WEIRDO Ranks: Every Live-Action Superman Actor 🦸🏻‍♂️ (Part 5 of 5)
It’s a bird… It’s a plane… It’s SUPERMAN!
Numerous actors have donned the Man of Steel’s iconic red and blue tights in the 70+ years since Kirk Alyn first portrayed the character in the 1948 movie serial titled Superman. Every on-screen iteration of the Last Son of Krypton has provided something unique to the mythos. However, though every actor has done the character justice in their own way, it’s time to see who should come out on top.
This series seeks to provide my personal ranking of each live-action interpretation of the all-time most iconic superhero! I hope you all enjoy, and remember to hit that clap button as well as comment where you would rank each Superman actor on your personal list.
Disclaimer: There are three live-action outings that I either haven’t seen whatsoever or haven’t finished, and those are the Superman movie serials, Superman TV series/movie, and the Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman TV series in 1948, 1957, and 1993, respectively. Therefore, I have chosen to leave each respective Superman actor out of this particular ranking. Oh, and if you haven’t seen any of these projects, there could be minor spoilers ahead!
1. Henry Cavill (Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Zack Snyder’s Justice League)
“No one stays good in this world.”
Can you blame me? Not only does Henry Cavill play the best Superman on screen, he legit looks like he was ripped out of a comic book. Casted by Zack Snyder as Clark Kent/Superman in 2013's aptly titled Man of Steel, Cavill brought to the world a modern take on the Superman mythos. A masterpiece in its own right, the film boasts the privelage of having started the DCEU as we know it.
In his first outing, Cavill’s somber Superman took 33 years to finally embrace his destiny as a hero to the world. Due to Zack Snyder’s unique vision, the question was raised: What would really happen if a godlike alien grew up with human parents who pushed him to become his own man? Would the world embrace him with open arms… or fear him?
That particular question is what makes Cavill’s Superman so unique as he displays the authenticity of someone berated by the fallout of their first heroic venture. In Batman v Superman, Cavill pulls you into the character’s psyche as he acts as the world’s savior while simultaneously being mistrusted by its people.
While the tease of his reporter persona in Man of Steel was perfectly displayed pre-end credits, his Clark Kent in Dawn of Justice was immaculate. He actually investigates and reports on the Batman’s misdeeds, all while romancing the love of his life, Lois Lane. Not to mention he portrays a Midwestern charm that everyone could love.
In 2021, Zack Snyder’s Justice League was finally released, and H. Cavs was resurrected and given the opportunity to become Superman in full-force, smiling as he beats Steppenwolf’s a** in glorious fashion with the best suit he’s ever worn. Though his future in the role is unclear at the time of writing this, with the arrival of Black Adam this October, who knows if the Rock can finally make the fans’ dream a reality: bringing Henry Cavill back as the one true Man of Steel.
Well, there you have it folks — my official ranking of all five live-action Superman actors that I’ve seen. I hope you guys enjoyed the series, and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts as well. Keep on the lookout for future series like this, and as always, thank you for reading. See you next time!
