Month: July 2025

Top 15 Best DreamWorks Animation Movies (Updated w/The Bad Guys 2)

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Last year mark the 30th anniversary of when DreamWorks Pictures and DreamWorks Animation was first founded.

If you were ask me what major studio out there acts as major competition towards Disney, the answer you would likely get more times than not is DreamWorks. When comparing to two, it’s like comparing Marvel to DC. While the former have be more consistent in quality and have a lot more good movies under their belt, the latter on the other hand tends to have both higher highs and lower lows than their competition. However, when they nail a movie, they really, REALLY nail it!

While their inconsistent through their three decade long history is frustrating, there has been PLENTY of greatness to come from DreamWorks Animation throughout their history. And I decided to make a top 15 list to celebrate that greatness.

First off, here’s some honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions:

  • The Road To El Dorado

The Road of El Dorado deserved a much better reputation than it got back when it came out in 2000. This is basically Moana meets Uncharted meets The Mummy meets The Emperor’s New Groove. It’s got beautiful animation, fun main characters, plenty of witty humor and catch songs, and a charismatic voice cast to carry the entire picture through. It’s not the very best of the best from DreamWorks and does follow most of the “animated road trip movies” cliches to a T but this is still a very enjoyable animated film that deserves recognition.

  • Chicken Run

DreamWorks’s first ever stop-motion feature film is known more for it’s reputation as oppose to it’s quality but it’s quality is still quite good regardless. The animation, character, humor, and voice work are all good here if not a bit dated. Maybe it’s because it’s not a movie that I grew up with or have much nostalgia that’s holding it back from being in the main top 15 list but Chicken Run is certainly worth a spot on this list due to it being one of the first memorable works to come from DreamWorks Animation.

  • Shrek Forever After

The (to-date) final entry of the Shrek series did not get much love when it came out back in 2010 (even I talked down to it a few times on here) but time has certainly been kind to Shrek Forever After. It takes a page from the book of It’s A Wonderful Life to make this a culmination of the entire Shrek franchise up to this point, which we see a universe where Shrek never exists and how it impacted those he has grown attached to. The animation is stellar, Rumpelstiltskin is one of the better antagonists in the series, and it has a handful of pay-off moments that might just satisfy long-time fans who grew up with the series. Unfortunately, it’s held back by Shrek’s overall arc, which is mostly just a repeat of his arc from the last one (Shrek is not satisfied with his current life and wants to go back to the old one) and that infamous outburst scene that set this arc in motion feels WAY too out of character for our beloved ogre. Still, it is at least able to act as a better series capper than say, Shrek the Third.

  • Kung Fu Panda 3

Kung Fu Panda 3 is a film that is easy to dismiss when looking at it on the surface. From its familiar plot beats to its toned down humor, it almost feels as if it’s falling into the traps that the franchise has been avoiding up to this point and that it’s starting to become a shadow of it’s former self. However, with seeing how Po’s journey concludes by the end of the movie and at the end of this trilogy, there is something to chew upon greatly here. It really feels like Po has fully 100% lived up to the Dragon Warrior name, just as Oogway hoped he would the moment he chose him in the first movie. It’s a step down from the first two movies but still solid overall.

  • Dog Man

This is about as fun, chaotic, and scatterbrained as the source material it’s based on. There was clearly a lot of love and care put into the colorful animation, creative humor, and translating the charming character of Dog Man properly to the big screen. While not quite on the level of something like Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, Dog Man makes for a perfectly enjoyable film for kids and family that I’m sure fans of the book will fall high over heels for.

Now, here we go with the top 15! Enjoy!

15.) The Madagascar Trilogy

When it comes to comparing all the successful DreamWorks franchises out there, Madagascar is a series that sits comfortably in the middle-of-the-road for me, and I mean that in a respectful way. It doesn’t reach the highs with the likes of Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and How To Train Your Dragon but it’s certainly no Shark Tale, The Boss Baby, or Trolls either. It first perfectly as being solid, enjoyable animated flicks about a bunch of misfits animals that are trying to do everything in their power to get back home to New York. They are about to as creative, funny, and energetic as you can possibly expect for these kind of movies. with no deviation from that quality whatsoever. It’s hard to distance themselves as individuals films, which is why I decided to put the entire trilogy together in order to find a spot for them on this list. While far from the greatest from DreamWorks Animation, the Madagascar trilogy does it’s job to be as hilarious and entertaining as they can possibly be.

You might want to also check out The Penguins of Madagascar tv series, that is really great!

14.) The Bad Guys 2

For as all over the place DreamWorks Animation can be in terms of quality, if there is one thing they know how to do consistently, it’s making a darn good sequel, particularly a darn good Part Two. And The Bad Guys 2 is certainly no exception to that. This is able to continue the story of our beloved misfit animals, as they try to take their next step into society to be better people, even if they live in a society that just won’t let them do that. When they see them getting into action when an all-female squad known as The Bad Girls, the crew comes out of retirement to doing what they are good at, just being plain bad. Everything you love about the original from an animated, comedic, and dramatic standpoint is still present throughout The Bad Guys 2, being able to capture the charm of the original while also able to blaze it’s own path from a narrative standpoint, setting the table for an even better Part Three. It may not feel as “fresh” as the original Bad Guys and I would be lying if I said I was completely surprised by everything happening on screen but The Bad Guys 2 is still able to deliver the Part Two goods when it counts the most. Don’t let the fact that this is only #14 prevent you from giving this a watch when it comes out in theaters! There just happens to be 13 more films that I enjoy more than this!

13.) Captain Underpants

That’s right, I got Captain Underpants on here! Sue me! What might just be the most CRIMINALLY underrated/overlooked movie that DreamWorks has ever released, Captain Underpants: The Epic Movie is an absolute gem that is not just a perfect adaption of it’s source material but it’s a great animated film in it’s own right. It’s a bright, colorful, charming, and EXTREMELY silly movie about two troublemakers living out their childhood fantasies and facing the potential consequences for doing so. Kevin Hart and Thomas Middleditch have great chemistry with one another and helps make the film standout as a laugh out loud riot. The film’s toilet and slapstick humor will certainly not appeal to everyone but then again, this is literally a movie called CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS for crying out loud! If you never seen or heard of Captain Underpants: The Epic Movie, check it out as it’s pretty darn great.

12.) Megamind

Yes, the sequel that came out recently was absolutely terrible. That does NOT change the fact that the original Megamind was just awesome. Able to subvert the standards and cliches of most superhero flicks to create something more interesting and layer, this is able to act as a massively entertaining destruction of the sub genre that has dominated Hollywood blockbusters for the majority of the 21st century. Will Ferrell is perfect as the title character and has great chemistry with David Cross’s Minion, Jonah Hill makes for a super fun bad guy as Titan, and Tina Fey is able to make Roxanne Ritchi stand out as one of the better superhero news report ladies out there. We also can’t forget the superb animation, awesome set pieces, and song choices and needle drops that all fit perfectly. Do not let the awful sequel or recent tv series distract you from the fact that the original Megamind is one of the better and most creative DreamWorks animated movies they have ever made.

11.) The Bad Guys

The Bad Guys is the DreamWorks equivalent of Zootopia and Suicide Squad and it could not be better for it. A fun, beautifully animated flick about the joys of being well the bad guys, with exciting and energetic set pieces to boot. The characters are all likable, the animation style is unique and works perfectly with it’s art style, and even for a film technically made for kids, there’s a bunch a fun little nods and gags for adults to enjoy, the kind of ones that kids won’t recognize until they rewatch this movie a decade or two later. It’s not quite as clever or subversive as other DreamWorks properties out there such as Megamind but it definitely makes for one gloriously entertaining watch and has great potential to be DreamWorks’s next big franchise going forward. Also, Diane Foxington! Just…………Diane Foxington!

