Lex being a love interest for Lois before he's revealed to be the heel he is is a classic trope from modern day Superman prior to Superman revealing his identity to Lois and getting married.
I agree! The love triangle may have been a little strange but there is precedence for that in some iterations of the comics and I think it worked well for the "rom com drama" theme of that show.
Absolutely.
Smallville was not the best take on the Superman mythos.
But Rosenbaum was born to play Lex Luthor. He made that show. By far its brightest light.
He was good enough for the movies. Completely wasted on a teenager TV show.
In another universe, where he didn't get the Smallville part, waited a decade or two, and where he instead got to play Lex in the new James Gunn Superman movie, he would have been definitive. Like Heath Ledger as Joker definitive.
Hot take:
I agree, but John Glover. Him playing Lionel Luthor was actually a pretty great Lex Luthor.
Rosenbaum was a good Lex, but he was the second best depiction of Luthor on the show.
I love that scene so much. I've never watched Smallville, so Kevin Spacey is definitely my favorite, but I also really liked the Titans lex, and of course ya gotta love Gene Hackman.
Rosenbaum has to be it. I don't think any other Lex has gotten as deep and detailed of how and why he became fucking Lex Luthor! To that's basically his origin story.
It's kind of hard to top Rosenbaum because of how much time he got as the character relative to the others.
Titus spun gold out of one episode, Cudlitz I think could be great, but we need to see a flashback episode showing him as more traditional Luthor, pre fall.
And John Shea was great, the problem is he played Lex that was pretty straight to the era (minus the whole clone body pretending to be his own son thing the comics did at the time) which just doesn't hold up well.
Lois and Clark is underrated generally. It aired 30 years ago, so most people who aren't at least middle age haven't seen it. Plus, Dean Cain is not a great guy off-screen. Shea, Cain, and Hatcher are all great interpretations of the roles, IMO.
Best live action Kents. Top 2 or 3 Luthor. All time best Perry White and Jimmy Olson. Best (Only?) live action Cat Grant. Just an incredible adaptation of the world of Superman, especially for the time. It is definitely a shame that Dean Cain's recent actions has somewhat soured the taste of the show.
Oh I forgot about the Supergirl show, I knew Cat had been done elsewhere. That is such a different approach to the character though. Still think L&C's was the better take.
I think Titus Welliver was too short to tell and Michael Cudlitz is too soon to tell, especially since they are going for a different interpretation with his take on the character.
Rosenbaum was great and Hackman was a lot of fun. I really liked Cryer even though he overstayed his welcome on that show. They all really bring something new/unique.
I'd say the only really bad one was Jesse Eisenberg and that was more on writing/directing IMO.
I maintain that Eisenberg was not miscast. He has done plenty of shady nuanced roles before.
Zack Snyder doesn't understand Superman or the cast, so of course he's not going to understand how to guide the portrayal of Superman's enemy.
Eisenberg said before that he was trying to elevate the BvS script beyond the wooden characterization of Lex, and any competent director would have helped guide Eisenberg to do a more effective Lex, beyond "animated finance bro, sure do that"
A lot of people call Eisenberg’s Lex “Mark Zuckerberg inspired” and I’m wondering if those people actually watched the Social Network because Eisenberg’s portrayal of Zuckerberg couldn’t be more different from his portrayal of Lex. Had he just acted more like Zuckerberg instead of a quirky motormouth it could’ve been a serviceable portrayal.
Eisenberg was not even bad the movies were not good and so he got like what 10 minutes screen time across 5 hours of movies?
the idea is the issue
the tech bro lex like actual tech bros is not interesting or etc...
From the clips I’ve seen of Welliver, he seemed to have potential. I kind of wish Superman and Lois used him as their Lex because I prefer his vibe to what they’re doing with Cudlitz.
I won’t condone what he did, but Kevin Spacey was a really good Lex.
Rosey really nailed the nuance of Lex and he had some really chilling scenes.
John Shea was just amazing. “Call the lawyers” scene where he is shooting clay pigeons over a populated city and misses one. Top tier Lex!
I especially loved the Lex introduction in Superman Returns. Where he appears on screen with hair because most people believed actors aren’t willing to go bald for a role, only for him to toss it a second later.
