All 5 Henry Cavill Superman Movies & Appearances in Order
Superman, the iconic DC Comics superhero, has been a favorite of audiences for decades. And among the actors who have donned the iconic red cape, Henry Cavill’s portrayal has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the character’s cinematic history. From his first appearance in “Man of Steel,” Cavill has embodied the spirit of Superman like few before him. In this article, we’ll take a look at all of Henry Cavill’s Superman movies in order, tracing his journey from a lone survivor of Krypton to the protector of Earth.
How many Henry Cavill Superman movies are there?
Henry Cavill appeared as Superman in 5 DCEU movies, but only one movie – Man of Steel, released in 2013, was a standalone movie focusing solely on his story. Man of Steel was likewise the first movie in which Henry Cavill donned Superman’s mantle and his first appearance in the DCEU altogether. The rest of the following movies incorporated other iconic superhero names such as Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and the Flash, as the movies focused on Justice League in general, with each hero getting at least one solo movie before being merged into a larger connected universe.
Henry Cavill Superman movies in order – at a glance
As we’ve mentioned, only Cavill’s first movie in the DCEU – Man of Steel was a standalone Superman movie. His joint movie with Batman, the Justice League, and a brief appearance in the Black Adam movie followed. You can check out the full order of movies in the list below.
- Man of Steel (2013)
- Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
- Justice League (2017)
- Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
- Black Adam (2022)
Are Henry Cavill’s Superman movies connected? Do you need to watch them in a specific order?
All of Henry Cavill’s Superman movies and appearances are connected and should be watched in order. All movies are set within the DCEU, which is a shared and interconnected universe of iconic DC characters. Within the DCEU, Henry Cavill’s Superman was a key character whose story arc was explored across the Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, and both versions of Justice League. Each movie builds upon the previous movie’s events and advances the narrative of the larger shared universe.
What is the best way to watch Henry Cavill’s Superman movies?
The best way to watch the movies is in their release date order. As mentioned, all movies were built around Superman’s character and the Justice League in general. It’s important to follow the release date order since, following it, you will be able to understand the context of the events that follow. The only movies that can be watched out of order are Justice League and Zack Snyder’s Justice League. You can watch both movies or skip one of them. It doesn’t matter since both movies result in the same events. Also, you can skip Black Adam altogether since Superman only briefly appears.
Henry Cavill Superman movies in order – by release date
1. Man of Steel (2013)
Man of Steel, released in 2013, is the first appearance of Henry Cavill as Superman in the DCEU. It was directed by Zack Snyder and recounted Superman’s origin story. The movie tells the story of how Clark, a young man with extraordinary abilities, discovers his true identity as an alien from the planet Krypton and learns to become Earth’s protector.
The film features flashbacks to Clark’s childhood, his relationship with his adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent, and his struggles with the military and General Zod, a Kryptonian warlord who seeks to conquer Earth. The movie received mixed reviews from critics but was a box office success, grossing over $668 million worldwide.
2. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
The movie takes place 18 months after the events of Man of Steel and depicts the clash between the two iconic superheroes. The story centers around the aftermath of Superman’s battle with General Zod, which left much of Metropolis destroyed and many people dead.
Batman, who sees Superman as a threat to humanity, decides to take matters into his own hands and confronts the Man of Steel. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor, a wealthy and manipulative businessman, is scheming behind the scenes to pit the two heroes against each other. The movie also introduces Wonder Woman, played by Gal Gadot, who has a crucial role in the story.
Despite being a box office, success like Man of Steel, it likewise received mixed reviews.
3. Justice League (2017)
Justice League takes place one year after Superman’s death, and it brings together Batman (Ben Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), The Flash (Ezra Miller), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) to save the world from the villainous Steppenwolf and his army of Parademons. The team is formed after Superman’s death, which has left the world vulnerable to attack.
Joss Whedon finished the directing of Justice League due to Zack Snyder’s personal problems that left him unable to assume all professional duties. Over time, this will prove to be an extremely scandalous decision as the movie bombed both in terms of critical reception, leading us to the next movie on our list- Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
4. Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
Zack Snyder’s Justice League featured an expanded storyline and new footage that was not included in the original release. The film was made possible due to a grassroots campaign led by fans, who demanded that Snyder’s original vision for the film be released. The new version of the film is a four-hour-long epic that delves deeper into the characters’ backstories and provides more context for their actions. The Snyder cut was released exclusively on the streaming service HBO Max and was met with critical acclaim, with many praising the film’s improved pacing, character development, and visual effects.
5. Black Adam (2022)
Henry Cavill’s Superman appears in the brief post-credit scene in the Black Adam’s standalone movie, so in the larger scheme of things, the movie is not a vital part of this watch order and can be easily skipped.
Where to watch Henry Cavill’s Superman movies?
You can watch all of Henry Cavill’s Superman appearances and his standalone movie on HBO Max.
Will more movies feature Henry Cavill as Superman?
Unfortunately, Henry Cavill will not return to reprise his role in the DCU. In November 2022, DC studios received a massive overhaul, and soon after that, it was announced that Cavill was officially retired as Superman. James Gunn and Peter Safran likewise announced a new slate of movies and a brand new page in the newly restructured and overhauled DCU. Superman’s story will be told again, but the younger actor will assume the role of Superman.