10.) How To Train Your Dragon 2

Fulfilling it’s role as the dark middle chapter of DreamWorks’s most critically acclaimed film series, How To Train Your Dragon 2 is a strong example as to why DreamWorks themselves can be counted on to deliver strong middle chapters for stories when they count the most. Taking the next level in terms of animation and technical achievements, this sequel is able to exceed for the same reasons that the very best sequels out there are able to do. It takes the characters to the next step of their development by putting them on a journey which makes them challenges who they are and why they do what they do. The voice work is particularly strong here, especially with Cate Blanchett acting as Hiccup’s long lost mother, delivering in the most powerful dramatic moments of the film. Not to mention, the surprising fate with one of the characters stands as one of the most bold moves that any DreamWorks film has every made. While the antagonist himself is a weak line and it lacks the freshness and novelty the first film had, How To Train Your Dragon 2 is still a very impressive animated sequel that is worthy of praise.

9.) Shrek

Enter the iconic character that acts as DreamWorks most popular franchise, the original Shrek still holds up gracefully! Being able to bring together the traditional fairytale characters and tropes while also doing something incredibly fresh, funny, and subversive with them. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz all fit their roles like a glove and help make their characters of Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona more iconic than they have any right to be. The song choices are inspired, the pop culture references actually work very well, and it has an overall nice moral of never judging someone solely on their appearance. It’s a shame that certain folks out there only recognize this movie for it’s memes and not for the actual top quality of this motion picture. Even when taking away the memes and self-aware jokes, Shrek is still a genuine classic that has stood the test of time as being one of DreamWorks’s greats.

8.) Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

The second feature film from both Aardman and Nick Park, coming off the pretty good Chicken Run, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is proof that the duo could in fact make lightning strike twice. This is a hilarious stop-motion picture with unique animation, great jokes, and likable characters that are able to pull the hold thing through. Not to mention, Gromit might be the cutest and most wholesome dog in movie history. The villain is quite flat here and I admittedly don’t know how this will appeal to those that aren’t the fondest of stop-motion animated films. However, looking at it objectively and being among the most inventive DreamWorks films throughout it’s history, there’s not much you can pick apart about Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. This vegetable caper is definitely entertaining and a cracking good film to watch whenever you need a good laugh. And thankfully, the most recent animated sequel (Which was NOT distributed by DreamWorks btw) is able to be no exception to that either.

7.) Kung Fu Panda

If there is one movie out there that is basically the textbook definition of “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover!”, that would be Kung Fu Panda. On paper, this sounds like the dumbest idea ever. A big fat panda voiced by Jack Black learning Kung Fu?! That feels like an idea that came from the same person that thought The Emoji Movie would be a great hit! However, once the movie came out during the summer of 2008, we all could not have been wrong about Kung Fu Panda. It’s able to use that “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover” mindset that not only acts what most folks thought of Kung Fu Panda when watching it but use that as the central theme throughout the film. And it’s that theme that makes for the perfect way to tell the story of the main character of Po, the titled panda that learns kung fu. We also got terrific animation, superb fight sequences, a wonderful supporting cast of characters, a riveting musical score and amazing character development all the way through. It’s those exact reasons and much more that makes Kung Fu Panda as good as it is. This is a film that doesn’t in spite of it’s delightfully silly premise, it works BECAUSE of it! And it could NOT be any better for it!

6.) The Prince of Egypt

The Prince of Egypt is one of the most beloved animated films ever made and you can certainly understand why. The animation is stellar, the music is great, the tone feels just right, the art style works, it’s religious aspects are interesting and very well explored, and it’s an overall moving story about two brothers that start out being together until the end of time but then later becomes bitter rivals to their last dying breath. Some of the songs aren’t the greatest and don’t fit (especially the Priests song) and it’s something you definitely have to be in the right “mood” to enjoy but for what it’s worth, The Prince of the Egypt is still a very impressive animated film and perhaps the best depiction of the Moses story that’s been seen on film to date, animation or otherwise. Even if you aren’t a religious person or dread having any ties to any known religion, this is one of the few movies of it’s own kind that I could recommend to just about anybody. It’s that darn good!

5.) Shrek 2

If you want to talk about the perfect sequel, look no further than Shrek 2, along with the other sequels on this list of course. The story is more engaging, the characters are more lovable and charming, the animation is more gorgeous, the voice work is more stellar, the set pieces are more creative, the fairytale/pop culture references are even better utilized, and the humor is much more funny this time around. Add in the wonderful presence of Antonino Bandera’s Puss in Boots, the Fairy Godmother as the main villain, and one of the best climaxes arguably in film history with an AMAZING usage of I Need A Hero and you got one beautifully done animated sequel. There are a handful of logic issues (Like how it takes forever for Shrek and company to get to Far Far Away but only takes Gingy, Pinnochio, and others like a couple of hours to get there) but when a sequel is this well-made, heartfelt, and absolutely HILARIOUS (The C.O.P.S. gag gets me EVERY time!), it’s impossible to care. Great comedy sequels are really hard to come by and Shrek 2 stands out as one of the very best in that regard!

4.) How To Train Your Dragon

On paper, How To Train Your Dragon movie seems like every traditional hero journey and human-animal bonding flick you have ever seen. However, not only does it do just about all of those traditions so well, it’s done in an extraordinary way that it feels like you are watching this story on fold for the very first time before your very eyes. Hiccup makes for a very likeable protagonist that’s easy to root for and his relationship between his pet dragon, Toothless, and his soon-to-be lover/partner in Astrid are so engaging, acting as the beating heart of the film. And don’t get me started on it’s stellar animation and flying sequences that blew my mind when seeing it in theaters back in 2010 and still blows my mind to this day. How To Train Your Dragon is prove that just because you are telling a familiar story does NOT mean you have to tell it in a familiar way. If you add enough freshness and novelty to it where it feels like you are seeing this story being told for the first time ever, then you have succeeded entirely and have one big animated classic on your hands. While I may not known how faithfully this is from an adaption standpoint (Yes, this is based off a book), as a film, the original How To Train Your Dragon was pretty much perfect.

3.) Kung Fu Panda 2

Kung Fu Panda 2 is one of the rare sequels that not only is as good as the original Kung Fu Panda, it’s even better. It does EVERYTHING you want a sequel to do. Instead of doing the same old same old, it actually does something new and different. It takes the characters into exciting and new directions, it expands upon it’s story and lore in the most logically way possible, the action and animation are taken to the next level, the villain of Lord Shen is given more focus and is used perfectly, and it’s able to act as the best possible next step for the journey of Po as oppose to do just retreating steps from his first go around. Also, the scene where Po discovers inner peace is the series true definite moment up to this point, as well as just being one of the most beautifully done sequences in animation film history! (You are a robot if you did not cry during that scene!) Kung Fu Panda 2 is not only the best Kung Fu Panda movie thus far but it’s possibly one of the best animated film sequels ever made period. It’s so good that there’s a good argument to be made that this is where the series officially peaked.

2.) Puss In Boots: The Last Wish

Acting as perhaps the most surprising film that DreamWorks Animation has ever done, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is an exciting, triumphing Part Two to go along with the other great Part Twos that DreamWorks Animation has created with their filmography. The animation is spectacular, the characters are engaging, the set pieces are fun and inventive, the story goes into dark places you wouldn’t think a simple “kids” movie would go, and it teaches a very valuable lesson on how we should live our life to the fullest with the ones we love before it’s too late. This also has perhaps the most entertaining bad guy in DreamWorks with Jack Horner and the most scary and intimating villain in possibly all of DreamWorks with The Killer Wolf, A.K.A. Death. For a 11-year long sequel that no one was really asking for, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish acted as a near perfect animated film, with phenomenal animation, writing, and voice acting to justify it’s own existence completely. Never in a million years would I guess that it would be frigging Puss in Boots of all characters that could be in the conversation of best DreamWorks Animation film ever made but I guess anything is possible.