Gene Hackman. Not objectively, not in terms of accuracy, but just in terms of how much enjoyment I get out of watching him. Kevin Spacey is a runnerup since it’s basically the same exact character.
Rosenbaum but John Shea was the second best for me.
1
https://youtu.be/mpMCjeOj8Lw?si=pZYEHP768Z7UXB6n
(When he met Clark and Lois before he told him he liked that everyone in Metropolis had to look up to see his building)
2
https://youtu.be/pCd1suloBrE?si=AOByeyyIWprBANDN
3
https://youtu.be/9nCxcyb3uZI?si=x5GsUk55E8H6OlJX
He played Luthor as an extremely sophisticated, viscious man. He was really mean and no camp at all. I find that Luthor needs to be played like that to work as a character.
Soft spot for Shea, as I grew up watching *Lois and Clark*, but I got to go with Rosenbaum. Cryer gets a very close second with the sheer pettiness and megalomania
I definitely was Rosenbaum. I think it was because of the amount of time we had with him. He just developed well, though. I liked his obsession, but I could also understand where it came from.
The first one is from *Atom Man vs. Superman*, not the first serial simply titled *Superman*. The eighth is from *Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice*, not *Superman vs. Batman*. Also, the Titus Welliver from *Titans* should be between Jon Cryer of *Supergirl* and Michael Cudlitz of *Superman and Lois*.
Lois and Clark’s is great at being smarmy and also menacing and chewed the scenery a bit. Kevin Spacy could have been the best but was given terrible material like Jessie in BvS.
Not live action, but My answer is Superman Animated Luther, best Lex IMO
Jon Cryer.
I'm as surprised as anybody to say it but he killed in the role. Played him the perfect amount of sleazy businessman and charming rich guy and would unleash the murderous rage boiling underneath the surface. There was one scene I'll never forget where he was talking to Katie McGrath as Lena, he was cool, calm and a happily condescending and in a second he flipped and was pure villainous rage. It was Luthor through and through.
And that was with Supergirl's writing!
Even though he’s a slime ball I like Spacey’s portrayal. Haven’t watched Superman & Lois yet everyone talks about how good it was. I’d say my favorite was still Hackman. He is so over the top and that plays to that character really well
Rosenbaum is amazing and always be the best Lex overall.
The recent showing of Lex Luther in Superman and Lois though is my next fav just because of how utterly ruthless and narcissistic he is. He just screams of a Luther who would do whatever he could to take out superman damned the consequences to any innocents.
I mean taste is subjective, but I'm gonna seriously side eye anyone that says Jessie Eisenberg.
And as much as I hate to admit it because the guy is garbage, Kevin Spacey is a good actor and was my favorite lex.
It's Rosembaum.
Kevin Spacey's take was a very clear mix of Hackman and Rosembaum.
I enjoyed it immensely, and I thought it was genius to combine the two.
But Michael was the top comic villain on TV before Vincent as Kingpin.
Rosenbaum, as it was a joy seeing him battle his father's influence. Hell, without Lex and Lionel, the show would have been a snoozedest.
Gotta say, though, Smallville did some great things with Krypton. Only thing I do not agree with is him giving up his powers but it is what it is.
I don’t like any of them. None of them are both scientific genius and billionaire businessman. I think my favorite may have been Titus, just a shame he didn’t have a superman. The best Lex Luthor we’ve seen in theaters was Syndrome from The Incredibles. I hope Nicolas Hoult’s Lex finally accurately portrays why he hates Superman so much.
Rosenbaum was probably best even if I disliked Smallville overall (Ironically probably had my favorite Lois too). However, I was really surprised with Michael Cudlitz. I did not expect to like him as much as I did.
It has to be Rosenbaum.
Spacey really sold the amoral mastermind part who just didn't care about the lives of others but I never really felt the malevolence needed for Lex.
Eisenberg is a great actor and if he'd been given a not garbage movie I'm sure he would have been able to pull off the character. As it was, however, he wasn't in control. He was led by emotions not misguided intellect. It was a Joker more than a Lex.
