The latest iteration of Superman’s live-action costume, as worn by David Corenswet in James Gunn’s upcoming Superman movie, has officially taken flight in the mindblowing first trailer. The question is, how does the new DC Universe’s official outfit for the Man of Steel in the upcoming DC movie – hitting theaters July 11, 2025 – measure up against what we have seen before?
Taking into account the definitive essentials of what Superman should look like, as first envisioned by artist Joseph Shuster’s original design in Action Comics #1, I have some opinions on the new Clark Kent’s look and that of all the live-action Superman costumes we have seen in great superhero movies and TV shows alike over the years. Based on comic book accuracy, practicality, believability, and overall badass appearance, these are my picks for the best of the ol’ red-and-blues (or blacks) so far, ranked in ascending order.
12. Tom Welling - Red Leather Jacket (Smallville)
To me, this clearly well-meaning design has a bit of an awkward “flashy biker” vibe. Still, at least it's more unique than digitally projecting the Superman Returns costume onto Tom Welling, which is the “official reveal” we got at the very end of the Smallville series finale.
The red leather jacket bearing the classic “S” emblem debuted in Season 10 of the popular prequel series and was actually Clark Kent’s second attempt at a pre-Superman costume. We will get to the first (and much cooler, I believe) design soon enough.
11. George Reeves (Superman And The Mole Men)
While I described the last entry as giving “flashy biker” vibes, I think of homemade pajamas when I see the costume donned by George Reeves. The actor wore this suit when he made his debut in the role in the 1951 feature-length film Superman and the Mole Men before becoming a staple of the Adventures of Superman series the following year.
Now, before you denounce me for what may have sounded like ridicule of this iconic design, I do notice and admire its comic book accuracy, even if it does pale in comparison to more modern costumes. Furthermore, I have no doubt these red and blues (or, more accurately, black and whites at the time) sparked a moment of unforgettable excitement for any young fans of the Man of Steel.
10. Dean Cain (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman)
Speaking of “homemade,” this costume was literally homemade by Clark Kent’s mother (K Callan) in the pilot of this Emmy-nominated 1990s series. Dean Cain played the lead, alongside Teri Hatcher’s Lois Lane, of ABC’s Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, which reimagined the Man of Steel’s story as a cheesy romantic dramedy of sorts with a costume to match the tone perfectly.
Fortunately, the suit saw some improvements as the series continued, such as swapping out the velcro-attached cape for one tucked under the blue tights. I also would regret not giving Cain extra points for having one of the largest chest emblems of any live-action design.
9. Tom Welling - Black (Smallville)
I understand the irony of where I rank this costume despite my praises of comic book accuracy and how the previously mentioned outfit worn by Tom Welling’s Clark Kent is clearly more faithful. However, I prefer the black trench coat approach of this costume, which showed up in Season 9 of Smallville
I like that it invokes a unique, noirish detective quality and, practically speaking, blends in during nightly adventures far more effectively than a red leather jacket. Furthermore, and once again, it is better than a CGI Superman Returns suit.
8. Brandon Routh (Superman Returns)
Speaking of, if there is one thing Bryan Singer’s polarizing continuation of 1980’s Superman II did right, it would have to be the suit worn by Brandon Routh. It does bear darker shades of blue and red, and a smaller, but more raised, chest emblem than Christopher Reeve’s costume (which, despite a breach in continuity, I almost find more cinematically appealing).
Plus, take a closer look at that emblem and you will see a collage of tiny House of El crests. That small, but very intriguing detail (along with the “S” on his belt buckle, too) is enough to convince me that Routh deserved his Superman reprisal… which we will get to soon.
7. Tyler Hoechlin (Supergirl)
One thing that I do not particularly admire about Brandon Routh’s suit is the red undies worn over the blue tights. I realize that Joseph Shuster’s illustration pretty much made that a tradition that has applied to many other superhero costume designs but I have always found it unnecessary and believe it does not translate as well to live-action.
That is a genuinely essential reason why I put it below Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman outfit, which he first appeared in on Supergirl in Season 2. I cannot say I care much for the way his cape is attached or the four golden etchings that surround the chest emblem for whatever reason, but everything else about this is A+ in my book.
6. Henry Cavill - Black (DC Extended Universe)
I suppose I have always had a bias toward superhero outfits that trade in their traditionally bright, colorful design for something darkly monochromatic. That is why my ranking of live-action Spider-Man movie outfits places Tobey Maguire’s black tights from Spider-Man 3 so high and why I admire the suit Henry Cavill dons in Zach Snyder’s Justice League following his resurrection.
