Summary
- David Corenswet's Superman costume is based on multiple iterations from the comics.
- Nicolas Cage's Superman is finally brought to life in The Flash, showcasing a unique metallic suit.
- Tyler Hoechlin's design in Superman & Lois bridges modern and classic in a loving portrayal.
Fans have experienced a new take on the Metropolis Marvel thanks to James Gunn’s Superman, which kickstarts a new universe of DC movies and shows. The legacy of Superman continues to give each actor a signature costume that brings Superman’s famous suit to life in a style that matches the movie and the director.
10 Ways Superman Sets The Stage For James Gunn’s DCU
Superman introduces factions, ethical divides, and rival teams, setting up power struggles that will shape the DCU going forward.
Superman is a symbol of hope and justice for the people of the DC Universe, but also in real life, so the visuals of Superman have had an iconic aesthetic that resonates with people. They range from original designs to direct live-action adaptations of specific comic book costumes. That includes Superman portrayals from across the movies and shows from over the years.
10 Nicolas Cage’s Suit
DC’s Controversial Movie Brought Back The Lost Superman
The Flash
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- Release Date
- June 16, 2023
- Runtime
- 144 minutes
The Superman that was lost and only became official thanks to a cameo in The Flash. Nicolas Cage was officially cast as Superman in Tim Burton’s Superman Lives, but it was cancelled before any filming began due to creative differences with the studio. Veteran director Tim Burton left the project to make Sleepy Hollow, and only pictures of Nicolas Cage as Superman existed.
However, for a memorable yet controversial segment of The Flash, Nicolas Cage’s Superman finally saw the light of day by being brought to life through CGI. It showcased a more metallic suit that felt more like armor than a typical suit, with highly saturated blues, reds, and yellows that made the material appear shiny. It showed the potential of Superman Lives and how Cage’s take on the character would have been a unique one.
9 Brandon Routh’s Superman Returns Suit
Brandon Routh Deserved A Better Movie
Superman Returns
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- June 28, 2006
WHERE TO WATCH
- Runtime
- 2h 34m
After a long hiatus, the Man of Steel finally returned to the big screen with Superman Returns, a movie that retcons the timeline to be a sequel to Superman 2. As a result, Brandon Routh came in and proved to be uncannily similar to Christopher Reeve in appearance, performance, and suit.
There are noticeable differences in Brandon Routh’s costume, such as a longer symbol and the blue bodysuit being a thicker material than what Reeve wore. The biggest downgrade to the suit is the coloring, with the reds coming off more as brown in a lot of sequences, while the blues are more vibrant than most suits to create an ill-fitting contrast.
8 Henry Cavill’s Dawn Of Justice Suit
The Second DCEU Suit Was A Little Too Busy
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- March 25, 2016
- Runtime
- 152 minutes
Henry Cavill’s suit was given a much-needed increase in color for Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. The sapphire blue and blood red made the suit pop in what was a dark and dismal version of the DC Universe that needed a symbol of hope like his portrayal. The longer cape, alien armor design, and new colors made Henry Cavill look majestic, even when he was fighting Batman.
8 DCEU Actors Who Should Be Recast in the New DCU
The DCEU features talented actors who deserve a fresh start in James Gunn’s DCU, following Jason Momoa's example as Lobo.
The second Superman suit for the DC Extended Universe is very similar to what was seen in Man of Steel, which has its pros and cons. The suit is slightly busier, with new details like the swirls of Kryptonian language etched into the symbol, and the built-in belt is even more noticeable than before. It’s still undeniably Henry Cavill’s suit and helped define his era as Superman.
7 Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman & Lois Suit
Proof That Superman Can Work On Television
Superman & Lois
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2021 - 2024-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Network
- The CW
- Showrunner
- todd helbing
When Tyler Hoechlin first debuted as Superman on the CW’s Supergirl series, his suit left viewers scratching their heads with the design, but that all changed after he got his own spin-off Superman series. In Superman & Lois, the cape straps were gone, and Tyler Hoechlin was given a bulkier second suit that returned to a more classic design, while keeping the darker colors.
The suit would get slight updates across the four seasons, but it would remain the same overall design and become recognized as Tyler Hoechlin’s most iconic suit. It’s a heavy middle ground between modernized and classic, which is what fans often describe Tyler Hoechlin’s performance, turning Superman & Lois into a beloved portrayal of Superman.
6 Henry Cavill's Resurrection Suit
Back From The Dead With An Iconic Look
Zack Snyder's Justice League
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- March 18, 2021
WHERE TO WATCH
- Runtime
- 242 minutes
After being killed by Doomsday in Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice, only one suit from the comics made sense in Zack Snyder’s Justice League: the resurrection suit. After Clark is brought back to life by his immortal cells and the Mother Box, he makes an epic return to being Superman with an all-black suit found in the Fortress of Solitude.
