Evil Evolution
Playing Superman's arch-nemesis demands a special kind of screen presence that balances intelligence, menace, and just enough camp. Some nailed it, others...well, let's just say even genius-level intellect can't save a failing performance.
12. Lyle Talbot
It's 1950, television is still finding its footing, and someone decides to bring Superman's greatest enemy to the big screen. Lyle Talbot stepped into this pioneering role in the serial Atom Man vs Superman, marking a historic moment that would influence years of superhero cinema.
Photo by Talbot, New York, Wikimedia Commons
12. Lyle Talbot (Cont.)
The problem? This version of Lex Luthor bears almost no resemblance to the character we know today. Created just 10 years after Lex's 1940 comic debut, Talbot's portrayal predates the major character overhaul that occurred during comics' Silver Age in 1960.
Edward D. Wood, Jr., Wikimedia Commons
11. Jesse Eisenberg
A drastically different Lex Luthor, one who valued frenetic energy over calculating danger, was part of director Zack Snyder's concept for the DC Extended Universe. Eisenberg's rambling version, however, sounded more like a nervous breakdown for a tech mogul.
Harald Krichel, Wikimedia Commons
11. Jesse Eisenberg (Cont.)
His convoluted scheme involving a jar of pee and manipulating Batman into fighting Superman lacked the simplicity that renders great villains memorable. Even Eisenberg himself later admitted the role "hurt my career in a real way," acknowledging the widespread hostile reception.
10. Titus Welliver
HBO Max's Titans made headlines when they announced Titus Welliver would bring his gravelly voice and intimidating presence to Luthor. Known for his stellar work as Harry Bosch in Amazon's crime series, Welliver seemed like perfect casting for Superman's intellectual adversary.
Red Carpet Report on Mingle Media TV, Wikimedia Commons
10. Titus Welliver (Cont.)
Unfortunately, the show killed off his character after just one episode, robbing audiences of what could have been a genuinely compelling long-term antagonist. While Welliver's brief screen time showcased the inherent malice and manipulative skills, there simply wasn't enough material to properly evaluate his take on the role.
U.S. Army Photo by: Dena O'Dell, Wikimedia Commons
9. Michael Cudlitz
The CW's decision to recast Luthor with The Walking Dead veteran Cudlitz raised plenty of eyebrows among fans who expected Jon Cryer to reprise his Arrowverse role. But showrunners wanted something different for their final seasons: a more physically imposing and rage-driven villain.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
9. Michael Cudlitz (Cont.)
Compared to typical portrayals focusing on Lex's formidable intellect, Cudlitz’s Lex is more of a physically imposing brawler. This has been criticized since Lex Luthor is traditionally known as a criminal mastermind whose intellect is his defining threat against Superman.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
8. Jon Cryer
In another delightful piece of meta-casting, Jon Cryer returned to the Superman universe 31 years after playing Lex's bumbling nephew Lenny Luthor in the universally panned Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. This time, he was stepping into the bald dome of the main antagonist himself.
Jon Cryer Auditioned to Be Chandler Bing on “Friends” (2016) by The Howard Stern Show
8. Jon Cryer (Cont.)
Cryer brought decades of comedic timing from hits like Two and a Half Men and Pretty in Pink to his interpretation, but therein lay the problem. Audiences struggled to buy the inherently likeable Cryer as an intimidating presence capable of going toe-to-toe with Kara Zor-El.
Angela George, Wikimedia Commons
7. Giancarlo Esposito
Breaking Bad fans know Giancarlo Esposito can make ordering chicken terrifying, so casting him as the evil genius seemed like crazy-level thinking. His trademark controlled menace and capability to balance intensity with dark humor rendered him suitable for HBO Max's irreverent animated universe.
Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, Wikimedia Commons
7. Giancarlo Esposito (Cont.)
Esposito's version broke new ground by reimagining Lex as a person of color, something the star accepted as fulfilling his dream of playing characters not defined by race. The showrunners had initially doubted he'd take a voice acting gig in a cartoon, but he obviously did.
Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, Wikimedia Commons
6. John Shea
ABC's Lois & Clark introduced a game-changing dynamic that would echo through Superman adaptations: Lex Luthor as romantic rival. John Shea's businessman version of the character competed directly with Clark Kent for Lane's affections, creating a love triangle that added personal stakes beyond the usual hero-villain conflict.
6. John Shea (Cont.)
Shea personified the smooth-talking corporate predator, wielding charm as effectively as any weapon in his arsenal. His snarky delivery and believable portrayal of a ruthless entrepreneur made him really scary in boardrooms. The tragic limitation was his departure as a series regular after season one.
5. Kevin Spacey
Director Bryan Singer's Superman Returns attempted something ambitious. He drew a spiritual sequel to Richard Donner's beloved 1970s films while updating the story for modern audiences. Kevin Spacey inherited the impossible task of following Gene Hackman's iconic performance, but chose psychological intensity over camp theatrics.
Maryland GovPics, Wikimedia Commons
5. Kevin Spacey (Cont.)
Two scenes cement Spacey's interpretation as genuinely unsettling. First, his demonstration on the model railroad town, where he slowly retreats into shadows while explaining his apocalyptic vision. Second, his confrontation with Lois Lane aboard his yacht, building to that explosive "WRONG!" that portrays barely contained rage.
Keith Allison, Wikimedia Commons
4. Gene Hackman
Did you know that the man who defined Lex Luthor for an entire generation almost didn't take the role? Gene Hackman, fresh off his Oscar win for The French Connection, initially balked at wearing a bald cap for what seemed like a silly superhero movie.
4. Gene Hackman (Cont.)
It was director Richard Donner's promise of treating the material seriously that convinced the actor to sign on. Hackman's brilliance lay in playing Lex as a legitimate businessman who happened to be completely amoral, never winking at the camera or acknowledging the absurdity of his schemes.
serreel a.k.a Bill Chodubski, Wikimedia Commons
3. Nicholas Hoult
Everyone wondered if the lanky British actor known for comedic roles would personify Superman's greatest enemy. Well, early footage suggests that James Gunn found something special: a Lex Luthor who operates as Superman's perfect philosophical opposite, driven by pure, undiluted jealousy.
Fandomuniverse, Wikimedia Commons
3. Nicholas Hoult (Cont.)
Hoult's acting reportedly includes a pivotal speech that crystallizes his character's motivation in refreshingly simple terms. He hates everything Superman represents because he can never be him. This interpretation strips away years of convoluted backstories to focus on the emotional core of their battle.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
2. Clancy Brown
Before Kevin Conroy became the definitive Batman voice or Mark Hamill immortalized the Joker's cackle, there was Clancy Brown's Luthor. Brown's deep, authoritative baritone transitioned Lex into a man who could command boardrooms and criminal empires with equal ease, never raising his voice.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
2. Clancy Brown (Cont.)
The DC Animated Universe gave Brown's character an unforgettable visual calling card that live-action versions have never been able to match. It was a spectacular lair surrounded by circling sharks. He appeared across Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League, and Justice League Unlimited.
1. Michael Rosenbaum
Most actors get a single movie to define their version of an iconic character. Michael Rosenbaum got seven seasons plus a series finale to craft what remains the most psychologically complex Lex Luthor ever filmed. Smallville made the revolutionary choice by showing Lex as Clark's friend.
vagueonthehow from Tadcaster, York, England, Wikimedia Commons
1. Michael Rosenbaum (Cont.)
Lex's genuine affection for Clark, his desperate need for paternal approval from Lionel Luthor, and the slow-burning paranoia that ultimately consumed him. The show's "meteor freak of the week" format allowed people to witness Lex's growing obsession with the unexplained phenomena surrounding Smallville.
Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
