The newest take on Superman is about the hit the big screen. But longtime fans have their own favorite take on the character. If you would like to dive deep into the character and see multiple takes on him you are in luck. Unfortunately, it is not a simple task. When HBO MAX launched, fans thought that there would finally be one place to see all of the DC content in one place, in the same way Disney+ is essentially the home of Marvel content. But alas because of company philosophical shifts at WBD, every year we find that the dreaded fragmentation of content that plagues streaming has occurred. But I bring you good news. We did the hard part of tracking down all the Superman content we could think of and put it together in a handy guide for you. Enjoy
The DC Animated Universe
There are numerous Superman stories that fit under this category. The series of connected stories and Elseworld tales produced by Warner Bros. Animation has been almost universally loved by fans and critics. We say almost because there is always someone who wants to be unhappy. Highlights include Superman Red Son, Superman/Batman Public Enemies, The Death Of Superman and The Reign of the Supermen. You can catch these titles and much more on MAX.
The Super Friends
The Superfriends introduced a lot of non-comicbook fans to Superman and a number of DC heroes. It is still constantly referenced in modern interpretations of the character from the concept and design of the Justice League headquarters and name references in other media. Amazon Prime Video has the first 3 seasons free. The remaining seasons, 4-10, which have had multiple titles over time, are available for $1.99 per episode.
The Superman Movies starring Christopher Reeve
Christoper Reeve is still Superman to multiple generations of fans. At the moment, you can check out his full slate of movies on MAX. Though many will not accept anything past Superman 2. Superman 3 was played for laughs, and Superman 4, The Quest For Peace, was famously underfunded and panned. This led to an attempt to relaunch the series with Superman Returns, which was considered a sequel to Superman 2 and retconned 3 & 4 out of existence.
Superman Returns
If you want to see movies from separate eras as a trilogy, feel free to stream Superman Returns after Superman 1 & 2. Starring Brandon Routh, the movie was marketed as a sequel to Superman 1 & 2. Meant to launch a new series of movies, it ended up as a one-off of sorts. Not a terrible movie in any respect, it is just sort of an orphan as films go. It is available on MAX.
Classic Superman Cartoons (Max Fliesher)
The 17-chapter Max Fliesher cartoon serials are available in a number of places. Dependable sources include Fawesome TV, The Roku Channel, and Amazon Prime. You will find that each app arranges the multiple shorts differently. Some have each film short arranged individually, while others combine them into seasons, etc. It is all the same content, regardless.
Superman and Lois
Superman and Lois was born out of the 2000s era Supergirl series and CWs the Arrowverse, where a new version of Superman, played by Tyler Hoechlin gave fans a more sunny version of the character, harkening back to Christopher Reeve. The series had a short confusing life due to mergers, studio plans changing and cast changes. It’s still not a bad watch. The full series is available on MAX.
Smallville
Smallville introduced a reimagined and melodramatic take on Superman. Aimed at teenagers, the show is a tale of Clark growing up and gaining his powers overtime while navigating crushes, football season, before meeting a number of other titular DC characters. Can somebody save me from binge-watching the whole thing? It is often credited with paving the way to the later Arrowverse. The entire WB series is available via Hulu.
Lois and Clark
Lois and Clark was kind of a Superman romcom for primetime network TV. The show definitely has its fans though. The series made Dean Caine a household name and took Terry Hatcher to new heights. You can check it out on MAX.
Superman: The Animated Series
This Animated series from the Cartoon Network was loved by fans and critics. Growing from the success of Batman: The Animated Series it’s popularity allowed for the launch of The Cartoon Network’s Justice League series. All episodes stream on MAX.
Justice League & Justice League Unlimited
The Justice League and Justice League Unlimited introduced audiences to a much more grown-up, though still family-friendly, animated Justice League. It is the most loved version of the team ever made. While the DCU Justice League Movie has fierce arguments for and against, most consider the 2000s era series the definitive version of the characters. Justice League features a smaller core group of heroes, while Justice League Unlimited builds on the team with multiple lesser-known but compelling characters who owe their popularity to the show to this day. See it all on MAX.
The Adventures Of Superman
George Reeves classic 1950s series that brought Superman to the small screen for the first time can be found on Amazon. It is not part of Prime Video at the moment and costs $1.99 per episode.
My Adventures With Superman
A recent addition to the Superman mythos MAWS ran on the Cartoon Network and MAX, bringing a new animated take on Superman and many characters from his orbit. It is currently available on MAX.
DCEU Films (Snyderverse)
All of the DCEU films are available on MAX.
Man Of Steel
Henry Cavill stars in this more gritty take on Superman, where he kills enemies and is encouraged to let innocent kids die by his own father. Cavil was praised for his work on what became known as the Snyderverse, but the film failed to launch an enduring or universally loved universe.
The Justice League and Zack Snyder’s Justice League
The Justice League was supposed to launch the DCEU into orbit, but instead, it kind of killed the whole thing. The film was hit with reshoots due to a directorial change part of the way into the work, and then re-released at the behest of fans calling for the “Snyder Cut”. The two films differ in numerous ways, but are two sides of the same coin.
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice
This film was a sequel to Man of Steel and was meant to build anticipation to the later Justice League movie. It gave fans a chance to see an actual fight between the two most popular characters in their continuity. It also introduced Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman to audiences. While it was a big money maker, its poor reception helped lead to the uneven reception of The Justice League. Along with the theatrical cut of the movie, fans can also see the better-received “Ultimate Edition,” which cleans up a number of plot holes caused by cuts to keep its runtime lower.