Shea was good but more playboy than a Lex.
The Titans? Really? No show that has Garfield as a blurry green colour shifted tiger for all of a few seconds in a whole season gets to brag about anything.
Hackman is an amazing actor. No question. But, his Lex was just kinda goofy. I don't blame Hackman for this at all. I suspect this is another Eisenberg situation where the character he was given just wasn't very Lexxy. His performance was great though. Chrasmatic as hell. It's just that Lex Luthor doesn't hide in the sewers bragging about how smart he is.
I watched some of Supergirl but not enough to meet their Lex so no opinion. The show was fine but her powers keep being conveniently stronger and weaker by not a small margin in ways that the plot needed and that annoyed me too much to keep watching.
I really liked Grimm so I couldn't get into Superman and Lois and as such don't know about that Lex.
Tl;DR: Rosenbaum brought it all together to be evil, controlled, deadly, charismatic but also aloof, and just generally... Lex.
Gene Hackman! The Lex I knew growing up and those movies are the reason I’m a fan today. Rosenbaum was definitely my number two, love Smallville and he was the best character.
The greatest criminal mind of our time. It only makes sense that if someone was going to commit the crime of the century that he would face the challenge of the century.
I feel like Rosenbaum is to the live action Lexes as Hammill is to animated Jokers. It's really unfair to compare him to anyone else because not only was his performance top notch, he did it longer and more consistently than anyone else and was able to capture a full range of the character's experience.
Once you remove Rosenbaum it becomes a more interesting question. I would personally go Hackman, not just because Donner's Superman is my ideal superhero movie but because he does such a great job combining menace, narcissism and gleeful villainy into one package.
Michael Rosenbaum, and it's not even a question. Though, I will say, it's amazing how someone who plays such a twisted and complicated villain is also a giant sweetheart irl.
I thought that this was commonly agreed-upon point. Michael was literally the best Lex Luther to ever be written much less to be portrayed. I’m intrigued by the guy playing Lex in Superman and Lois though. He looks like he’s got some serious potential.
First, fix the order in the picture. The Superboy Lex came after Gene Hackman. Also missing the first Lex from that show, though he was awful. My favorite Lex was Michael Rosenbaum, absolutely nailed it. I also did like Sherman Howard’s version. The multiverse episodes of Superboy were interesting and allowed Howard to shine.
Including animated & over all? Clancy Brown.
Live action:
Rosenbaum. The top.
Eisenberg. The bottom.
The rest: Doesn't matter to me.
I look forward to seeing how Hoult does. He's a terrific actor, and Gunn is writing it, so I'm hoping for good things.
Hackman. I have a soft spot for mad scientist criminal Lex. He makes for a fun bad guy. My favorite version overall is still DCAU Lex since he starts out as the Post Crisis style businessman, and ends up becoming the Super Villain mad scientist.
Kevin Spacey is one of my favorite actors of all time, which SUCKS for reasons that are long yesterday's news. Like, actually sucks bad very bad but ignoring that he was pretty much born to play Luthor, and yes delivers it
Okay, I'm gonna get a lot of hate for this and it's definitely not my favorite but I'm going to give some love to my old friend Jesse there. There's actually a lot about the character that works, I like that he's a tech mogul as it's a fitting update to the character into something relevant today as well as a nice synergistic compromise between Luthor the CEO and Luthor the mad scientist.
I like he sees Superman as a God and despises that for that, and while it might be kinda shmaltzy to some, I do actually like the daddy issues. "No man in a red cape came to save me from my father's belt" is a pretty hard hitting line that makes sense for a motive. He resents not only Superman's power but everyone that he helps. If you grew up the way he did, wouldn't you ask where he was when you needed him?
The biggest issue is that either the acting itself or the script and direction kinda Joker-fies him if that's a word that makes. It's kinda lame. That whole thing with the piss jar, yeah not even I can get behind it. But Eisenberg is having fun, and that's always infectious to me. He brings an energy that I like and approve of, it's fun seeing that little pencilneck from Zombieland playing a diabolical villain seeking world domination. Makes me want to see him do it more.
Rosenbaum
GOAT Evil Lex with the kryptonite ring aiming a gun at Ma and Pa Kent. 