1.) The Wild Robot

This may be recency bias but I honestly can’t think of a DreamWorks animated picture that is as complex, layered, and impressive as The Wild Robot. It represents the pinnacle of DreamWorks Animation, delivering one last final triumph before they have to rely on tools and resources from other studios for the immediate future. The animation is jaw droppingly gorgeous, the characters are all engaging, endearing, and wonderful to follow, the voice cast is all terrific with everyone being 100% committed to their role, the musical score is mesmerizing and carries the film on it’s own on several occasions, there’s is plenty of funny gags and emotional beats that work greatly, and the way it tackles the themes surrounding survival, parenthood, kindness, purpose, and coexistence is nothing short of marvelous. The amount of plates is able to spend in the air at once and how many hoops it dares to jump through is able to make the film stand out in ways that it had no business of doing so. This is animation and multilayered storytelling at it’s finest and The Wild Robot might just be the next prime example for that. Thank you to all the folks at DreamWorks who worked in-house for the company and I hope the very best awaits you in the future!

Ranking All 90 Marvel Movies (2/2) (45-1)

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Since I felt putting all 90 Marvel movies was a bit too much for one list, I decided to make a second post of it! That way, there’s most stability and this specific ranking doesn’t feel too clutter for one piece. My previous one was rankings from #90 to #46. This list will consist of #45 to #1!

No more time and filler! Let’s finish this MASSIVE movie ranking!

45.) Thor

44.) Spider-Man: Far From Home

43.) X-Men

42.) Avengers: Age of Ultron

41.) Ant-Man

40.) Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness

39.) Deadpool & Wolverine

38.) Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

37.) Spider-Man 3

36.) Deadpool 2

35.) The Incredible Hulk

34.) Blade

33.) The Wolverine

32.) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

31.) Thunderbolts*

30.) Big Hero 6

29.) Blade II

28.) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

27.) Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

26.) Thor Ragnarök

25.) The Fantastic Four: First Steps

24.) X2: X-Men United

23.) Kick-Ass

22.) Men in Black

21.) Iron Man

20.) X-Men: First Class

19.) Captain America: The First Avenger

18.) Iron Man 3

17.) Captain America: Civil War

16.) Deadpool

15.) Spider-Man: No Way Home

14.) Kingsman: The Secret Service

13.) Spider-Man

12.) Avengers: Infinity War

11.) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

10.) Avengers Endgame

9.) Black Panther

8.) The Avengers

7.) Captain America: The Winter Soldier

6.) X-Men: Days of Future Past

5.) Guardians of the Galaxy

4.) Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse

3.) Spider-Man 2

2.) Logan

1.) Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Ranking All 90 Marvel Movies (1/2) (90-46)

AdamLeave a comment

Now that The Fantastic Four- First Steps is now out in theaters, I decided to do something totally insane and rank every single Marvel movie ever! Not just the movies related to the Marvel Cinematic Universe but all theatrically-released films that have some sort of connection to Marvel. That includes all the Marvel movies made by Fox, Sony, Marvel Studios, and even that one more Disney themselves.

Throughout last year, I actually took the time to watch every other Marvel-related film that I haven’t got around to just for the sake of making this list. Why? Because I have no life whatsoever and I like making insane lists! That’s why!

But anyways, let’s get into list making and rank all 90 theatrically-released Marvel films from best to worst! If you agree with this list, awesome! If you disagree, fine and I likely will by the time I actually publish this! Either way, let’s have some fun and rank these superhero flicks!

Btw, NO I’m not going into any sort of description of each said film because then this list would take a million years to make! I’m just gonna let the ranked number for each film speak for themselves!

90.) Fantastic Four (2015)

89.) Morbius

88.) Captain America (1990)

87.) Kraven The Hunter

86.) Dark Phoenix

85.) Howard The Duck

84.) Madame Web

83.) X-Men: Origins Wolverine

82.) Elektra

81.) Ghost Rider

80.) Blade: Trinity

79.) Men in Black: International

78.) The Amazing Spider-Man

77.) The Punisher

76.) Kick-Ass 2

75.) The Fantastic Four (1994)

74.) Captain America: Brave New World

73.) Venom: The Last Dance

72.) X-Men: Apocalypse

71.) Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania

70.) Men In Black II

69.) Fantastic Four (2005)

68.) Daredevil

67.) X-Men: The Last Stand

66.) Venom

65.) The New Mutants

64). The King’s Man

63.) Black Widow

62.) Eternals

61.) Kingsman: The Golden Circle

60.) Thor: The Dark World

59.) Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

58.) Iron Man 2

57.) Venom: Let There Be Carnage

56.) Captain Marvel

55.) Thor: Love & Thunder

54.) The Amazing Spider-Man 2

53.) The Punisher (2004)

52.) The Marvels

51.) Hulk (2003)

50.) Doctor Strange

49.) Ant-Man and the Wasp

48.) Men in Black III

47.) Punisher: War Zone

46.) Spider-Man: Homecoming

Ranking All The DC Comics Movies (25-1) (2/2)

AdamLeave a comment

Since I felt putting all 57 DC Comic movies was a bit too much for one list, I decided to make a second post of it! That way, there’s most stability and this specific ranking doesn’t feel too clutter for one piece. My previous one was rankings from #57 to #26. This list will consist of #25 to #1!

No more time and filler! Let’s finish this MASSIVE movie ranking!

25.) Batman (1966)

24.) Watchmen

23.) Stardust

22.) Blue Beetle

21.) Aquaman

20.) Zack Snyder’s Justice League

19.) Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

18.) Teen Titans Go! To The Movies

17.) Road To Perdition

16.) Superman (2025)

15.) The Lego Batman Movie

14.) Superman II

13.) Shazam!

12.) A History of Violence

11.) V For Vendetta

10.) The Suicide Squad

9.) The Batman

8.) The Dark Knight Rises

7.) Batman (1989)

6.) Batman Begins

5.) Batman Returns

4.) Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

3.) Wonder Woman

2.) Superman (1978)

1.) The Dark Knight

Ranking All The DC Comics Movies (57-26) (1/2)

AdamLeave a comment

Now that Superman (2025) is now out in theaters, I decided to do something totally insane and rank every single DC movie ever! Not just the movies related to the DC Extended Universe or the brand new DC Universe but all theatrically-released films that have some sort of connection to DC. That includes all the Batman, Superman, DC imprints, and even animated films that have been released in theaters of all kind!

Throughout last year, I actually took the time to watch every other DC-related film that I haven’t got around to just for the sake of making this list. Why? Because I have no life whatsoever and I like making insane lists! That’s why!

But anyways, let’s get into list making and rank all 57 theatrically-released DC Comics films from best to worst! If you agree with this list, awesome! If you disagree, fine and I likely will by the time I actually publish this! Either way, let’s have some fun and rank these superhero flicks!

Btw, NO I’m not going into any sort of description of each said film because then this list would take a million years to make! I’m just gonna let the ranked number for each film speak for themselves!

57.) Catwoman

56.) Steel

55.) Jonah Hex

54.) The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

53.) Joker Folie À Deux

52.) Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice

51.) Superman IV: The Quest For Peace

50.) Batman: The Killing Joke

49.) Suicide Squad

48.) Justice League (2017)

47.) Wonder Woman 1984

46.) Batman & Robin

45.) Red 2

44.) Green Lantern

43.) Superman III

42.) The Kitchen

41.) Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom

40.) The Losers

39.) The Return of Swamp Thing

38.) Black Adam

37.) The Flash

36.) The League of Super-Pets

35.) Supergirl

34.) Man of Steel

33.) Superman Returns

32.) Batman: Forever

31.) Shazam!: Fury of the Gods

30.) Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders

29.) Joker

28.) Red

27.) Constantine

26.) Swamp Thing

Ranking The Superman Movies

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At long last, Superman (2025) is now out in theaters, the first standalone Superman movie in over a decade and the first film set in the new DC Universe! Because of that, we now have ten films that have Superman in a large prominent role to rank from worst to best!