While it lacks the famous mullet and metallic silvers of the Death Of Superman storyline and is essentially a recolored Dawn Of Justice suit, it was a delight to see Henry Cavill make an epic entrance and fight Steppenwolf. It was the last time Henry Cavill truly got to shine as the character that made his career and helped establish the DCEU.
5 Tyler Hoechlin’s First Year Suit
The Flashbacks Resulted In The Best Fan Service
Superman & Lois
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2021 - 2024-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Network
- The CW
- Showrunner
- todd helbing
In one of the best episodes of Superman & Lois, fans got to see the first year of Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman, and it was a big plate of service for comic book fans. Not only does he replicate the iconic cover of Action Comics #1 with Superman lifting a green car, but he’s wearing a suit directly inspired by the 1941 Superman suit, which was also used in the Max Fleischer animated series.
During a time when superhero suits always had to be changed or modified to fit a sense of realism, Tyler Hoechlin’s 1941-inspired suit showcased that comic accuracy is not a bad thing. Tyler Hoechlin not only looked excellent in the suit, but the colors and design translated well into live-action, especially in the context that it was a suit created by Martha Kent.
4 Henry Cavill’s Man Of Steel Suit
The Suit That Started And Ended Cavill’s Tenure
Man of Steel
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- June 14, 2013
- Runtime
- 143 minutes
While not everyone was a fan of the direction that Zack Snyder took with Man of Steel, Henry Cavill continued the legacy of Superman with grace to kickstart what became the DC Extended Universe. His suit is similar to the others, with a bodysuit made up of alien mail that makes it look like bio-organic matter, heavily emphasizing his and Clark Kent’s alien origin.
The belt and waist accents, along with the absence of trunks, contribute to Henry Cavill's distinctive appearance, particularly with the more simplistic House of El crest on his chest. The only real downside to this suit is the desaturation of colors, which was improved when the suit made a surprise comeback with Cavill’s surprise cameo in Black Adam. It was fitting that Henry’s tenure began and ended with the same suit.
3 Christopher Reeve’s Suit
Reeve’s Costume Was So Good That They Never Changed It
Superman
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- December 14, 1978
WHERE TO WATCH
- Runtime
- 144 minutes
Superhero movies as they exist today wouldn’t exist without Christopher Reeve and his take on the character that began with Superman: The Movie in 1978. From his pitch-perfect duality between Clark Kent and Superman to his charming and family-friendly performance in suit, he became the gold standard of what people think of when they imagine the iconic character.
DC: 10 Best Superman Symbols, Ranked
From the classic symbol to Kingdom Come, the iconic House Of El symbol Superman wears on his chest has seen many variations, inspiring hope.
The suit is not that different from what is seen in the comics: a blue suit, red trunks, a cape, and beloved S-shaped shield on his chest, which Christopher Reeve wore perfectly. As a result, the suit never much changed across the four movies in which he was featured, leaving its impact on comic book movie history.
2 David Corenswet’s Suit
The DCU Takes Inspiration From All Eras of Superman
Superman
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- July 11, 2025
- Runtime
- 130 minutes
Instead of one specific comic book, David Corenswet’s debut suit for James Gunn’s Superman and the new DCU takes bits and pieces from many eras of the character. The main bulk of the suit is highly reminiscent of the New 52 with padded armor and lines to make him look more alien. He has a symbol directly based on Kingdom Come, and his red trunks are straight out of All-Star Superman and classic Golden Age Superman.
The result of the mix is an already iconic suit that is unlike any cinematic suit, which is balanced out with a performance by David Corenswet, establishing him as the Superman for a whole new generation. While it is likely that James Gunn will give David Corenswet new suits across the DCU, fans will likely always remember how the character debuted.
1 Brandon Routh’s Crisis On Infinite Earths Suit
The Perfect Comeback For Brandon Routh
The Flash
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2014 - 2023-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Network
- The CW
- Showrunner
- Eric Wallace
When Brandon Routh made a triumphant return in Crisis on Infinite Earths, the filmmakers could have given him the same suit from Superman Returns, and fans would have been happy. However, they went above and beyond to create a bold suit that, much like Hoechlin’s Fleischer suit, is taken straight out of the pages of the comics, particularly Kingdom Come.
With the gray streaks in his hair, black and red symbol, and the largest Superman symbol yet, Brandon Routh proved he still fit in the role of Superman over a decade after he left it. Fans enjoyed the suit and Brandon so much that they hoped that Brandon Routh would get an Elseworlds special on the CW or HBO Max.
DC: 8 Best Superman Games, Ranked
While Superman doesn't have the greatest track record with video games, there are gems, such as Justice League Heroes and the Injustice series.