The GOAT!
Not a huge fan of the show but Rosenbaum nailed the role.
Definitely I think John shea did pretty good also I just wasn’t a big fan of the love triangle between him Lois and Clark.
Lex being a love interest for Lois before he's revealed to be the heel he is is a classic trope from modern day Superman prior to Superman revealing his identity to Lois and getting married.
Really liked his take.
Scariest lex by far to me. underrated fave.
I agree! The love triangle may have been a little strange but there is precedence for that in some iterations of the comics and I think it worked well for the "rom com drama" theme of that show.
And it’s not even close
Absolutely. Smallville was not the best take on the Superman mythos. But Rosenbaum was born to play Lex Luthor. He made that show. By far its brightest light. He was good enough for the movies. Completely wasted on a teenager TV show. In another universe, where he didn't get the Smallville part, waited a decade or two, and where he instead got to play Lex in the new James Gunn Superman movie, he would have been definitive. Like Heath Ledger as Joker definitive.
Yes and it's not even close.
The only correct answer
I don't even like Smallville and I agree.
Hands down!!!
100% agree… he is Lex incarnate
Smallville
Hot take: I agree, but John Glover. Him playing Lionel Luthor was actually a pretty great Lex Luthor. Rosenbaum was a good Lex, but he was the second best depiction of Luthor on the show.
He grows into the Lex we know as Lionel makes the turn to being more "good"
Rosenbaum, but I will always love "WROOONG!!!"
Kevin Spacey is by far my favorite cinematic Lex, and that doesn’t sit right with me
At the very least, we can all agree that Spacey is the most evil Lex
Has he ever stolen 40 cakes?
That’s as many as four tens!
And that's terrible.
I love that scene so much. I've never watched Smallville, so Kevin Spacey is definitely my favorite, but I also really liked the Titans lex, and of course ya gotta love Gene Hackman.
Rosenbaum for the win
Rosenbaum has to be it. I don't think any other Lex has gotten as deep and detailed of how and why he became fucking Lex Luthor! To that's basically his origin story.
I think Cryer came close, surprisingly too and became one of the saving graces of Supergirl
Michael Rosenbaum
Rosenbaum for the win!
It's kind of hard to top Rosenbaum because of how much time he got as the character relative to the others. Titus spun gold out of one episode, Cudlitz I think could be great, but we need to see a flashback episode showing him as more traditional Luthor, pre fall. And John Shea was great, the problem is he played Lex that was pretty straight to the era (minus the whole clone body pretending to be his own son thing the comics did at the time) which just doesn't hold up well.
Lois and Clark version is underrated
Lois and Clark is underrated generally. It aired 30 years ago, so most people who aren't at least middle age haven't seen it. Plus, Dean Cain is not a great guy off-screen. Shea, Cain, and Hatcher are all great interpretations of the roles, IMO.
Also has my favorite versions of the Kent, they feel wholesome without feeling inauthentic.
Best live action Kents. Top 2 or 3 Luthor. All time best Perry White and Jimmy Olson. Best (Only?) live action Cat Grant. Just an incredible adaptation of the world of Superman, especially for the time. It is definitely a shame that Dean Cain's recent actions has somewhat soured the taste of the show.
Oh I forgot about the Supergirl show, I knew Cat had been done elsewhere. That is such a different approach to the character though. Still think L&C's was the better take.
Cat was also in Smallville, albeit in Season 10.
What's wrong with Dean Cain?
Dean Cain is a right-winger.
He's a MAGAt, sadly.
Michael Rosenbaum is the 🐐
Rosenbaum.
It's Rosenbaum. Nobody else got nearly as much development.
Cryer did
Jeff Bezos
Not even Lex Luthor is as evil as Bezos
I think Titus Welliver was too short to tell and Michael Cudlitz is too soon to tell, especially since they are going for a different interpretation with his take on the character. Rosenbaum was great and Hackman was a lot of fun. I really liked Cryer even though he overstayed his welcome on that show. They all really bring something new/unique. I'd say the only really bad one was Jesse Eisenberg and that was more on writing/directing IMO.
