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‘Superman': A ranking of all the live-action versions of the Man of Steel

Nicolas Cage (who has a son named Kal-El) made a brief appearance as a multiversal variant of the Man of Steel in 2023's 'The Flash.' While it was a pretty lackluster and mostly CGI cameo, it served as a nod to the actor nearly playing the hero in the ultimately shelved 'Superman Lives' film from writer Kevin Smith and director Tim Burton back in the '90s. Matt Bomer It's a shame that Matt Bomer, who Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Advertisement Hugh Jackman While he's better known for his work with Marvel as the razor-clawed Wolverine, Hugh Jackman did play Superman in an unofficial capacity in a 2001 episode of 'Saturday Night Live.' Will Ferrell also put a hilarious spin on Superman's dad Jor-El, played by Marlon Brando in the 1978 film. Advertisement 10. John Haymes Newton/Gerard Christopher Following the end of the Christopher Reeve era on the big screen with 1987's much-maligned 'Superman IV: The Quest for Peace,' Clark Kent was reborn on the small screen with 1988's 'Superboy' TV show (later titled 'The Adventures of Superboy'). Initially played by John Haymes Newton, who left the series after one season and was replaced by Gerard Christopher, this version of Kal-El features the hero during his younger years, navigating college life and a growing rogues gallery. While 'Superboy' was campy and over-the-top, Newton and Christopher turned in admirable performances as the Boy of Steel, with the underrated show laying the groundwork for future series that investigated Clark's early years, like 'Smallville.' 9. Kirk Alyn As the first person to play Superman in live action, Alyn had a chance to continue to play the character beyond his initial film serial appearances in 1948's 'Superman' and 1950's 'Atom Man vs. Superman.' A dashing star who embodied the rugged heroics of that era's Superman, Alyn sadly 8. Dean Cain Definitely a product of its era, the ABC series 'Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman' turned the superhero's story into a weekly romantic melodrama in the mid-'90s, as Teri Hatcher's Lois Lane swooned over Dean Cain's Superman. Advertisement 7. Henry Cavill Drawing inspiration from the 'Injustice' video games, where tragedy turns Superman into a god-like tyrant, Zack Snyder's take on the character was pretty dark and dreary in 2013's Henry Cavill in the 2016 film "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." Clay Enos 6. Brandon Routh My vote for the most underrated live-action Superman goes to Brandon Routh, who absolutely nailed the look and feel of the Man of Steel in 2006's 'Superman Returns.' As a spiritual sequel to the first two Reeve movies, Routh perfectly captured his predecessor's ability to balance the bombastic heroics with his bumbling alter ego. Routh's Kent was incredible, but the film suffers from a severe drought of compelling Superman action, making this an unfortunate one-and-done situation for the actor. Well, that was until he suited up again for the CW's TV crossover event 'Crisis on Infinite Earths,' where Routh played an older version of Superman inspired by the 'Kingdom Come' comic. 5. David Corenswet He may be the new super kid on the block, but David Corenswet has already flown up into my top five of live-action Superman actors. In the new film, directed and written by James Gunn, Corenswet brings a great mix of sincerity, hope, and humanity to the role, crafting a Superman that, as Globe film critic Odie Henderson Advertisement David Corenswet in 'Superman.' Warner Bros. 4. Tyler Hoechlin The last actor to play the Man of Tomorrow on the small screen, Tyler Hoechlin brought super dad vibes in the CW's 'Superman & Lois' series, which ended its four season run last year. Hoechlin, who originally played a different version of Superman on the CW's 'Supergirl' show, really embodied the character's wholesome, family man side in 'Superman & Lois,' which saw Clark, Lois (Bitsie Tulloch), and their two teenage sons living on the Kent farm in Smallville. While the series was cut short, Hoechlin deserves a lot of credit for his incredibly earnest portrayal of a Superman who always puts his family first, and for anchoring the character's legacy in the final years of DC shows on the CW. 3. Tom Welling Yes, 'Smallville,' which ran from 2001 to 2011, was at times a cornball fest that fused supernatural sci-fi with teenage melodrama, but for many millennial Superman fans, Tom Welling is their Man of Steel. Physically, Welling looked as close to the comic book character as a person could get outside of Christopher Reeve, and, even with the often cheesy dialogue, his gravitas made viewers buy into his super-powered Kansas do-gooder routine. 'Smallville' was far from perfect, and sure, he never really wore the Superman outfit until the final seconds of the finale, but Welling deserves his flowers, because no one has spent more time playing Clark on screen than him. Advertisement 2. George Reeves For fans of a certain age, George Reeves is the gold standard when it comes to the classic portrayal of Superman. After debuting as the hero in 1951's 'Superman and the Mole Men,' Reeves returned to play the character for six seasons on the hit TV series 'Adventures of Superman.' Becoming the face of the Man of Steel during his TV golden age (he even appeared as Superman in a 1957 'I Love Lucy' episode), Reeves brought an imposing, strongman physicality to Superman that made him that era's ultimate tough guy. 1. Christopher Reeve Did you really think it'd be anyone else? The Christopher Reeve in "Superman." Courtesy of The Kobal Collection at Art Resource Matt Juul can be reached at