10 Perfect Henry Cavill Superman Scenes That Are Flawless From Beginning to End
Though Henry Cavill’s run as Superman may have ended a lot sooner than some fans would have hoped, it can’t be denied that he had some great moments during his tenure donning the iconic red cape. Zack Snyder’s output regarding DC films has been divisive, to say the least, but Cavill was a perfect casting choice for the Last Son of Krypton. The popular British actor nailed the look and demeanor to pull off the legendary character, leaving many movie-goers feeling like he was as perfect a casting choice as one could make.
That theory was never really allowed to be tested — with Man of Steel featuring a rookie Superman. Then Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League immediately tossed him into darker scenarios that he shared with other DC icons. Still, there are plenty of instances where Cavill’s Superman offered evidence to back up the vehement fan support. Despite being the grittier Superman, the following moments proved Cavill’s take on Kal El had more than his fair share of memorable moments.
10 Superman Shows Up Black Adam In His Own Movie
Black Adam (2022)
This entry may seem like a stretch, but when Cavill’s tiny cameo somehow overshadowed the entire movie it appeared in, it deserves a mention. Black Adam didn’t blow anybody away by any means when it was released in 2022, so by the time the post-credits stinger came around, audiences were begging for anything to make their trip to the theater worth the money. Thankfully, Henry Cavill made what would become his final appearance as Superman in the now-defunct DCEU and made the wait at least somewhat worth it.
Showing up in his vibrant red-and-blue suit once again, accompanied by the most recognizable notes of the John Williams’ Superman theme, it can be argued that Cavill’s appearance in Black Adam was as close to the classic version of Superman that the DCEU got. Cavill even sported the curly strand of hair Superman was often drawn with — something that had been missing from most of the DCEU’s Superman appearances. Speaking only two lines to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Black Adam, Cavill’s appearance gave hope to DC fans that they’d finally get a fully realized version of Superman from the actor some point down the line. Unfortunately, that hope ultimately proved to be misplaced — but it was still nice to believe for a (very) short amount of time.
9 The Justice League Realize They Need Superman
Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
In another example of Cavill’s Superman holding weight over a scene that should have been held by other characters, this scene from Zack Snyder’s Justice League perfectly sums up the Superman character without the character — or his actor — even being present. In a moment of desperation, the remaining Justice League members lament the loss of Superman with the knowledge that he was likely the only thing keeping an extraterrestrial threat like Darkseid or Steppenwolf at bay. However, after Cyborg projected the ever-hopeful image of Superman ascending in the sky, with his stunning red cape flapping around him, the route forward became clear. Bringing Superman back was necessary, even further exemplifying the importance of this cinematic universe’s version of the character.
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Another small, yet powerful, element of this scene would be Bruce Wayne’s somber reaction to the hologram. Laying eyes on Cavill’s Superman for what may have been the first time since the closing moments of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Bruce was left with nothing but guilt and regret for how he initially treated the Man of Steel. While they eventually created an alliance, Bruce likely knew that his vendetta with Superman took a lot out of the Kryptonian. Had Bruce simply talked it out with Superman earlier instead of immediately going on the defensive, the two likely would have been more prepared for Lex Luthor’s Doomsday attack. This can all be read on Bruce Wayne’s face as he sees the hologram appear in front of him.
8 Clark Has One Final Heart-To-Heart With Jonathan Kent
Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Screenwriter Chris Terrio co-wrote two major motion pictures with lofty expectations that fell a little flat with audiences. One was Zack Snyder’s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and the other was Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. It’s no surprise, then, that both of these movies essentially featured the same scene — a character questioning what they should do regarding the dilemma they’ve found themselves in taking part in a conversation with their deceased father. In The Rise of Skywalker, Ben Solo — best known as Kylo Ren — discussed the spectral vision of Han Solo, whereas Clark Kent had a similar conversation with Jonathan Kent in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Batman v. Superman’s scene landed far better than Episode IX‘s and seemed a lot less shoehorned.
In this scene, Cavill perfectly encapsulates the more existential side of Superman — the version of the character who isn’t as confident as he usually appears. Jonathan Kent assures Clark that there is still good in the world, thus reinvigorating Clark’s resolve to protect it, which sums up Superman’s plight about as perfectly as one could hope for. For the DCEU, Kevin Costner may not have been the most memorable element, but poignant scenes like this did a lot to add necessary layers to Henry Cavill’s version of the Superman character.
7 The Death of Superman Was A Sight To Behold
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
| Henry Cavil DC Film Appearances | Year of Release |
|---|---|
| Man of Steal | 2013 |
| Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice | 2016 |
| Justice League | 2017 |
| Zack Snyder’s Justice League | 2021 |
| Black Adam | 2022 |
Despite the tragic nature of this scene, Henry Cavill hit a home run with the performance. Following a film that was considered by many to be a bit of a mess, Cavill stole the show with his facial expressions alone as he went toe-to-toe with Doomsday in the DCEU’s adaptation of The Death of Superman. While Doomsday’s design left a lot to be desired, the actual fight with Superman lived up to the hype. For a film that relied so heavily on special effects — something director Zack Snyder often relies on for his specific brand of storytelling — it was clear that this scene turned it up to 11.
Still, it was Superman’s selfless act of sacrifice that stole the show as he gave his life to drive a Krypton spear into the heart of the monster — who was born from a Kryptonian Genesis Chamber using the legendary General Zod’s corpse. With a less-talented actor, this scene could have just come off as a mindless visual spectacle — and many would argue that it did regardless. However, the effort Cavill puts into the sequence can’t be discredited as he sells the pain and anguish Superman is feeling perfectly, leaving the audience with a genuine sense of sadness as his body falls limp after the encounter.