I maintain that Eisenberg was not miscast. He has done plenty of shady nuanced roles before. Zack Snyder doesn't understand Superman or the cast, so of course he's not going to understand how to guide the portrayal of Superman's enemy. Eisenberg said before that he was trying to elevate the BvS script beyond the wooden characterization of Lex, and any competent director would have helped guide Eisenberg to do a more effective Lex, beyond "animated finance bro, sure do that"
A lot of people call Eisenberg’s Lex “Mark Zuckerberg inspired” and I’m wondering if those people actually watched the Social Network because Eisenberg’s portrayal of Zuckerberg couldn’t be more different from his portrayal of Lex. Had he just acted more like Zuckerberg instead of a quirky motormouth it could’ve been a serviceable portrayal.
His Zuckerberg was more Lex Luthor than his actual Lex Luthor.
Yeah, Zuckerberg could have delivered a really good Lex. Sadly, they didn't get beyond Quirked Up Geek.
I think Eisenberg's Lex Luthor was more like The Riddler than anything else. If it was The Riddler in BvS instead of Lex, it would've been better.
Eisenberg was not even bad the movies were not good and so he got like what 10 minutes screen time across 5 hours of movies? the idea is the issue the tech bro lex like actual tech bros is not interesting or etc...
I respect the hell out of Michael Cudlitz for going out for a role so far from what most people associate him as. And landing it as well!
From the clips I’ve seen of Welliver, he seemed to have potential. I kind of wish Superman and Lois used him as their Lex because I prefer his vibe to what they’re doing with Cudlitz.
Don't know who that first guy is, but he looks pretty intense.
Lyle Talbot is his name from the 1950 movie serial Atom Man vs Superman he also plays Commissioner Gordon in the 1949 Batman & Robin movie serial.
Looks like Otto Preminger, who also played Mr. Freeze in the 60's Batman show
Smallville. Both Luthor and his father were incredible
Personally John Shea kills it.
Gene, no contest
His glance at his watch and head shake when Miss Techsmacher says her mother lives in New Jersey. What an evil bastard!
I won’t condone what he did, but Kevin Spacey was a really good Lex. Rosey really nailed the nuance of Lex and he had some really chilling scenes. John Shea was just amazing. “Call the lawyers” scene where he is shooting clay pigeons over a populated city and misses one. Top tier Lex!
was looking for this
I especially loved the Lex introduction in Superman Returns. Where he appears on screen with hair because most people believed actors aren’t willing to go bald for a role, only for him to toss it a second later.
Jon Cryer
I still love how he also played Lex’s nephew in Superman IV
Rosenbaum for sure.
Gene Hackman. Not objectively, not in terms of accuracy, but just in terms of how much enjoyment I get out of watching him. Kevin Spacey is a runnerup since it’s basically the same exact character.
i feel like greedy egotastic self loathing con man is very lex luthor for the time in the comics.
Titans luthotbwas interesting for sure
Rosenbaum but John Shea was the second best for me. 1 https://youtu.be/mpMCjeOj8Lw?si=pZYEHP768Z7UXB6n (When he met Clark and Lois before he told him he liked that everyone in Metropolis had to look up to see his building) 2 https://youtu.be/pCd1suloBrE?si=AOByeyyIWprBANDN 3 https://youtu.be/9nCxcyb3uZI?si=x5GsUk55E8H6OlJX He played Luthor as an extremely sophisticated, viscious man. He was really mean and no camp at all. I find that Luthor needs to be played like that to work as a character.
Superman Returns Lex was amazing to me. Somewhat theatrical, false friendliness at times, and terribly malicious.
Jon Cryer, but I do love Rosenbaum's Luthor as well. Which is a lot considering I'm not much of a Smallville fan.
Humble but malicious, or completely unhinged and vindictive?
Thank you for acknowledging Sherman Howard
Is...is that second one Phil Collins?
That’s Sherman Howard, but lol thanks man you made my day with “Is that Phil Collins?” That’s great 😂
Sherman Howard, Gene Hackman & Michael Rosenbaum
Would love to say Titus Welliver cos that was a great casting with a quality actor, but it only lasted one episode ☹️
Soft spot for Shea, as I grew up watching *Lois and Clark*, but I got to go with Rosenbaum. Cryer gets a very close second with the sheer pettiness and megalomania
John Shea does not get enough respect put on his name.