After the actor teased the iconic design’s live-action debut in 2017’s Justice League on Instagram, fans were disappointed to see him back in the red-and-blues instead, which is why its long-awaited emergence in the Max-exclusive Snyder Cut was so appreciated and admired. For the same reasons most photos tend to look better in grayscale, redesigning the DCEU’s costume in solid black with a shining silver House of El crest makes Cavill’s Superman look great. Yet, this particular design – which is really not much more than his original outfit with the color drained – does leave some things to be desired, such as a shining, fully silver cape similar to McFarlane Toys’ Superman Black Suit Variant action figure.
5. David Corenswet (Superman)
Someone who shares my feelings about Clark Kent’s red undies is James Gunn, who was against the idea of bringing back the “trunks” for his upcoming superhero movie until star David Corenswet convinced him otherwise. After seeing what the first Superman poster and trailer have shown of the costume, I must admit that, somehow, the trunks might be one of my preferred aspects of the outfit. Frannkly, I still find the design a little busy and believe the chest emblem veers a bit too far from its classic “S” design, even if it does make a more believable House of El crest.
Luckily, I think the strengths outweigh the weaknesses here, overall. While I do tend to side with darker costumes (as some of my higher-ranked iterations will show), I applaud the more traditional and brighter color scheme – especially as a match for the tone Gunn seems to be going for with Superman – and I really dig the return of the yellow emblem on the cape. By combining classic elements with some from DC Comics' New 52 design, I think this new film has chosen a suit that promises a hopeful future for the Man of Steel on the big screen.
4. Tyler Hoechlin (Superman & Lois)
I gave Tyler Hoechlin’s suit from Supergirl an A+ but would give an A++ to his more recent and more “badass” Supersuit. The later, (technically) Arrowverse-canon outfit made its debut when the actor and his Lois, Elizabeth Tulloch, became the stars of their own solo TV show, Superman & Lois, which ended after four seasons in December 2024.
It probably goes without saying that I admire the removal of the emblem’s gold etchings and the previous cape attachments in lieu of tucking it under his collar, which also fits admirably tighter around his neck. Not to mention, his belt is much sleeker and I like the addition of a second House of El crest as the buckle, like on Routh’s Superman Returns costume. For these reasons, I think the new suit makes Hoechlin look better as the Man of Steel than ever and makes me thankful for the redesign.
3. Brandon Routh - Kingdom Come (Crisis On Infinite Earths)
While it is prone to put comic book fans up in arms, sometimes breaking tradition can be good. No, I am not talking about the outside undies again since this suit actually does incorporate that. I am specifically referring to how Alex Ross reimagined the Superman costume for one of the best DC Elseworlds stories, Kingdom Come.
With a less defined “S” on a black background in the chest emblem and darker belt, too, this was such a simple, yet astonishing change of pace that demanded a live-action translation. It finally did in the Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, as worn by Legends of Tomorrow star Brandon Routh, who has never looked better in the role.
2. Christopher Reeve (Superman: The Movie)
Despite my personal reservations over the trunks and brighter color schemes, those elements were used to perfection in 1978 when the late Christopher Reeve brought the Man of Steel to life in Richard Donner’s Superman: The Movie. Appearing in four solo movies total (more than any so far), the outfit authentically captured that era’s comic book design, with some credit due to Reeve’s mirror image resemblance to the character.
As a result, decades later, this Superman costume remains the definitive style in the eyes of many die-hard fans of the character. I would proudly justify that claim, even if my preferences lean toward what more recent years have seen.
1. Henry Cavill (DC Extended Universe)
Ranking one of the more recent cinematic iterations this high sounds like the obvious choice but I truly believe the DCEU’s original Supersuit deserves it for much more than recency. Just look at the way the color shades match the character’s darker interpretation, the subtle and rightfully more otherworldly look of the crest, the thankful lack of red underwear, and the way it all fits on Henry Cavill’s angelic frame.
These elements are key to why this Superman is the most imposing and cinematically rich iteration yet, which is also how I felt about Batfleck’s costume design in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. There has always been something cheesy or cartoonish to note about the previous live-action suits but not at all on this one.
There may come a day, after I finally see the upcoming 2025 movie, Superman, that David Corenswet’s costume earns a higher place on my list. Until then, Cavill remains king in my eyes but which live-action Man of Steel do you believe looks best?
