The Best Movies To Watch Ahead Of James Gunn’s ‘Superman’

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s the imminent arrival of James Gunn’s highly anticipated superhero epic, Superman!

The first official film of the rebooted DC Universe, Superman also acts as the first solo film featuring the Kryptonian superhero after Man of Steel over a decade ago. A vivid, seemingly comic book-accurate translation of the mythic Man of Tomorrow, it also looks to be one of the biggest blockbuster films of the summer, spelling out renewed hope for DC’s up-and-coming cinematic universe.

As audiences count down the days to the release of Superman, we decided to take a look at several other films viewers might want to see before Gunn’s latest film arrives in theaters, from some of the director’s previous superhero films to iconic Hollywood classics featuring Christopher Reeve’s Man of Steel.

The Guardians of the Galaxy Trilogy (2014-2023)

The series that essentially put James Gunn on the map, the Guardians of the Galaxy Trilogy also found a way to reignite interest in an obscure comic book team from the 1970s. Dusting off these little-known heroes and establishing them in the same favorable light as Iron Man, Spider-Man, or Captain America, Guardians of the Galaxy shows off Gunn’s ability to portray even the most niche comic book creations in a new and fascinating way (something we’ll no doubt see with the appearance of Hawkgirl, Mr. Terrific, and Guy Gardner in Superman).

The Suicide Squad (2021)

After his controversial dismissal from Disney in the late 2010s, James Gunn promptly found himself at Marvel’s mainstream rival in DC. Setting to work on 2021’s The Suicide Squad, Marvel’s loss proved to be DC’s gain with this comedic superhero epic, rebooting the titular team five years after the critically panned Suicide Squad. Smart, funny, and never taking itself too seriously, The Suicide Squad remains essential viewing for every fan of both Gunn and DC Comics, right down to its numerous appearances from lesser-known comic characters (Bloodsport, King Shark, Ratcatcher, Peacemaker, Polka Dot Man, etc.).

Superman (1978)

Superman might not have been the first ever film featuring the DC character in action, but it is the film that set the new standard for every superhero film released after 1978. A meticulous exploration of the Man of Steel’s origins, arrival to Earth, and first foray into his superhuman alter ego, 1978’s Superman is a wonderfully lighthearted superhero film fit for every generation of viewer, thanks in large part to Christopher Reeve’s iconic iteration of Big Blue himself.

Superman II (1980)

It’s not very often a sequel manages to surpass the original, but Superman II manages to do just that, pushing the boundaries of its predecessor forward in entirely new directions. Featuring a larger cast, larger setpieces, and an altogether larger story, Superman II coasts on the existential questions it raises about Superman’s identity, from his willingness to protect friends and family to the differences between Clark Kent and his heroic alter ego. Quite possibly the best Superman film we’ve seen to date, it’s also a timeless classic from the earliest days of the superhero genre, paving the way to practically every other superhero movie that followed in its wake.