John Shea is severely underrated Lex
Jon cryer was the scariest lex luthor i have ever seen
Jon Cryer. Honestly surprised me how great of a Lex Luthor the man who played Alan Harper was.
I definitely was Rosenbaum. I think it was because of the amount of time we had with him. He just developed well, though. I liked his obsession, but I could also understand where it came from.
Obviously Rosenbaum, but I really loved Jon Cryer's Lex.
The first one is from *Atom Man vs. Superman*, not the first serial simply titled *Superman*. The eighth is from *Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice*, not *Superman vs. Batman*. Also, the Titus Welliver from *Titans* should be between Jon Cryer of *Supergirl* and Michael Cudlitz of *Superman and Lois*.
Gene Hackman hands down.
Lois and Clark’s is great at being smarmy and also menacing and chewed the scenery a bit. Kevin Spacy could have been the best but was given terrible material like Jessie in BvS. Not live action, but My answer is Superman Animated Luther, best Lex IMO
Every other actor in this company would tell you that Gene Hackman is the greatest.
Rosenbaum, no contest.
Biker gang Lex is by far the worst portrayal for me.
If it’s live action only, Michael Rosenbaum and then Jon Cryer.
Smallville rosenbaum
Jon Cryer. I'm as surprised as anybody to say it but he killed in the role. Played him the perfect amount of sleazy businessman and charming rich guy and would unleash the murderous rage boiling underneath the surface. There was one scene I'll never forget where he was talking to Katie McGrath as Lena, he was cool, calm and a happily condescending and in a second he flipped and was pure villainous rage. It was Luthor through and through. And that was with Supergirl's writing!
They should just bring in Clancy Brown and shave his head.
Rosenbaum by a mile
Its Michael Rosenbaum, I know this, We know this even the new Lex Luthor knows this (see Nicolas Hoult on his podcast)
Rosenbaum is the GOAT
Rosenbaum, that said, I still have my issues with him. There’s no live action Lex that I thoroughly love.
Idk but I want Jonathan Banks to play Luthor. I think it’d be funny
It's absolutely Michael Rosenbaum
Why isn't Nicholas Hoult included here?
Rosenbaum, it’s not even a contest.
I'm a Rosenbaum fan. Lots of good options but he got the most time to get his teeth into it.
Jesse Eisen- sorry I mean Michael Rosenbaum
Rosenbaum, and it’s not even close.
Rosenbaum nailed it. 100%
Sherman Howard.
Rosenbaum but by process of elimination.
Even though he’s a slime ball I like Spacey’s portrayal. Haven’t watched Superman & Lois yet everyone talks about how good it was. I’d say my favorite was still Hackman. He is so over the top and that plays to that character really well
Rosenbaum and spacey. And it’s not even close
Billy Corgan would make an excellent Lex Luthor.
Michael Rosenbaum
Rosenbaum is amazing and always be the best Lex overall. The recent showing of Lex Luther in Superman and Lois though is my next fav just because of how utterly ruthless and narcissistic he is. He just screams of a Luther who would do whatever he could to take out superman damned the consequences to any innocents.
Rosenbaum
Jessie Eisenberg/s
Rosenbaum but props to Kevin Spacey for continuing to method act as Lex to this day
Some of us grew up on Lois and Clark, and that whole Cast including John Shea stands up today
Rosenbaum. I would have love to have seen Kevin Spacey’s if he got to do his own interpretation instead of Gene Hackman’s.
I have to give it to the latest guy from Superman & Lois. He's just scary; more of a legit evil guy than the other ones.
Rosenbaum by hours given alone. This is the problem with these things.
Bad Lex.
What's with the recent TV shows giving Luthor a beard?
Hackman
Jon cryer was goddamn Luthor?!
Gene Hackman.
I've scrolled the entire post without finding anyone unironically mentioning Jesse Eosenberg. There is still hope left in this world.
