Superman is arguably the most famous superhero, and he—along with director Richard Donner—paved the way for today’s superhero films. However, his movie history is uneven. While half of the original Christopher Reeve Superman films are considered excellent, later installments like Superman Returns, Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Zack Snyder’s Justice League have proven quite controversial, dividing audiences. James Gunn’s recent Superman film has also received mixed reactions, but not nearly to the same degree as those earlier, more divisive movies.
Most of these films consistently deliver exciting action scenes. While some haven’t aged as well, it’s important to remember James Gunn wasn’t the first to showcase Superman in thrilling fights or rescues.
10) Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman vs. Doomsday in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Okay, so the final battle in Batman v Superman? It’s a bit let down by Doomsday looking kinda…clunky with all the CGI. But honestly, it’s still a really cool fight! It really kicks off when Wonder Woman shows up and blocks Doomsday’s heat vision – and then that music hits, you know, Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL’s ‘Is She with You?’ – gives me chills every time!
While Batman v Superman might have hinted at the DC Extended Universe’s eventual struggles, Zack Snyder certainly knows how to create visually stunning moments. The fight between Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman against Doomsday is full of them. This sequence also stands out for delivering the film’s most genuinely moving scene: Superman’s apparent death – even though he didn’t stay gone for long.
9) Superman vs. the Kaiju in Superman (2025)
Want to demonstrate just how powerful the new Superman is? A fight with a giant monster is a great way to do it. James Gunn used this approach, and it was effective.
The scene highlights how the citizens of Metropolis constantly need rescuing. It also beautifully shows Superman’s willingness to help anyone, even a small animal, reinforcing his heroic nature. Plus, the monster itself is well-designed – scary, but with a touch of humor, which perfectly matches the overall lighthearted tone. The sequence has real tension, but it avoids the grim and overly serious feel of the action scenes in Man of Steel.
8) Superman vs. Himself in Superman III
The action sequences in the first four Superman movies, especially those starring Christopher Reeve, haven’t held up over time. While they have a certain nostalgic appeal, they often lack the excitement we expect today – for example, many scenes in Superman II feature characters simply floating with little impact. The action in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace was never particularly impressive to begin with.
While Superman III isn’t a great movie overall, it does feature one standout scene: the intense fight between Superman and his darker self in a junkyard. This scene, thanks to Christopher Reeve’s performance and its impact on the story, feels genuinely important and adds much-needed excitement. It’s a much stronger moment than the film’s dated computer effects, like the battle against the supercomputer.
7) Superman vs. Faora & Nam-Ek in Man of Steel
People have very strong opinions about Man of Steel – you either love it or you hate it. What almost everyone agrees on, though, is the sheer amount of advertising throughout the movie. Even during the big fight in Smallville, Kansas, it’s noticeable how many well-known chain stores are prominently featured in what’s supposed to be a small town.
What really jumps out in this scene is how effortlessly Faora moves, quickly taking down opponent after opponent. The impact of each hit feels especially strong, even more so than in the final battle. A perfect example is the fight between Faora and Superman inside—of all places—an IHOP.
6) Superman and the World Engine in Man of Steel
The World Engine sequence in Man of Steel is truly one of the most impressive scenes ever filmed in a superhero movie. It feels completely believable that this machine could destroy an entire city.
As a huge fan, I have to say this scene is incredible. The way it looks is just stunning, and the music and sound effects really put you right there in the middle of the action. You genuinely feel surrounded by the threat of Zod’s massive, terrifying machine – it’s like his own version of the Death Star, and it’s completely immersive!
5) Bullet to the Eye in Superman Returns
Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns is generally a bit of a drag, although it’s commendable that the film attempted to follow the story established in the original Christopher Reeve movies. The casting of Brandon Routh as Superman was also excellent – they couldn’t have found someone who looked more like the original.
As a film buff, one thing I really appreciated about this movie is how powerfully Superman is portrayed. It’s not necessarily an action-packed film, but when the action does happen, you really feel his strength. There’s this one scene that sticks out – a group of criminals are attacking police with a massive chain gun mounted on a crane. Superman shows up, the guy running the gun runs out of ammo, and incredibly, he pulls out a pistol and shoots at Superman’s eye! The bullet just…flattens and drops. It’s a genuinely iconic moment, the kind you’d see in a trailer, and it really sells how nearly invulnerable he is.
4) Mr. Terrific at Lex’s Base in Superman (2025)
We’re defining action sequences within Superman movies, not necessarily movies about Superman being in action. That’s why Mr. Terrific – arguably the best character in Gunn’s film – fighting Lex Luthor’s henchmen at his beach base counts as a great action scene.
The scene works brilliantly, from the dynamic camera angles focused on Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane, safely inside Mr. Terrific’s shield, to the cheerful song “5 Years Time” playing during the action. The combination of an optimistic tune with a superhero effortlessly defeating a large group of enemies is classic James Gunn. It perfectly highlights Mr. Terrific’s ability to achieve incredible results with surprisingly simple technology – in this case, small metal spheres.
3) Batman vs. Superman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
While Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice tries to do a lot, much of it isn’t very engaging. The movie attempted an ambitious story but struggled to pull it off. However, before a particularly debated scene involving the characters’ mothers, the action sequences definitely lived up to the film’s promise of a great fight.
Using the Batsuit from Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns was a brilliant choice – it looks just as impressive on screen as it does in the comic book. The suit also effectively portrays Batman as a capable fighter, even against a powerful opponent like Superman. For a good portion of the battle, it genuinely seems like Batman might win. Even though Superman is holding back, it would have been disappointing to watch a fight where a human, even in heavy armor, was clearly outmatched by a Kryptonian. Nobody wants to see an unfair fight, and thankfully, this one feels balanced.
2) The Plane Rescue in Superman Returns
The Superman films starring Christopher Reeve were most enjoyable when they focused on Superman simply helping people, rather than battling the main villain. There was a lot of appeal in seeing him perform classic heroic acts, like rescuing cats.
The movie Superman Returns recognized the power of a dramatic rescue. Thanks to modern technology, it could realistically show a Boeing 777 crashing, then being saved by Superman – effectively announcing his comeback to the world.
1) Superman vs. Zod in Man of Steel
While some viewers felt the battle between Superman and Zod echoed the events of 9/11, and others were disturbed by Superman killing Zod, it remains the most captivating fight scene in any Superman film. It’s difficult to picture a more thrilling or impactful sequence in future movies.
Man, the images of Metropolis getting wrecked in that movie still stick with me. And Zod’s speech about losing his world? Michael Shannon totally nailed it – it was genuinely chilling. The fight scenes were incredible, too. You really felt every hit, like these guys were just tossing each other through skyscrapers with no effort. It was a huge, visually stunning sequence, and seeing it in IMAX was a real treat. Honestly, it really felt like watching two gods battling it out. I know Superman probably should have taken the fight somewhere else, but those crumbling buildings definitely added to the excitement, you know?
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2025-11-27 01:15