Superman has to be one of the most complicated superheroes in the history of DC Comics! While he is perhaps the most iconic superhero of all time, representing hope, optimism, and kindness in ways that no other superhero out there has, his films have had a long road of inconsistency and downright disappointment! There are certainly greatness to be sure but when looking through the entire filmography with Supes, you can definitely tell he has certainly NOT been given the love and care that say…..Batman has been given throughout his history in cinema!

Even so, we have ten movies to rank so let’s get right into ranking them!

10.) Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice

Nine years later, I’m still in awe how you take a crossover with two of the most well-known comic book heroes in Batman and Superman and make it so dull, lifeless, and joyless. Dawn of Justice is a film that wants to comes across as the most grand and ambitious movie every made, but when you look deep into it, this movie actually doesn’t have much to say on anything it’s talking about. Other than trying to cram two to three movies worth of material into one film, there’s nothing really risky or daring here and it’s so-called themes have been done much better in plenty of other superhero films. The plot is a convoluted mess no matter which version you watch, all of the Superman characters from Clark to Lois to Lex Luthor to Doomsday are all done INCREDIBLY dirty, and the conflict between Batman and Superman is so incredibly ridiculous that it could have been avoided if they would just simply talk to each other.

Ben Affleck is fine as Batman and there’s a few standout moments here (The warehouse fight scene and Wonder Woman’s first appearance are all-timers) but that’s nowhere near enough to save this turd of a film. Even the ultimate edition which many claim “saves” the movie really just has more of the same things that were wrong in the first place, aside from being pacing. If there is a clear difference between ambition and aimlessness, then Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice certainly strikes the finest line yet between those two definitions with results that fit more of the latter than the former.

This is a movie so bad that it not only arguably killed the DC Extended Universe before it even got going but also caused big damage to Superman’s reputation in pop culture, leading an entire generation of folks who firmly believe THIS is what Superman was always meant to be like when it’s absolutely NOT! I know tomatoes are going to be thrown at me for putting this at the very bottom but I’m sorry! When looking at it as both a DC superhero movie AND a Superman movie, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (Both the theatrical and ultimate edition!) is an epic failure on every level!

9.) Superman IV: The Quest For Peace

If you thought Batman & Robin was the perfect example of superhero movies hitting rock bottom in the pre-21st century, then you should check out what they did to Supes in Superman IV: The Quest For Peace. Not only is this easily one of the worst superhero movies ever, it’s by far one of the worst main budgeted movies ever made. Even at the time of it’s release, the flaws that is presented on screen are so glaringly obvious!

It looks incredibly cheap with clearly unfinished special effects, obvious green screen, lazy as hell editing, and absolutely godawful transaction from one scene to the next. Throw in an absurdly stupid script, laughable dialogue, social/political commentary that doesn’t work in the slightest, no sense of logic, sense, or flow to anything happening on screen, and incredibly phoned-in performances and you get quite the big shitty picture. Even if you can argue that this film should be seen as a “so bad it’s good” kind of movie like Batman & Robin, the latter looks like an effing Stanley Kubrick film compared to this trainwreck!

With Quest For Peace, this represented Superman at his absolute low point back in 1987. Not only was this when audience stop caring about Superman but even Warner Bros themselves stopped caring for him too. This was so bad that it had take nearly 20 years for Superman to returned to the big screen because of how much this film (and the previous one) had tarnished his reputation! What an absolutely crappy end to easily the best Superman ever in Christopher Reeve!

8.) Justice League (2017)

It’s unbelievable how not only the first ever live-action Justice League movie doesn’t work, but it has to be one of the most forgettable superhero movies ever made. It’s clear that Warner Bros and company where so caught off guard over the backlash that Dawn of Justice received that they brought in Joss Whedon, after Snyder stepped down in part due to the passing of his daughter, in the hopes of providing the same spark he gave to The Avengers. Not only is that course correction painfully obvious on screen but mixing the visions of Whedon and Snyder could not have led to more disastrous results.

This is like the equivalent of a superb Japanese anime getting butchered in the English version by 4Kids, filled with jarring editing, censoring, and scripting to make it more “kid” friendly. Justice League (2017) (also known as JOSStice League) comes across as more of a straight-to-dvd Avengers knock-off that you would find at the bargain bin at the Dollar Store than an actual Justice League movie. The tone is all over the place, the reshoots are as clear as daylight it’s embarrassing, and it’s edited into incredibly bite sized pieces that you can tell were only done just so the movie can finish under two hours.

A handful of moments (or at least the ones I can remember) are cool in their own right (It’s always cool to see Wonder Woman on screen saving people) and is is nice to see Henry Cavill represent a bit of Christopher Reeves here (despite it making no sense in the context of the universe) but it’s incredibly unforgiveable just how cheap, hollow, and unmemorable this whole experience is. When even a remix of Danny Elfman’s iconic Batman theme can’t win me over, you know your movie has failed!

7.) Superman III

You ever heard of the term “third time’s the charm”? Well, that is CERTAINLY not how you can describe Supes’ third official film! Superman III was basically when the Superman franchise started to lose all of the hearts and wonders that it had from the beginning and started to descend to what it was never suppose to be. While the previous film had major behind the scenes drama that it was able to greatly overcome, the threequel with the man of tomorrow does the exact opposite of that.

Instead of having heart and wonder, it’s now just gags and slap stick. Instead of having important social/political commentary that resembles the world of Superman perfectly, it’s now just mindless action and explosion everywhere. Instead of intimidating villains that pose a real threat to our heroes, they are now just cartoon characters that you can’t take seriously. Instead of being smart, it’s now a self-parody! Putting all of this crap together, you get a complete mess in Superman III!

It’s hard to tell if how much of the studio politics played into the decision making of the film, how much of the film was what Lester wanted, and/or if this film would have even been made at all if Warner Bros wasn’t able to overpay Christopher Reeve to get him to come back, but Superman III follows victim to many disappointing threequels out there, forgetting what made it’s franchise successful in the first place and crushing the entire foundation in the process. What makes this third chapter stink more than most of them though is it’s lack of desire to be as engaging, interesting, or entertaining as the previous two Superman films were! That’s what you get when you become a self-parody!

6.) Man of Steel

The DC Extended Universe kicked off in 2013 with one of the most polarizing superhero movies of all time in Man of Steel. Looking back on it nearly a full decade later, I can’t help but have INCREDIBLY frustrating emotions when it comes to this film. In terms of casting, tone, action scale, scope, and score, this is everything that a modern Superman movie should consist off. However, when it comes to the overall story, characterization, script, and structure, it misses the mark completely!

Most of the characters come off as plot devices and motivation for Superman than actual characters, the dialogue strikes a fine line between being poetic/inspiring and just plain pretentious, and it’s overall themes feel not so much explored but just told directly to the audiences. The action is dynamic, the cast do great with what they have to work with, and the scope and Han Zimmer’s soundtrack are off the charts that it’s almost good enough to convince you that you are watching a much better film than you actually are! The elements that work are absolutely great while the elements that don’t work really bring down the whole picture.

When looking at it’s own thing and the seeds it plants for the future, Man of Steel could have been considered a solid re-introduction to the character of Superman and one that could successfully redefined Superman to a new generation. However, due to it’s shortcomings and the movies which came after tripling down on the things that don’t work rather than what does, you can’t help but see wasted potential. As it’s own thing, Man of Steel might be functional on a surface level but not on a depth level. Henry Cavill deserved better than this!

5.) Superman Returns

I’ve always had a complicated history with Superman Returns. It was the very first Superman movie I had ever watch from beginning to end. I couldn’t help but hate this movie and find myself hating Superman as a result. I just couldn’t fully buy into a superhero that’s all “Mr. Goody Two Shoes” and only has any important use as Superman but NOT Clark Kent. However, now that nearly two decades have passed by and seeing more bleak portrayals of the character as both a definite version and as a self-parody (A.K.A. Homelander from The Boys), I can’t help but have more respect in the way that Superman Returns portrays Superman.

It feels refreshing to see a film that is the cinematic equivalent of Superman/Clark being a friendly guy who saves people. It’s feels refreshing to see a Superman that always looks for the good in people and not just assumes the worst. It feels refreshing to see Superman have his own unique abilities and weaknesses without making him completely perfect. More importantly, it feels refreshing to see a Superman that completely embodies truth and justice. For all of the flaws that can be said for Superman Returns, this is the one element I can completely get behind. This might’ve not been the kind of Superman I (along with many others) was looking for back in 2006 but in the year 2025, I most certainly support it.

It’s unfortunate tho that Superman Returns is still a frustratingly mixed bag. It crosses the fine line between ambition and aimlessness by waiting to be the faithful third chapter to Christopher Reeve’s Superman that Superman III wasn’t while also wanting to work at it’s own standalone Superman film set in the 21st century. In so doing so, it undermines itself by failing to advance the characters the way they were back in the early 1980s and making them work in their own rights in the mid 2000s. With that amount of disconnect in terms of narrative, continuity to the prior movies, lack of action (outside of the amazing plane sequence) and failing to find an overall identity for itself along with the complete lack of action, Returns ultimately falls short of it’s notable good intensions.

4.) Zack Snyder’s Justice League

Because we live in some dark and twisted form of an alternate universe, Zack Snyder’s Justice League is a real thing now. Truth be told, even if you remove yourself from the toxicity that is the Zack Snyder fanbase (I won’t blame you if you can’t!), it’s actually pretty good with a lot more to like here than there is to hate. This is probably the one movie in the DC Extended Universe with Zack Snyder that doesn’t feel overly pretentious but more of just the man wanting to make the most epic Justice League movie he can possibly make. For the most part, he succeeds even if some of the faults from his other films are carried over here.

The first half is way too stretched out for it’s own good, feeling like Snyder is trying to get every single little frame of work that he desires in there regardless if it actually serves a purpose. There’s also the final fifteen minutes that feels more like a collection of post credit scenes rather than an actual epilogue. Even so, there’s good action set pieces, a nice & riveting score, memorable gorgeous visuals, and solid character interactions between all of the Justice League members, with Wonder Woman and Cyborg being the main standouts. And this also feels like the first time in Snyder’s films that the superheroes on screen actually act and feel like superheroes instead of just being all sad and mopey all the time. What a time to be alive!

While there’s still faults from the theatrical cut that are carried over here (*cough* Steppenwolf and Flash *cough*), this is certainly an improvement over the theatrical cut and should most certainly be considered the actual definite version of Justice League. If anything, this was about the closest that Snyder got to making a faithful and truthful Superman. At least here, he actually feels like a superhero that wants the best for humanity and now…..whatever the hell the previous two films portrayed him as. Warts and all, this is easily the best DC superhero film that Zack Snyder has ever made!

3.) Superman (2025)

At long last, James Gunn has arrived to save the day with his own take on Superman while also aiming to give DC a second leash on live with a rebooted cinematic universe, formerly known as the DC Universe. The good news is that Mr. Gunn is able to provide a Superman that not only resembles the character for who he is suppose to be at his core but also feels timely and warranted in our own bitter, cynical world we inhabit in today. The bad news is by wanting to start a cinematic universe here, it shows distinct cracks in the armor by overstuffing the film with multiple characters and subplots that don’t always work to their fullest potential.

The cast is all near perfect (the main trio of David Corneswet’s Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane & Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor could not have played off each other better), the tone feels right at home with classic Superman, the spectacle is cool, and it even has those traditional superhero elements from earlier superhero films such as Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man (Lighthearted feel, comic book-like features, colorful superheroes, and an engaging romance) that I have missed in these kinds of movies for so long. However, the plot itself feels very overstuffed, with too many ideas and subject matter it wants to tackle all at once while feeling the need to shoehorned supporting characters that while cool, really don’t serve much purpose other than to set them up for future films and shows. It almost feels as if Gunn was forced by studios to cut down on the runtime so there could be more screenings, with the film lacking the extra 15 to 20 minutes it could have REALLY used.

Even so, Superman (2025) still presents us a Superman we can get behind and absolutely root for, acting as the perfect counter-culture hero who values kindness in a world that no longer calls for that. And after over a decade of Superman portrayals that have ranged from him being moody and depressed to being flat out evil, it’s more than refreshing to see Superman here being someone that represents hope, optimism, and has absolutely NO agenda other than wanting to be a good person that saves people. If that’s not how Superman should be, then I don’t know what is.

2.) Superman II

It’s nearly impossible to look at Superman II on it’s own terms when you take into account all of the behind-the-scenes drama that plagued it’s development. From director changes to studio interference to creative indifferences, the sequel to it’s largely successful 1978 game changing predecessor could’ve been dead on arrival. Yet, somehow and someway, Superman was able to prevail once again despite having basically everything stacked against him.

This is still able to continue to story of Clark Kent/Superman in a very respectful way, showcasing a vulnerable side of Clark in which he is forced to continue his life without his super powers, something which superhero films such as Spider-Man 2 took clearly inspiration from. The action scenes still hold up well, Zod makes for a very worthy foe to Superman, there’s plenty of nice humor thrown in, and there’s several emotional beats that pay off as well as it can. It’s just a shame that it’s hard to get the complete full picture of the “perfect” version of Superman II due to it’s troubled production and director changes.

I will say despite the two different versions of Superman II that I’ve seen, my opinion on the film is largely the same. In the sense, that it’s a very, VERY good sequel that perhaps falls JUST of the greatness the original film had, largely due to these conflicting directorial visions and feeling the need to pull it’s punches more times than not. Had we got one complete version from either Richard Donner or Richard Lester from beginning of production to the very end, then I think we could have a film that was even better than Superman: The Movie. Even so, I still would consider it to be the second best Superman movie to date and a worthy sequel to the original overall.

1.) Superman (1978)

Before the likes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, and the multiple DC Cinematic universe attempts, even before the likes of Blade (1998), X-Men (2000), and Spider-Man (2002) rolled around, and even before Tim Burton’s or Joel Schumacher’s Batman made their ways onto the scene, there was one superhero movie that stood proudly on his own. Not only working as a near perfect example of what a superhero movie should consist of but it set the template and tropes on how a superhero movie or even a blockbuster in general should operated. That one film I’m talking about is no other than Superman (1978), directed by Richard Donner and played by the OG Superman himself, Christopher Reeves.

No matter what way you look at, Superman (1978) works in nearly every single way in which it was suppose to. The origin of seeing Clark Kent’s journey to becoming Superman is perfectly handled, every member of the cast fits their roles like a glove and acts as the definite versions of their characters, the themes and messages still resonate, the pacing takes it’s time but it always makes it worth it, the musical score by the legendary John Williams is excellent, and I imagine there was just no special feeling than seeing Superman fly around and saving people on screen for the first time ever back in 1978.

Superman (1978) was the superhero movie that changed everything! It proved that a film based off of a comic book superhero can work and translate onto the big screen as well as it possibly can. It proved that big cinematic experiences of this kind can be just as compelling as say a giant space opera or an intense thriller involving a big shark. And most importantly, it proved that comic books and superheroes can shine a very bright light on pop culture, telling stories with impactful themes and unforgettable role models that anyone can look up to (No pun intended!)! Because of all and so much more, Superman (1978) is still the best Superman film ever made and one of the best superhero movies of all time period!

Man of Steel (2013)- A Superman For A “Modern Audience”

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Well, that title is certainly quite the click-bait, isn’t it?!

I do wanna make something clear that when I claim that Man of Steel is a Superman made for a “modern audience”, I am NOT referring to THAT kind of “modern audience”, A.K.A. the one that gets described in this current day and age, particularly by a certain OBNXIOUS movie review who shall NOT be named! But…..if you know, you know!