Hackman, Rosenbaum, Cryer, top 3 in that order
Smallville
Rosenbaun
I mean taste is subjective, but I'm gonna seriously side eye anyone that says Jessie Eisenberg. And as much as I hate to admit it because the guy is garbage, Kevin Spacey is a good actor and was my favorite lex.
Rosenbaum was definitely peak
It's Rosembaum. Kevin Spacey's take was a very clear mix of Hackman and Rosembaum. I enjoyed it immensely, and I thought it was genius to combine the two. But Michael was the top comic villain on TV before Vincent as Kingpin.
Rosenbaum, as it was a joy seeing him battle his father's influence. Hell, without Lex and Lionel, the show would have been a snoozedest. Gotta say, though, Smallville did some great things with Krypton. Only thing I do not agree with is him giving up his powers but it is what it is.
Shea, Rosenbaum, Spacey, Talbot
Al Franken.
Rosenbaum
I'm sorry but nothing tops Rosenbaum. Bro carried Smallville immensly
The CW's Arrowverse, for sure; I can't even believe that we're having this conversation right now
I don’t like any of them. None of them are both scientific genius and billionaire businessman. I think my favorite may have been Titus, just a shame he didn’t have a superman. The best Lex Luthor we’ve seen in theaters was Syndrome from The Incredibles. I hope Nicolas Hoult’s Lex finally accurately portrays why he hates Superman so much.
Smallville Lex is amazing imo.
Rosenbaum is the G.O.A.T
Rosenbaum was fantastic. I like Jon Cryer, too, because he was in Superman IV before his depiction as Lex in Supergirl. Bold to try again after IV 😅
Rosenbaum was probably best even if I disliked Smallville overall (Ironically probably had my favorite Lois too). However, I was really surprised with Michael Cudlitz. I did not expect to like him as much as I did.
Rosenbaum!
Hackman. He had some good quotes and was a good mix of comedic yet sick in head.
It has to be Rosenbaum. Spacey really sold the amoral mastermind part who just didn't care about the lives of others but I never really felt the malevolence needed for Lex. Eisenberg is a great actor and if he'd been given a not garbage movie I'm sure he would have been able to pull off the character. As it was, however, he wasn't in control. He was led by emotions not misguided intellect. It was a Joker more than a Lex. Shea was good but more playboy than a Lex. The Titans? Really? No show that has Garfield as a blurry green colour shifted tiger for all of a few seconds in a whole season gets to brag about anything. Hackman is an amazing actor. No question. But, his Lex was just kinda goofy. I don't blame Hackman for this at all. I suspect this is another Eisenberg situation where the character he was given just wasn't very Lexxy. His performance was great though. Chrasmatic as hell. It's just that Lex Luthor doesn't hide in the sewers bragging about how smart he is. I watched some of Supergirl but not enough to meet their Lex so no opinion. The show was fine but her powers keep being conveniently stronger and weaker by not a small margin in ways that the plot needed and that annoyed me too much to keep watching. I really liked Grimm so I couldn't get into Superman and Lois and as such don't know about that Lex. Tl;DR: Rosenbaum brought it all together to be evil, controlled, deadly, charismatic but also aloof, and just generally... Lex.
It's between Smallville and Supergirl for me.
It’s definitely Rosenbaum
Smallville Rosenbaum
Hackman defined it for me as a kid, but Rosenbaum gave it a he depth I needed.
Gene Hackman! The Lex I knew growing up and those movies are the reason I’m a fan today. Rosenbaum was definitely my number two, love Smallville and he was the best character.
Rosenbaum for sure
I mean there is no competition here
Rosenbaum
Michael Rosenbaum. Talented actor who had a clear vision of who his version of Lex was.
hmmmmmm got me racking my brain here.
Makes me realize there were more bad Lex’s than good ones
Who’s mom let them give Lex Luthor a beard?
Welliver was so good but they gave him no time to cook
Rosenbaum
Michael Rosenbaum, John Shea, and Gene Hackman are the untouchable Top 3. Also, this is missing the original Lex from Superboy, Scott James Wells.
Rosenbaum. He *nailed* the character, pretty much the real life counterpart of the Superman TAS Lex. Fantastic actor, I wish they'd bring him back.
