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Up, up and away with the battle for superhero supremacy! Join us as we pit the greatest Superman and Lex Luthor portrayals against each other in an epic bracket showdown. From Christopher Reeve to Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum to Nicholas Hoult, we're determining which actors truly captured the essence of these iconic rivals in a final face-off between the ultimate Man of Steel and his brilliant nemesis!
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00:00You were right about me all along, Mr. Kent.
00:05I am the villain of the story.
00:08Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're pitting the most impactful portrayals of Superman and Lex Luthor against each other
00:13to determine which actors best captured the essence of these iconic rivals.
00:17It all boils down to a final round where the ultimate Superman faces the ultimate Lex.
00:22I'm here to fight for truth and justice in the American way.
00:26Round 1
00:30Tom Welling vs. Brandon Routh
00:35Funnily enough, Brandon Routh auditioned for Smallville, but the role of a young Clark Kent ultimately went to Tom Welling.
00:41So what are you, man or Superman?
00:46I haven't figured it out yet.
00:47Ralph got his chance to wear the cape in Superman Returns.
00:50Whereas Welling brought out Clark's youthful eagerness to help others,
00:54Routh's portrayal of Superman was more closed off.
00:56We guess that's fitting for a film revolving around Superman's isolation.
01:00Yet we expect Superman to be a little charismatic.
01:03Ironically, Routh would demonstrate his charisma on the CW as another superhero, Ray Palmer the Atom.
01:09Aside from coming off as introverted, some felt Routh was too young to play Superman,
01:13especially since this was supposedly the same continuity as the Christopher Reeve movies.
01:18Welling, meanwhile, perfectly fit the bill as a teenage, young adult Clark.
01:34Winner, Tom Welling.
01:36Clancy Brown vs. Jesse Eisenberg
01:38Talk about two opposites.
01:40One is cool and calculating with a booming voice and a daunting physique.
01:44The other is a quirky dweeb with a nasally voice and the upper body strength of Mark Zuckerberg.
01:48Boys!
01:50Mmm!
01:50Bruce Wayne meets Clark Kent.
01:52I love it!
01:54I love bringing people together!
01:55One has a reason for hating Superman, who constantly thwarts his schemes.
01:59The other wants Superman dead for... reasons.
02:01These two portrayals both have one thing in common, however.
02:05Both are cartoons.
02:06Albeit one is literal and the other is figurative.
02:09Yet it's the latter who comes off as more over the top.
02:12As far as voiceover performances go, we consider Clancy Brown the definitive Lex,
02:16conveying his slick demeanor and ruthless nature.
02:19I control everything in this town, Superman.
02:22Your cooperation is not really necessary.
02:25The offer was merely a courtesy.
02:27You will never control me, Luthor.
02:32Never!
02:35Well then, I guess I'll have to kill you.
02:39We don't know who Jesse Eisenberg was playing, but it wasn't Lex Luthor.
02:43It's not even Lex Jr.
02:44Winner, Clancy Brown.
02:46David Koren Sweat vs. Henry Cavill
02:48For nearly a decade, Henry Cavill was the DCEU's Man of Steel.
02:52In time, they will join you in the sun, Cal.
02:58Now, DC is ushering in a new tomorrow and universe with David Koren Sweat as Superman.
03:03While the DCEU had issues, Cavill gave a charming performance, when the script allowed him to.
03:08Unfortunately, his version of Superman started from such a dark place that it was hard to believe he'd ever be the inspiring moral center that this cinematic universe needed.
03:17The DCEU also glanced over his Superman's most controversial moments, like breaking Zod's neck.
03:22Koren Sweat brings out Superman's optimism while showcasing his conflicted side as he wrestles with his purpose on Earth and how much power one man, super or otherwise, should possess.
03:32Hey! Quit messing around!
03:34I'm not messing around. I'm doing important stuff.
03:36He's the modern Superman we always felt Cavill should have been.
03:39Winner, David Koren Sweat
03:41Michael Rosenbaum vs. John Cryer
03:44Michael Rosenbaum and John Cryer each played younger Luthers.
03:48Of course, in Cryer's case, it was Lenny Luther in Superman IV The Quest for Peace.
03:52Lenny! What?
03:53Fast forward about 30 years, and Cryer was upgraded to Lenny's uncle in the Arrowverse, and surprisingly, it worked.
04:00While not quite as intimidating as some past portrayals, Cryer's weaselly and narcissistic yet cunning and manipulative take on Lex was always fun to watch.