Back in 2013, the term, “modern audience” meant a very different thing. It didn’t mean so much about changing classic IPs to align a proper race/gender ratio and what was considered to be the “correct” politics back in the early 2010s but more of finding a way to gain a new generation of fans by updating classic IPs to have them fit in the so-called “modern” era.

In the case of Man of Steel, it attempts to update Superman in a way that removes itself from the light heart, campy days of Christopher Reeve and lean more into the dark, gritty, and realistic nature of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. This was a move that I imagine was done to try to capitalize on the success of those three Batman films, along with promoting Christopher Nolan’s involvement as co-writer and executive producer to boost ticket sales.

It’s also worth mentioning about the complicated development history of Man of Steel. Originally, the film was meant to act as a full-on reboot and as it’s own standalone film, hoping it’s success would lead to MoS as being Part 1 of a new Superman trilogy after Superman Returns turned out to be such a massive disappointment. However, during the film’s development, Marvel’s The Avengers released worldwide and it ended up being an absolute (No pun intended!) Hulk smash hit! And after numerous of failed attempts at starting their own cinematic universe of superheroes with the likes of Superman Returns and more recently Green Lantern (Don’t remind Ryan Reynolds of that!), DC and Warner Bros decided that they wanted Man of Steel to act as the launching pad for their brand new DC Extended Universe, finally finding their answer to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

However, instead of being lighthearted and comedic like most of the films under the Marvel Studios’ umbrella are, they wanted this universe to be more dark, gritty, and realistic in terms of tone and feel. Not only because they just didn’t want to blatantly copy and paste the same tone and feel that Marvel has but that was what also what made DC superhero films stand out on their own compared to Marvel for better or worse. And considering that DC and WB was coming straight off of The Dark Knight films, pretty much their only notable film successes with comic book superheroes in recent memory, they clearly wanted to ride that train as much as they can in the hopes of acting as a perfect countermeasure to Marvel.

Because of that, Man of Steel became not just the beginning of this newest iteration of Clark Kent/Superman played by Henry Cavill but also the new age of DC films from here on out. Because back in the 2010s, literally EVERYTHING had to be a cinematic universe or else you just didn’t get with the program. Regardless of the end results of this particularly cinematic universe over a decade later, I think it’s important to look at this film as it’s own thing like it was originally intended to. Was Zack Snyder able to make Superman work in the year 2013 and be able to bring in a new “modern” audience for the man of tomorrow? Well……it’s complicated!

It’s no secret that Man of Steel was one of the most polarizing superhero films of all time when it came out 12 years ago and it’s still highly debated to this very day. From it’s more broody tone to it’s gloriously excessive actions to the way it’s tells it’s story and some of the narrative/character choices the film makes, it has certainly left PLENTY of room for discussion among fans, critics, and the general audience. And I think a good majority of that has to do with the changes made to the source material in order to have Superman fit in the more “modern” times.

Instead of having a Superman sticking to his morals of hope and optimism, you now have a Superman that dares to question his morals and feels more grim than hopeful about the way he goes about his superhero ways. Instead of having a Clark Kent that is able to adjust to the modern world smoothly with only a handful of critics against him, you now have a Clark Kent that is unable to adjust to the modern world because almost everybody hates him since he’s an alien and not human. Instead of having a Man of Tomorrow that is able to preserve collateral damage and saves civilians lives at every turn, you now have a Man of Tomorrow that causes so much destruction and chaos while only saving a civilian if they are in his way or just happens to bump into one that is in danger. While these changes might fit for a “modern” take on Superman, it’s not one that seems to fit with the character’s overall history.

And of course, you also have the most controversial decision made in the film. Instead of having a Superman that has a moral stance against killing no matter what, you now have a Superman that goes as far as to kill his main opponent because he believes there could be no other outcome except that.

When looking at those factors, this can be seen as quite a betrayal for what Superman stands for. Man of Steel doesn’t so much feel like it’s trying to honor the Superman mythos but more trying to deconstruct and dissect it, given the impression that it’s deeper and more mature than your typical superhero flick when it’s really not. It’s a film that can be seen as mistaking dourness and pro-faced seriousness for depth and nuance. It’s a world that feels too much of a bleak reflection off our current world rather than it’s own unique world for Superman. This is a Superman that has more in line with Homelander from The Boys before Homelander from The Boys was even a thing.

The thing is though is that it COULD’VE gotten away from this if they tried. If they were able to use this dark and broody approach of Superman to have him become brighter and more hopeful by the end of the film. If they were able to use it’s massive scope and action sequences to deliver real stakes and hard hitting character moments. If they were able to use it’s motivational speeches and lines from the trailer to have it actually mean something in the grand scheme of things. If they were able to use it’s dark tone and feel for a purpose and not just because……that’s what The Dark Knight did. If they were able to deconstruct and dissect the traditional Superman mythos while also remember to put the pieces back into place.

And make no mistake, there are PLENTY of standout moments in Man of Steel where you can see that potential. You got the modern technology that’s able to deliver the Dragon Ball Z-like fights scenes that die hard fans have always dreamed off seeing on the big screen. You got a cast full of immensely talented cast that feel right for their roles. You got a grand musical score in Han Zimmer that gives the film it’s own gloom yet beautiful beating heart to it, almost feeling like it’s own character. You even got a structure which if done right, could be a fresh and inventive way of telling a Superman origin story that has been told many times over, having Batman Begins be to origin stories what Into the Spider-Verse has been to animation!

When it comes to elements such as action, scale, scope, casting, score, special effects, and ideas in terms of narrative, this is everything that a modern Superman film should consist off. And if we are to grade this film strictly from a technical and sound perspective, this should be the perfect Superman film for a “modern” audience. The kind of film that not only gains a new legion of fans but inspires a generation of upcoming filmmakers and lovers of superheroes to make their own work based off the man of tomorrow! The kind of film that would make the O.G. Clark Kent, Christopher Reeve, the O.G. Lois Lane, Margot Kiddler, and the O.G. Superman behind the camera himself, Richard Donner, very proud! Unfortunately, aside from an INCREDIBLY diehard fanbase/cult that Zack Snyder has gain over the years, Man of Steel fails to live up to those ideals that it DESEPREATELY wants to strive towards.

While nearly everything from the technical side of things, sound and audio side of things, acting side of things, and action/scale side of things are aces, the overall story and script leaves PLENTY to be desired. Most of the characters come off as plot devices and motivation for Superman than actual characters, the dialogue strikes a fine line between being poetic/inspiring and just being plain pretentious, the way it’s tell it’s origin story feels so disjointed and scattershot because it’s being told in non-chronologically, and it’s overall themes feel not so much explored but just told directly to the audiences, given the impression that the film thinks it’s too “smart” for it’s audience. It has all the elements that makes for an amazing trailer but NOT for an amazing film.

That’s might be just why I was actually quite a big fan of this film when I first saw it back in 2013. I SAW the potential when watching it with my very eyes on the big screen. I was blown away by the visuals, inspired by the quotes made for the trailers, was thrilled by the non-stop action and explosions, and found the morals to be interpreted in a way that I always imagined a modern Superman film should consist of. And because of that, I wore rose-colored glasses the whole way through because I just assumed I didn’t actually need to critique or analyze because well….the film was too smart for me that I didn’t think I needed to bother.

That is also why the more I’ve thought about Man of Steel over the years and the more times I’ve gone back and rewatched it, it…….kinda gets worse for me. Once I’m able to take those rose-colored glasses off, all I see are amazing concepts, ideas, and potential that is never has fully utilized as well as it should be. It’s a film full of eye popping moments but not one that commits to being a consistent narrative or a grand vision of it’s own. It’s a film that is loaded with action but fails to deliver consequential stakes due to Superman and Zod being practically invisible and the film failing to make the city of Metropolis and it’s people it’s own distinct character. It’s a film that has inspirational quotes and lines of dialogue that don’t amount anything to the story or characters. It’s a film that thinks it’s being faithful to Superman while also wanting to critique him in ways that I don’t think the filmmakers intended. Quite simply, it falls short of it’s ambition.

If there is one thing that I think anyone can agree upon regarding this film is that Man of Steel should NOT have been a film that kicked off a new DC universe with. It’s bizarre tone and feel is NOT one that can work as a consistent one for an entire cinematic universe of cinematic storytelling. Plus, Zack Snyder up to that point (and even now) has been quite a divisive filmmaker with an incredibly distinct vision that isn’t really appealing to mainstream audiences. Up to that point, the only film in Snyder’s filmography that had great appeal to mainstream audiences was his 2005 remake of Dawn of the Dead, which was also co-written by James Gunn (Don’t tell the Snyder bros that!).

This is honestly why I believe Man of Steel should have taken place in it’s own universe with Superman without any ties to the other DC characters. Similar to that of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy and Matt Reeve’s Batman universe, the world of Man of Steel should have been one that should have existed in it’s own terms and merits, being able to explore it’s ideas and concepts with multiple films and potential spin-offs. Plus, it’s more bleak and somber tone could’ve been one that worked more comfortably with more limited installments instead of with a whole decades worth of superhero cinematic content with different characters and stories.

If it was given a chance to be it’s own thing while also having planted seeds of it’s own that it was able to grow upon with future standalone Superman sequels, Man of Steel could have been seen as a grand re-introduction to the character of Superman and one that could successfully redefined Superman to a new generation the same way that Christopher Nolan did with Batman. However, due to it’s shortcomings, it’s obligation to start a new DC universe, and the follow-ups which came after tripling down on the things that don’t work rather than what does, you can’t help but see wasted potential. As it’s own thing, Man of Steel is functional on a surface level but not on a depth level.

I sure hope now that James Gunn is taking over Superman and is looking to create a new generation of Superman fans of it’s own, I sure hope he is able to learn from Zack Snyder’s shortcoming here. Make sure you know EXACTLY the kind of film you are making and the message you are trying to convey to the audience! If you are gonna create a new version of Superman for a “modern” audience, make sure to at LEAST capture the spirit of what the character has always stand for and only make changes that fit with the overall narrative and not ones for the sake of change!

Make those same mistakes and we might have another Man of Steel on our hands!

Next Up: Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice

Superman Returns (2006)- Identity Crisis

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It took nearly two decades but Superman finally returned onto the big screen in 2006 with Superman Returns. Coming off the cinematic disaster that was Superman IV: The Quest For Peace, DC and Warner Bros seemed to have no clue how in the world to tackle Superman in cinematic form. After the flame with the Christopher Reeve run as Superman died out, it seemed like no one would be excited for a new Superman movie ever again. Sure, there was a handful of famous cartoons, straight-to-DVD animated movies, and at least one video game (*cough* Superman 64 *cough*) but in terms of cinematics, it felt like a near impossible task to get Superman back onto the big screen in a post-Christopher Reeve world.

However, 19 years later, they were able to give it another shot. Directing this time around was no other than Bryan Singer, who have just come off his own recent comic book success with the first two X-Men films and even jumped ship on the third one strictly for Superman. And Clark Kent himself would be played by Brandon Routh, who was able to beat out Henry Cavill in auditions, the man who would later become the next Superman seven years later in Man of Steel.

Although, things would be different than the prior Superman movies. This would introduce a brand new Superman and a brand new actor playing him but it wouldn’t be strictly a reboot or remake. This would introduce a more warm and mature tone that wouldn’t match the optimistic and lighthearted feel of the former Superman movies nor the dark and bleak feel of what the latter Superman movies would be like. Most importantly, this would act as it’s own version of Superman 3 & 4, retconning Superman III and Superman IV entirely, but would also be set in it’s own distinct timeline with enough distance from the very first two Superman movies in order to fit into the current climate of when this film came out.

If that sounds like a jumbling mess to you, that’s because it absolutely is. Superman Returns is a film with a clear identity crisis. It’s unsure of how far it wants to go with respecting the past that’s it unable to blaze towards it’s own future. It wants to stand strictly on it’s own terms, being able to properly introduce Superman to an audience who weren’t alive during the Christopher Reeve days, but also wants to act as it’s own version of Superman III, in order to appeal to the longtime fans that had been waiting nearly two decades for a new Superman movie. And the inconsistency on display can be seen within the characters themselves and their connections to the first two movies.

Like if this is suppose to be a sequel to the first two movies, then why have this movie be set in the 2000s? How does Lois Lane still not know Clark Kent is Superman when she literally had his kid? Didn’t she find out Supe’s identity in Superman II? Plus, why does she look 10X younger than Margot Kiddler? As a matter of fact, why does everyone else look younger here than they did FIVE years ago?! Why would Superman go AWOL for five years looking for a remaining Kryptonians when he had already accepted their fates over two movies ago after beating Zod? How is it that Lex Luthor is just NOW getting released from prison at around the exact same time that Superman comes back? And do I even need to mention all the 2000s era product placement that practically breaks the timeline of this movie when you so much as breath on it?

It’s frustrating because on paper, a proper redo of the last two Superman movies could make for a bittersweet bow tie of the original Superman era while also making away for a brand new path. It could make for a nice “fixing the past to make for a better future” franchise metaphor that was the driving for for Bryan Singer’s very next superhero film he would direct with X-Men: Days of Future Past. Giving Brandon Routh his own Superman that captures the spirit of Christopher Reeves Superman and then be giving the chance to shine in his own spotlight in the future would have made for a nice passing of the touch between generational Superman actors. Unfortunately, because the continuity is so messed up and the characters feel so inconsistent compared to prior movies, the big emotional connection just doesn’t work here.

The other issue among the film is the desire to move away from being a typical summer blockbuster action flick. Because of that, this film is very light on action. The most memorable standout action sequences include the famous plane scene, Superman stopping bullets being shot at him, and the sequences where Lex and his goons beat up a wounded Superman. Aside from that, outside of your traditional flying sequences and brief moments where Superman saves some people, this is probably the Superman film with the least amount of action, a criticism that Man of Steel would later take and completely overdo the action as a result. This wouldn’t be so bad if at least everything else was engaging and exciting but it just isn’t.

Which is all frustrating because I do think this film does represent the perfect balance between the tone of the Christopher Reeve films and Henry Cavil films. It’s able to not be too campy and over-the-top that plagued the last two Superman films but also not be way too dark, somber, and bleak that sunk the very next Superman film. It has perhaps the most mature tone out of all the Superman movies to date, a tone that hopefully James Gunn is able to recapture with his own film coming out next week. When folks wonder what kind of tone and feel that they want in a modern Superman film, I’m pretty sure they would say this tone is a direct answer. In that case, I would agree entirely.

I’ve always had a complicated history with Superman Returns. It was the very first Superman movie I had ever watch from beginning to end. Because of that, I couldn’t help but hate this movie and find myself hating Superman as a result. I just couldn’t fully buy into a superhero that’s all “Mr. Goody Two Shoes” and only has any important use as Superman but NOT Clark Kent. If he doesn’t have superpowers, he can’t do anything. The main sequence of the film that showcases that is when Lex and his guards beat up Superman, stabbed him, and forces him off a cliff, presumably killing him. However, now that nearly two decades have passed by and seeing more bleak portrayals of the character as both a definite version and as a self-parody (take Homelander from The Boys), I can’t help but have more respect in the way that Superman Returns portrays Superman.

It’s feels refreshing to see a film that is the cinematic equivalent of Superman/Clark being a friendly guy who saves people. It’s feels refreshing to see a Superman that always looks for the good in people and not that just assumes the worst. It feels refreshing to see Superman have his own unique abilities and weaknesses without making him completely perfect. More importantly, it feels refreshing to see a Superman that completely embodies truth and justice. For all of the flaws that can be said for Superman Returns, this is the one element I can completely get behind. This might’ve not been the kind of Superman I (along with many others) was looking for back in 2006 but in the year 2025, I most certainly support it.