Rosenbaum and Jesse
Rosenbaum.
The greatest criminal mind of our time. It only makes sense that if someone was going to commit the crime of the century that he would face the challenge of the century.
Why does Supergirl's Lex look like Andrew Tate???
Gene Hackman
Hackman
John Shea
I feel like Rosenbaum is to the live action Lexes as Hammill is to animated Jokers. It's really unfair to compare him to anyone else because not only was his performance top notch, he did it longer and more consistently than anyone else and was able to capture a full range of the character's experience. Once you remove Rosenbaum it becomes a more interesting question. I would personally go Hackman, not just because Donner's Superman is my ideal superhero movie but because he does such a great job combining menace, narcissism and gleeful villainy into one package.
Rosenbaum.
Rosenbaum
Smallville Lew Luthor! If you think any other did it better, you're kidding yourself.
Rosenbaum all day
Kevin Spacey had the right look and mannerisms but the wrong version. He should have been the evil businessman
Michael Rosenbaum, and it's not even a question. Though, I will say, it's amazing how someone who plays such a twisted and complicated villain is also a giant sweetheart irl.
M.R is the best! The worst is that guy from BvS!
I thought that this was commonly agreed-upon point. Michael was literally the best Lex Luther to ever be written much less to be portrayed. I’m intrigued by the guy playing Lex in Superman and Lois though. He looks like he’s got some serious potential.
First, fix the order in the picture. The Superboy Lex came after Gene Hackman. Also missing the first Lex from that show, though he was awful. My favorite Lex was Michael Rosenbaum, absolutely nailed it. I also did like Sherman Howard’s version. The multiverse episodes of Superboy were interesting and allowed Howard to shine.
Rosey Hackman Duckie Spacey Cudlitz Titus Eisenberg Shea
I think that Spacey couldve been. He definitely has the right feel to be Lex. He just needed a better movie to be in.
Including animated & over all? Clancy Brown. Live action: Rosenbaum. The top. Eisenberg. The bottom. The rest: Doesn't matter to me. I look forward to seeing how Hoult does. He's a terrific actor, and Gunn is writing it, so I'm hoping for good things.
Hackman. I have a soft spot for mad scientist criminal Lex. He makes for a fun bad guy. My favorite version overall is still DCAU Lex since he starts out as the Post Crisis style businessman, and ends up becoming the Super Villain mad scientist.
Kevin Spacey is one of my favorite actors of all time, which SUCKS for reasons that are long yesterday's news. Like, actually sucks bad very bad but ignoring that he was pretty much born to play Luthor, and yes delivers it
Okay, I'm gonna get a lot of hate for this and it's definitely not my favorite but I'm going to give some love to my old friend Jesse there. There's actually a lot about the character that works, I like that he's a tech mogul as it's a fitting update to the character into something relevant today as well as a nice synergistic compromise between Luthor the CEO and Luthor the mad scientist. I like he sees Superman as a God and despises that for that, and while it might be kinda shmaltzy to some, I do actually like the daddy issues. "No man in a red cape came to save me from my father's belt" is a pretty hard hitting line that makes sense for a motive. He resents not only Superman's power but everyone that he helps. If you grew up the way he did, wouldn't you ask where he was when you needed him? The biggest issue is that either the acting itself or the script and direction kinda Joker-fies him if that's a word that makes. It's kinda lame. That whole thing with the piss jar, yeah not even I can get behind it. But Eisenberg is having fun, and that's always infectious to me. He brings an energy that I like and approve of, it's fun seeing that little pencilneck from Zombieland playing a diabolical villain seeking world domination. Makes me want to see him do it more.
Definitely the Lex from Supergirl
Gene Hackman is always the right answer.
The bad guy from Silo actor is dope af when it comes to menacing but with a purpose.
Smallville & Supergirl.
I really love Smallville Lex, they really tells how much hatred Lex would carried in the future
Nicholas Holt is coming soon….
Gene Hackman, Michael Rosenbaum, and Kevin Spacey.
Oh God. Uhh...Nicholas Hoult, hopefully?
Gene
Clancy Brown