04:08Of the two portrayals the CW gave us, though, Rosenbaum brought more depth to his Lex.
04:13Despite starting as Clark Kent's friend, Rosenbaum's Lex is destined to be his enemy.
04:18In fact, when we first met, you inspired me.
04:23All I wanted was to be your friend, but you turned your back on me.
04:30So you're the person you are today because of me.
04:32That's what makes his characterization so tragic, which Rosenbaum unearthed with subtle nuances over several seasons as Lex becomes the villain he was born to be.
04:41Winner, Michael Rosenbaum
04:43Christopher Reeve vs. George Reeves
04:46When we think classic Superman, Christopher Reeve and George Reeves immediately come to mind.
04:51It's all right, Jim.
04:54Superman.
04:55How are you feeling?
04:56Golly, what happened?
04:58Behind the scenes, both endured tragedies, but their immortal portrayals of Superman remain unbreakable beacons of hope.
05:05Through the Adventures of Superman series, Reeves became the Man of Steel.
05:08Other than Kirk Allen, few compared until the then-relatively-unknown Christopher Reeve landed the role in Hollywood's first big-budget crack at the superhero.
05:17George Reeves ran so Christopher Reeve could fly.
05:20That said, Reeve truly took the character to new heights and depths, emphasizing the Man in Superman.
05:26Easy, miss.
05:27I've got you.
05:29You've got me?
05:30Who's got you?
05:31Reeve understood that Superman wasn't just an alien in tights who saves people.
05:35He was someone with a moral obligation to the world, even if it came at the expense of his own happiness.
05:40Winner, Christopher Reeve
05:42Nicholas Holt vs. Lyle Talbot
05:45It's the most recent live-action portrayal of Luther on the big screen, versus the first actor ever to play him.
05:51Between these two, you can definitely see how Lex Luthor changed over the decades.
05:55Lex had only existed in the comics for 10 years when Lyle Talbot played him in 1950's Atom Man vs. Superman.
06:02I'll take care of that right away, Miss Smith.
06:04A lot of people have called for appointments.
06:07I'm not making any appointments today. I have too much work to do.
06:10Speaking of which, Atom Man is Luther's alter ego in the serial, complete with a ridiculous helmet and, we think, a German accent.
06:18While there wasn't a cinematic standard for the character yet, Talbot's portrayal was a product of the time.
06:23Holt is closer to the Lex we know today, a corrupt businessman manipulating the world from his ivory tower while others get their hands dirty on his behalf.
06:31They chose him! Let them die!
06:34Winner, Nicholas Holt
06:36Dean Cain vs. Tyler Hecklin
06:38Cain and Hecklin both starred in TV shows that centered on Clark's relationship with Lois.
06:44Each took a different approach, however.
06:45In Lois and Clark, The New Adventures of Superman, the titular couple meets and falls in love, becoming parents in the final episode.
06:52We have something to tell you.
06:58In Superman and Lois, all of the above has already happened, with Clark being a husband to Lois and the father of two teenagers.
07:05This Clark may be a little older and wiser, yet he's still figuring things out as he navigates marriage and parenthood.
07:11Oh, and saving the world, naturally.
07:13While Cain and Hecklin both regularly saved the day, he made Superman's personal life just as interesting.
07:18Hecklin's portrayal took this a step beyond, following Clark to his poignant final resting place.
07:23I came to this world alone.
07:27But when I left it, I had so much.
07:32And it was all because of love.
07:35Winner, Tyler Hecklin
07:36Gene Hackman vs. Kevin Spacey
07:39When Superman Returns came out, it was meant to be a legacy sequel of sorts to the first two Christopher Reeve movies.
07:45I just want what Prometheus wanted.
07:47Sounds great, Lex.
07:48But you're not a god.
07:54Gods are selfish beings who fly around in little red capes and don't share their power with mankind.
07:59So it's not surprising that Gene Hackman and Kevin Spacey's performances as Lex Luthor are cut from the same cloth.
08:05They are not afraid to be campy, but neither goes overboard like Jesse Eisenberg.
08:09While both can be legitimately funny, they're maniacal madmen who pose a genuine threat to Superman despite their lack of physical powers.
08:17For all their similarities, each actor incorporates their signature mannerisms, with Spacey being more sarcastic and bitter.
08:24Yet Hackman laid out the blueprint for Lex.
08:26Otis.
08:28Yes?
08:30Did you feed the babies?