Much like many Superman films that have come after the first two Reeve films, Superman Returns is a frustrating mixed bag. It crosses the fine line between ambition and aimlessness by waiting to be the faithful third chapter to Christopher Reeve’s Superman that Superman III wasn’t but in so doing so, undermines itself by failing to advance the characters the way they were back in the early 1980s while also wanting to be a standalone film that’s set in the 2000s. With that amount of disconnect in terms of narrative and overall identity for itself along with the complete lack of action, Superman Returns ultimately falls short of it’s notable good intensions.

That being said, I still am grateful that this film exists. Not just because this was my introduction to Superman (even if it wasn’t a great one when I first watched it), but because it shows that it is possible to adapt Superman in the 21st century as a noble man with good intentions and not just as another Batman clone. And if what we are seeing and hearing about James Gunn’s Superman is any indication, we might just be getting the best possible version of that!

Next Up: Man of Steel

Ranking The Jurassic Park Franchise

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With Jurassic World: Rebirth now in theaters and expected to be the #1 hit at the box office for this Fourth of July weekend, what better time than to rank all six films in this franchise. While most fans and critics tend to agree of what movie is the very best of the series, the rest of the rankings usually tend to be all over the place. Some of these entries have their fans while others have their haters but overall, opinions tend to vary on the Jurassic Park/World franchise as a whole.

Now that another Jurassic movie is out, time to throw my hat in the ring with my ranking of the Jurassic Park and World movies from worst to best!

7.) Jurassic World: Dominion

After the disaster that was Fallen Kingdom, you would think the franchise couldn’t possibly get any worse. Well, apparently we were wrong because the (at least at the time) final entry of the Jurassic franchise was somehow able to be any worse. Aside from the novelty of seeing the returning cast of the original back in the game and the delightful presence of DeWanda Wise, there is very little of Dominion that works here.

The whole “dino among us” premise that the last movie set up is practically non-existent here with only a handful of nice, silent visual moments showing off the potential for it. Too much time is focused on research labs and having to rescue the little girl while too little time is focused on the actual dinosaurs themselves. The original and new cast don’t come together until way too late and by then, you will most likely be tuned out of the picture and just feeling numb. It made it’s billion dollars back in 2022 but this was a sign that it’s time to hang the coats up. (Spoiler Alert: They didn’t but…….that might actually be okay.)

6.) Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Talk about a sequel that is as bad as a sequel and possibly get. Fallen Kingdom is able to take everything that was wrong with all of the Jurassic Park/World sequels up to that point and put it all on steroids. Doubling down on all the stupidity and incompetence on display and leaving out all the smart and thoughtfulness in the hot sun to dry out (or in this case, get eaten by the dinosaurs!

While director J.A. Bayona does what he can to add some of his own unique directing style to the series, he is completely let down by a horrible screenplay filled with absurdly dumb characters, nonsensical motivations, baffling retcons, and some of the laughable plot twists imaginable. (Seriously, why make the girl a clone of the dinosaurs?) Unable to decide if it wants to be an over-the-top action thrill ride or some meaningful political themed exploration between humans and dinosaurs, Fallen Kingdom shows what happens when a franchise has long lost it’s way and only exists because of it’s profits. (Again, why was the girl a clone again?)

5.) Jurassic World

After 22 years, someone was finally dumb enough to open up the park of dinos and the result is nothing but chaos and stupidity. The first of the “World” trilogy certainly has some enjoyable parts scattered throughout. It’s fun to actually explore the park as it opens for business, the final 45 minutes includes probably the most enthralling action of the entire franchise (especially the last bit with the Indominous Rex), and seeing Chris Pratt riding alongside the dinosaurs is cool stuff. That can’t quite make up for everything else that the rest of the movie lacks.

The characters are all one-note cartoon cardboard cutouts, there’s hardly any logic at play, nearly every major plot beat wouldn’t happen if anyone would just behave like an actual human being, and man, do the CGI dinosaurs stick out like an absolute sore thumb. There’s enough entertaining bits that can make Jurassic World be seen as a guilty pleasure as compared to the next two sequels but once the credits roll, you can’t help but think of the number of missed opportunities hidden throughout the entire picture.

4.) The Lost World: Jurassic Park

Steven Spielberg deep down had to know that he was never gonna top the original when making this one and the fact he even tried to is admirable but very foolhardy. The Lost World sees Spielberg attempting to dive deeper into the dinosaur mythology by putting a bigger emphasis on animal rights along with more focus on family dynamics by making standout side character Jeff Goldblum the main protagonist this time out. The results are quite mixed.

While Spielberg has executed similar themes brilliantly in his other movies, here it comes across as half baked and at times, preachy. And with how action packed and tense the final 30 minutes is seeing the T. Rex causing rampage in the streets of San Diego, you can’t help but wonder if Steven would have been better off just making that kind of movie this time out. The Lost World, like with the other sequels, has it’s moments but you can clearly tell how even the king of blockbuster filmmaking really struggled to make this one the perfect companion piece to the original standout with the likes of Aliens and T2: Judgement Day.

3.) Jurassic World: Rebirth

Well, colored me shocked! For what is easily the most pointless and unnecessary entry in this franchise to date, Jurassic World Rebirth is able to stand as the closest this series has come to recapturing the spirit and tension of the original in this “World” era we are in right now.

This is largely because director Gareth Edwards is able to create iconic imagery of it’s own with standout dino sequences that have it’s fair share of tension, without the over-the-top stupidity of the humans involved, pandering nostalgia, and complete disregard of it’s central themes. The characters themselves are paper thin, with only the charismatic cast carrying their weight (ScarJo is as awesome as always!), and it doesn’t have the emotional anchor that the film itself really wants to convoy, but for the most part, Rebirth is able to stand out positively in a way that the last several films didn’t. Much like #2, it knows exactly what it’s trying to do and it doesn’t try to convince it’s doing anything else.

2.) Jurassic Park III

The first film not directed by Steven Spielberg also seems to be the first one that seemed to be aware of the impossible standards of the original that it could never meet. At this point, it was painfully obvious that any sequel to follow the original Jurassic Park was automatically gonna look bad by comparison and would at best, be taking home a silver medal for being in 2nd place. And with a franchise that has gone on for over 30 years, maybe a silver medal might just be worth it.

Director Joe Johnston basically takes what Spielberg did in the final half hour of the last minute and just makes that the whole movie. While Spielberg tried (and failed) to top the bar with The Lost World, Jurassic Park III simply embraces it’s own cheese and camp value to make for a fun B-movie. It never tries to pretend it’s overly smart and having something meaningful to say, it just wants to have some dumb, shlocky fun and for the most part it’s succeeds. It’s also nice to have Sam Neill back as Dr. Alan Grant in this as well. There’s plenty you can complain about in terms of the rushed script and ridiculous moments but Jurassic Park III has Johnston basically does what he can in the best of a clearly unwinnable situation.

1.) Jurassic Park

Was there ever any doubt? I don’t know how many times I have to say it but the original Jurassic Park main advantage it has than any of the sequels is how being the first of it’s kind was complete lightning in a bottle that could just never be replicated again. Seeing the amazement of an actual possible theme park of dinosaur creatures can never be done as good as it was the first time around.

The action sequences are all incredible, with the main highlights being the whole T Rex chase scene. The characters, while mostly simplistic, are all real likable and well developed throughout. The actors fit their roles like a glove. The dinosaur effects still hold up very well in 2025! And, who doesn’t get at least a little misty eyed when they hear that beyond beautiful theme by John Williams. There is just not a single part where Jurassic Park falters.

Sure, you can make an argument that it’s simply blockbuster popcorn entertainment but there has arguably not been blockbuster popcorn entertainment quite as impactful as this movie. The fact this was made by the same man who released this and Schindler’s List in the exact same year says it all what an absolute miracle the original Jurassic Park is. It became an instant classic when it came out in 1993 and still remains a classic over 32 years later!