6 The Oil Rig Scene Proves How Super This Man Can Really Be
Man of Steel (2013)
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Man of Steel was an important film in that it was the first movie since 2008’s Superman Returns to feature Superman in a primary role, which was compounded by the WB’s desire to compete with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This ended up placing a lot of weight on Zack Snyder’s shoulders, especially when one considers that his Man of Steel film was initially greenlit by WB to be more in line with Christopher Nolan’s grounded Dark Knight trilogy than with the MCU’s colorful world of heroes. For these reasons alone, establishing this version of Superman as someone who audiences could root for was a priority Snyder seemingly took seriously.
In the scene in question, movie-goers are given a glimpse at just what this Superman could do. As an oil rig catastrophe threatens Clark’s co-workers, the secret Kryptonian is forced to act before he even has the proper time to assess exactly what’s happening. Seeing Clark jump into action despite his desire to keep his powers a secret speaks volumes about a man who simply can’t stop himself from doing the right thing. Even before he dons the classic suit, this scene cements Henry Cavill’s version of Superman as being just as heroic as any.
5 Superman Was A Symbol Of Hope In A Bleak Landscape
Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
2016’s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice opted to take the Last Son of Krypton in a grittier direction than many fans would have liked or expected, but there was still one scene from that film that masterfully featured a true sense of hopefulness that Superman stands for. Specifically, it’s the now-iconic montage scene that arguably brings Cavill’s version of the character closer to his comic book counterpart than anything else found in a Zack Snyder-directed DC film.
This particular sequence features many images where Superman is shown helping those in distress, often descending from the skies to do so. While the scene may come off a bit too “preachy” to some — there is no denying the overt Christ allegory in some of the imagery — most can look past that to acknowledge that this sort of visual is exactly what fans of Superman would expect from his superheroes. One of the most touching pieces of this montage shows a woman reaching for Superman from her roof — sporting a hand-painted Superman logo as a distress symbol — while she and her family attempt to survive a raging flood. This image is one of the few that stands the test of time in a film whose quality is still debated to this day.
4 Superman vs. Steppenwolf
Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
Out of all the fight scenes Henry Cavill’s Superman found himself in, it may be his climactic battle with Steppenwolf that stands head and shoulders above others. Some can criticize the amount of destruction in his battle with the dastardly Zod, the general approach to his clash with Doomsday, or the overall pointlessness of his brawl with Batman, but his heroic nature is on full display as he aids the Justice League in their battle with Darkseid’s right-hand man.
As his comrades are fearing for the worst with the superpowered Steppenwolf making moves none of them were prepared for, Superman’s immediately effective offense makes for a truly satisfying sequence. Zack Snyder’s Justice League delivered a lot of goodwill to WB and DC with its treatment of its main characters, and the same can be said about its treatment of the film’s main villain. Nothing in Joss Whedon’s 2017 cut of Justice League came close to touching the battle Superman found himself in during the final act of the Snyder cut.
3 Able To Do Far More Than Leap Tall Buildings In A Single Bound
Man of Steel (2013)
One thing Man of Steel really had going for it was showing the impact of Superman’s flight. Gone were the days when the Man of Steel would leisurely rise into the sky as if he were floating before the shot cut to him in his classic flying pose. Instead, audiences felt every second of the build-up to Clark realizing what he could truly do at the height of his powers. No longer was Clark merely leaping tall buildings in a single bound, he was soaring over large expanses of land, taking advantage of the natural properties his Kryptonian lineage gifted him now that he had found himself stranded on Earth.
Clark’s infectious glee was captured incredibly by Cavill’s brilliant performance. Although Richard Donner’s Superman sported the unforgettable tagline, “You’ll believe a man can fly,” it wasn’t until Henry Cavill’s take on the character that audiences could truly claim that as being true. While 1978’s Superman was an incredible feat for the time, it was Cavill’s scene in Man of Steel that delivered the most believable flight scene to date — and the elation on the hero’s face was more than enough to sell that feeling to proud Superman fans.
2 Superman Lives!
Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
While the result of Superman being brought back from the dead was officially completing the Justice League lineup during their battle with Steppenwolf, there was a decent portion of Zack Snyder’s Justice League that saw the Man of Steel rediscover his place in the world. Along with his triumphant beat down of Steppenwolf, Superman’s return was just as effective as when movie-goers got to see him reconnect with his mother, Martha Kent.
With the Kent farm acting as the perfect backdrop for the scene to play out, Clark stood in the fields looking entirely at peace. Fans got to see Kal El crack a smile for the first time in quite a while as his mother drove up in her old beat-up truck. This small, intimate moment was made even better with the love of Clark’s life, Lois Lane, being present to experience the reunion first-hand. This simple scene reminded everyone why Superman is more important than just facing off with the big bad threats of the universe — he’s also a family man who cares deeply about those he loves, and this scene in Zack Snyder’s Justice League really drove that point home.
1 Superman Takes On the Justice League
Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
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In what was surely one of the most anticipated moments in either 2017’s Justice League or 2021’s Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Superman was finally resurrected. While this moment was filled with elation, it also featured an extremely confused Superman who had been dead and buried mere moments before. Because this is a story based on a comic book, a fight among confused friends is carried out next.
Unlike the often-ridiculed fight between Superman and Batman from Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, this fight — which featured all the primary Justice League members featured in the movie — delivered all the goods. It was especially interesting to see how Superman kept his wits about him in the different ways he went about dealing with all his soon-to-be allies — though, his proving to be faster than The Flash has to be the standout. With one extremely menacing look that would make even The Red Son shudder in fear, The Flash knew that he had been caught red-handed attempting to use his super speed to sneak up on the Man of Steal — something that he surely didn’t see coming. The way Henry Cavill can move his Superman from calm and collected to menacing and intimidating is just one of many reasons his performance as the classic character will always be remembered fondly.