08:33Not today, Mr. Luthor.
08:36Otis.
08:38Feed the babies.
08:39Although the director reportedly told Spacey not to use Hackman as inspiration,
08:43we still see a lot of his predecessor in his portrayal.
08:46Winner, Gene Hackman
08:48Tom Welling vs. David Cornswet
08:56Whereas Welling played Clark Kent for an entire decade,
09:00Cornswet has only appeared in one Superman movie.
09:03So far.
09:03Are you being serious right now?
09:06Yeah.
09:07With the DCU off to a strong start,
09:09it's safe to say that Cornswet's days as Superman are far from numbered.
09:13While we can't wait to see where Cornswet takes the character next,
09:16Welling admittedly benefits from having a longer tenure as Clark Kent.
09:20Throughout over 200 episodes,
09:22we saw Welling mature from Kansas farm boy to man to Superman.
09:27Whether Clark was enduring the highest of highs or the lowest of lows,
09:30Welling was always believable in the role.
09:33He accomplished this without suiting up as Superman until the finale,
09:36reminding us that it isn't the costume that makes the hero.
09:39It's the person wearing it.
09:47Winner, Tom Welling
09:48Christopher Reeve vs. Tyler Hoechlin
09:50Despite being iconic,
09:53Superman isn't the easiest character to make interesting.
09:55Sorry to drop in and you like this, Miss Lane,
09:58but I've been thinking,
09:59you know, there must be a lot of questions about me
10:00that people in the world would like to know the answer.
10:02Of course.
10:02He's more powerful than the average superhero,
10:05lowering the physical stakes.
10:07Personality-wise, he's usually a Boy Scout,
10:09lacking the darker traits that draw us to Batman.
10:12Behind that seemingly perfect exterior, though,
10:14is a man grappling with loneliness,
10:16responsibility,
10:17and the weight of the world on his shoulders.
10:19Reeve got that down,
10:21making audiences see Superman in a new light.
10:23Hechlin gave us a more relatable Superman,
10:26reminding us that while he may be Kryptonian,
10:28he's human where it counts.
10:29What was that?
10:31Stay here.
10:32Everything okay?
10:32Stay here.
10:33We give Reeve a slight edge for setting the gold standard,
10:36but both actors have one other thing in common.
10:39They are the only ones who can pull off Superman
10:41with a five o'clock shadow.
10:42Winner, Christopher Reeve
10:44Gene Hackman vs. Nicholas Holt
10:46As entertaining as Hackman's Luther was,
10:49we'd be lying if we said his performance
10:51didn't come off as a tad 60s Batman.
10:53Amazing!
10:55Too good to be true.
10:56It's too good to be true.
10:57Even at his goofiest,
10:59Hackman's natural charisma
11:00still brought gravitas to Lex.
11:02He told jokes,
11:03but this guy was 100% serious
11:05about taking over the world,
11:07or at least a sizable piece of real estate.
11:09Although Hackman's portrayal
11:10is one for the ages,
11:12we longed for a more comic-accurate Lex
11:14that presented the villain
11:15in a colder, no-nonsense light.
11:17Holt delivered just that
11:18as a Lex Luthor who sees himself as a hero,
11:21believing he's doing the world a service
11:23by ridding it of Superman.
11:24He's back.
11:25You're five o'clock.
11:26Envy truly drives Holt's Luther,
11:28as he longs for the praise
11:30people shower upon Superman.
11:32Winner, Nicholas Holt
11:33Michael Rosenbaum vs. Clancy Brown
11:36Rosenbaum and Brown
11:37are among the most menacing Lex Luthors.
11:40Both also go through intriguing evolutions.
11:42Rosenbaum's Lex starts
11:44as a sympathetic character
11:45who lives in his father's shadow
11:46and doesn't experience true friendship
11:48until meeting Clark.
11:50Clark, you saved my life.
11:52I think it's the least I can do.
11:56Your father doesn't like me, does he?
11:59It's okay.
12:00I've been bald since I was nine.
12:03I'm used to people judging me
12:04before they get to know me.
12:06That friendship deteriorates
12:07into a bitter rivalry
12:08as Lex's god complex
12:10overtakes what little humanity
12:11he had left.
12:12Brown's Lex is a villain
12:13from the get-go,
12:14although he operates under the guise
12:16of a legitimate businessman.
12:18Once exposed,
12:19he becomes an all-out supervillain.
12:21By the end of Justice League Unlimited, though,
12:23he's forced to join forces
12:24with our heroes,
12:25getting an unlikely redemption arc.
12:27It's beautiful,
12:29isn't it?
12:31Yes.
12:32Yes, it is.
12:33It's hard to choose,
12:35but Rosenbaum's Lex
12:36is more tormented and complex,
12:38earning our empathy
12:39only to crush it.
12:40Winner, Michael Rosenbaum.
12:42Round 3
12:43Christopher Reeve vs. Tom Welling
12:50Of all the actors
12:52who followed in Reeve's path,
12:53Welling arguably came
12:54the closest to capturing
12:56Superman's hopeful spirit
12:57while fleshing out the layers
12:58that often go unappreciated.
12:59Dad, that cave could have
13:01all the answers I'm looking for.
13:02Why are you so afraid
13:03to let me find out?
13:04That said,
13:05Welling's Superman
13:05wouldn't have taken flight
13:06if Reeve hadn't laid the groundwork.
13:08Before he died in 2004,
13:10Reeve made a couple of appearances
13:11on Smallville as Dr. Virgil Swan.
13:14His guest role served
13:15as a symbolic passing of the cape.
13:17Even then,
13:18it was clear that this was Reeve's cape.
13:20Welling would just be keeping it safe
13:21until the time came
13:22for another Superman
13:23to shape the next generation.
13:24Whenever the cape passes on,
13:26the actor isn't merely
13:27filling Superman's boots.
13:28They're continuing
13:29Christopher Reeve's legacy.
13:31Welling did Reeve justice,
13:32but Reeve is Superman.
13:34Well, it's kind of hard
13:36to explain, actually.
13:37See, I'm from, um,
13:39well, pretty far away.
13:40Winner, Christopher Reeve.
13:42Nicholas Holt vs. Michael Rosenbaum.
13:45Although younger than
13:46some other iterations
13:47of the character,
13:48Holt and Rosenbaum
13:48made for the ideal Lex Luthor.
13:50If Superman's hope
13:51is supposed to offset
13:52Batman's dark outlook,
13:54we feel Lex should be
13:55the antithesis of the Joker.
13:57Crafty, sophisticated,
13:58and in control,
13:59yet can still have
14:00a short fuse when pushed.
14:02Superman, we finally meet.
14:03Holt and Rosenbaum
14:04represented that
14:05while making their
14:06Luthor's identifiable.
14:07Holt played Lex
14:08as a man consumed
14:09by prejudice,
14:10convincing himself
14:11that Superman is a threat
14:12that must be destroyed
14:13for the sake of humanity
14:14and his personal gain.
14:16Rosenbaum played
14:17the long game,
14:18making us care about Lex,
14:19yet slowly losing our sympathy
14:21as he descends
14:21into corruption.
14:22You have a second chance.
14:24You can change all that.
14:25But that's the thing
14:26about memories.
14:28You can't forget them.
14:29A close call,
14:30but with several seasons
14:31on Smallville,
14:32Rosenbaum has an advantage.
14:34Winner,
14:35Michael Rosenbaum.
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14:50This is it,
15:01the ultimate Superman
15:02and Lex Luthor.
15:03The key to both portrayals
15:05is balance.
15:06Reeve's Superman
15:06is the embodiment
15:07of a moral compass
15:08perennially pointing
15:09in the right direction.
15:10Oh, I'm sorry.
15:11Did you have plans this evening?
15:12However,
15:13he's also an outsider
15:14who longs for his home world,
15:16the woman he loves,
15:17and freedom to be
15:17his true self,
15:19all of which
15:19are out of reach.
15:20In Rosenbaum's Luthor,
15:22we see the potential
15:22he might have had
15:23to be a better person
15:24with a more nurturing upbringing.
15:26At the same time,
15:27we see someone
15:28who was bound to be evil,
15:29with his greed
15:30outweighing
15:30whatever good
15:31was inside him.
15:32Our story hasn't
15:33been written yet,
15:34Kal-El.
15:37And every villain
15:38is only as great
15:40as his hero.
15:43Comparing these two
15:43is apples and oranges,
15:45but when it comes
15:45to comic book icons,
15:47Reeve is in a league
15:48of his own.
15:49Winner,
15:50Christopher Reeve.
15:54Who's your Superman?
15:55Who's your Lex?
15:56Let us know in the comments.
15:57What the hey, dude?
15:58I thought you destroyed
16:00the whole Superman robots.
16:01I thought I told you
16:02to keep an eye on him.
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