James Gunn is bringing a new Superman to the big screen this week. It’s the latest attempt to breathe life into the franchise and the DC Universe. There have been six previous solo Superman films since 1978. This week’s binge offers my rankings of these previous attempts. Films appear in ascending order.

No. 6: Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
About: This was the fourth and final installment with Christopher Reeve. It brought back Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, which seemed good. But it was overly preachy about eliminating nuclear weapons and didn’t seem to have a lot going for it. It’s kind of a dud of a film.

No. 5: Superman III (1983)
About: This one takes Clark Kent back to Smallville, for a time. It also has a wacky villain plot that’s led by Richard Pryor. While it’s given us a lifetime of memes involving his monetary scheme, it’s just OK as a film.

No. 4: Superman (1978)
About: This is a special film. It’s the first of Reeve’s films and it has a lot of charm. It was revolutionary for the time it came out. I know it’s on the middle of this list, but I respect this film a lot.

No. 3: Man of Steel (2013)
About: This is the Zack Snyder entry. Yes, there were technically two, but since the follow up is Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, I didn’t count it. This film has some near perfect moments and pieces. I don’t love the final battle with Zod, but this is a really compelling film.

No. 2: Superman II (1981)
About: This sequel for Superman is the best of the films with Reeve. It has the best story and some of the best sequences. The Richard Donner cut is even better. I like this film a lot.

No. 1: Superman Returns (2006)
About: This will be heresy for some. I know the film wasn’t well regarded, and it hasn’t aged well with Kevin Spacey in a starring role and Bryan Singer behind the camera. But it really worked for me. It’s meant as a direct sequel to Superman II, and I really like Brandon Routh in the role. This film also touches on the theological elements of Superman that really speak to me. To me, this is the gold standard when it comes to Superman films.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.