Singer directed.

Superman Returns premiered to a mixed critical reception. Visually, the film was lauded, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects. However, some of the performances were panned, with Bosworth receiving a Razzie nomination for Worst Supporting Actress.

At the global box office it pulled in $391 million – or around $622 million (£460m) when inflation-adjusted – against a production budget of $232 million ($369m/£273m today). Despite being the ninth highest-grossing film of the year, Warner Bros. deemed it a disappointment, and plans for a sequel were scrapped. 

The blockbuster sequel Superman II (1981) marked Christopher Reeve’s second outing as the beloved hero, while Richard Lester took over as director, although not without controversy. The movie was originally helmed by Richard Donner, who had completed most of the filming before being replaced due to creative differences with producers.

Despite the behind-the-scenes drama, Superman II was a hit and earned praise for its memorable performances. On online review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a strong critic score of 83% and an audience score of 76%.

Globally, it earned $190 million (around $672m/£498m today) against a production budget of $54 million ($191m/£141m today). In 2006, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut was released, featuring previously unused footage. However, it was launched on home media rather than in cinemas, so its financial performance is unknown.

DC launched its DC Extended Universe (DCEU) with the release of Man of Steel in 2013 (more on that soon). The fifth movie in the DCEU was Justice League (2017), a blockbuster superhero team-up featuring the likes of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.

Justice League was plagued by production issues. Director Zack Snyder stepped down during post-production due to a family tragedy and was replaced by Joss Whedon, who oversaw extensive reshoots. The movie received a mixed critical response and holds a critic score of just 39% on Rotten Tomatoes, though the general audience score is more positive at 67%.

The film grossed nearly $656 million globally (approximately $858m/£636m today) against a production budget of $300 million (around $393m/£291m today). While not a total flop, it underperformed significantly.

In 2021, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, a director's cut restoring Snyder’s original vision, was released on HBO Max. It received a more favourable reception from both fans and critics.

As mentioned, the DC Extended Universe officially began with the release of Man of Steel (2013). The blockbuster movie starred Henry Cavill in his debut as Superman, with Zack Snyder directing.

The DCEU got off to an epic start, as the inaugural film grossed $668 million worldwide against a production budget of $225 million. When adjusted for inflation, that’s a gross of approximately $920 million (£680m) against a budget of $310 million (£230m). 

The film was a critical hit as well, holding a 57% critic score and a 75% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Cavill’s performance in particular garnered praise, and he won the MTV Movie Award for Best Hero, defeating competition from Marvel heroes Iron Man and Thor, played by Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Hemsworth, respectively.

The DCEU’s second offering was Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), the first-ever live-action film to feature the beloved heroes together. Henry Cavill returned as Superman, while Ben Affleck took on the role of Batman, with Zack Snyder once again directing.

Superhero fans flocked to theatres, with the movie grossing $872 million worldwide – a sensational $1.2 billion (£890m) in today's money – against a production budget of $263 million (around $352m/£260m today).

Despite its stellar box office performance, the movie tanked critically. Reviewers and audiences alike slammed the overly dark tone and convoluted plot. It received four Razzie Awards, including Worst Screenplay and Worst Screen Combo for Cavill and Affleck, along with four additional nominations. 

Superman (1978) marked Christopher Reeve’s first venture as the iconic Man of Steel, with Richard Donner directing.

The film was a smash hit, grossing $300 million against a production budget of $55 million. In today's money, that’s a heroic $1.5 billion (£1.1bn) against a budget of $271 million (£200m), cementing its status as the highest-grossing entry in the franchise.

A critical darling as well, Superman won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and earned three additional nominations: Best Film Editing, Best Sound, and Best Original Score. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a stellar 93% critic score and an 86% audience rating.

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