We Ranked the Best (and Worst) Actors to Play Superman

We live in a golden age of Superhero movies. With the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the D.C. Extended Universe, and any number of stand-alones (like Joker) or satirical/self-referential spinoffs (looking at you, Watchmen and The Boys), there's a new superpowered movie or show debuting just about every couple of weeks.

In that mix there are a number of eccentric and out there characters to play; there's the billionaire arms dealing playboy (Iron Man), the criminal mastermind ostracized by society who chooses to dress up like a clown (Joker), and a teenager who, I don't know, shoots webs from his wrists and can climb on walls (Spider-Man)? And those are just some lead characters, not even touching on supporting players, like the brainwashed WWII soldier turned into a killing machine with a metal arm (The Winter Soldier).

Which makes the original superhero—Superman—seem relatively tame by comparison. The alien from outer space poising as a farmboy from Kansas is a character that can be extremely difficult to play, if for no other reason than the fact that he's so perfect. How can you make the embodiment of a flawless being interesting on screen? It's always been an incredible challenge, and the actors on this list—including Men's Health's December Cover Star Henry Cavill—have all given it their best.

Here's how we think they stack up: