Where was Superman filmed? That is one of the most common questions fans ask after watching the Man of Steel fly across the big screen.
If you have been searching for the real places behind the movie magic, you are in the right place.
This guide covers filming locations from the 1978 original all the way to the 2025 release. You will learn exactly where each movie was shot, which spots you can visit, and how Ohio became the new home of Metropolis.
This information comes from verified production sources and location reports, so you can plan your trip with confidence.
Where Was Superman Filmed?
Superman has been filmed across multiple countries and cities over the decades. Filmmakers have used real places to bring Krypton, Smallville, and Metropolis to life, spanning the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia depending on the film.
Man of Steel (2013) filmed in Plano, Illinois for Smallville, Vancouver and Nanaimo in British Columbia for other scenes, and Iceland for the Krypton sequences.
Ohio has a deep connection to Superman since the character was created by Cleveland natives Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in the early 1930s.
That history made Cleveland a natural choice for James Gunn's 2025 film, making it the first major Superman production to film extensively in Ohio. Earlier films relied on New York, Alberta, British Columbia, and Sydney instead.
Man of Steel Filming Locations
Man of Steel used a wide range of locations to tell the story of Clark Kent becoming Superman. Director Zack Snyder and his team scouted spots that could feel both grounded and epic. Here is a breakdown of where the main scenes were shot.
Smallville Scenes in Illinois
The town of Smallville in Man of Steel was filmed in Plano, Illinois. The production used the actual streets, buildings, and landscapes of this small Midwest town.
Plano sits about 60 miles west of Chicago. The local grain elevator, storefronts, and surrounding farmland gave Smallville an authentic rural feel that CGI alone could not provide.
Vancouver and British Columbia Locations
A large portion of Man of Steel was filmed in and around Vancouver, British Columbia. Studio work was based at Mammoth Studios in Burnaby, just east of Vancouver.
The production used this region for its versatile scenery. British Columbia offered forests, coastlines, and urban settings all within a short drive. Studios in Vancouver also handled interior scenes and controlled environments for the bigger action sequences.
Kent Farm Filming Location
The Kent Farm, where young Clark grows up, was filmed near Plano, Illinois. The production found a working farm in the area that fit the look of a classic American homestead.
Fields of corn, a red barn, and flat open land made the location feel like the heartland of America. The farm scenes are some of the most emotionally grounded in the entire film.
Metropolis Filming Locations
In Man of Steel, Metropolis was primarily represented using locations in Chicago, Illinois, along with some Vancouver studio work. The city's skyline and streets appeared in the major battle scenes near the end of the film.
The production used Chicago Union Station, whose tall columns and vaulted glass ceiling gave certain interiors a monumental scale. Visual effects work drew on New York reference points to give Metropolis a dense, east coast city feeling.
Krypton Filming Locations
Krypton in Man of Steel was largely a practical and CGI hybrid production. Some location work was done in Iceland, which provided the rugged, alien terrain that matched the production design.
The volcanic rock fields near Mývatn in northern Iceland gave Krypton a visual weight that painted sets cannot easily replicate. The opening sequence on Krypton benefited greatly from this real-world grounding.
Superman (2025) Filming Locations
The 2025 Superman film directed by James Gunn made Ohio a central part of its production. David Corenswet stars as Superman, with Nicholas Hoult playing Lex Luthor and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane.
Filming took place across multiple Cleveland landmarks as well as locations in Georgia, Norway, and Kentucky, bringing the city into the spotlight for Superman fans around the world.
Cleveland as the New Metropolis
Cleveland was chosen as the stand-in for Metropolis in the 2025 film.
The city's architecture, waterfront, and urban grid gave Metropolis a look that felt both classic and modern. James Gunn and his team worked with Cleveland city officials to close streets and use major public spaces during production.
The result is a version of Metropolis that feels distinctly Midwestern in character, a fitting tribute to the city where Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster first dreamed up the character.
Leader Building as the Daily Planet
The Leader Building in downtown Cleveland was used to represent the Daily Planet exterior. Built in 1912 and located at 526 Superior Avenue, this historic structure has the kind of old-school newsroom energy that fits the Daily Planet perfectly.
The building was originally constructed for the Cleveland Leader newspaper, so the connection runs deeper than just its looks. Its terra cotta facade and ornate details made it an ideal choice without needing heavy modification.
The building is privately owned but fully visible from the street. Fans visiting Cleveland can walk past it any time during the day.
Euclid Avenue and Public Square
Euclid Avenue and Public Square in downtown Cleveland were used for several street-level Metropolis scenes. One notable crash lands Superman in the small plaza in front of PNC Bank at Euclid Avenue and East 9th Street.
These are major public spaces in the city, and the production transformed them with props, vehicles, and set dressing to match the film's version of the city. Public Square is open around the clock and gives you a clear sense of how the filmmakers used the open urban space.
Progressive Field and Detroit-Superior Bridge
Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Guardians baseball team, appeared in establishing shots that helped frame the Metropolis skyline.
The Detroit-Superior Bridge, a double-deck bridge spanning the Cuyahoga River, also featured in the film and added a strong visual element to the aerial sequences.
The bridge's lower level is open to pedestrians on select days, making it one of the more unique stops on a Cleveland filming location tour.
Headlands Beach State Park
One scene in the 2025 film uses Headlands Beach State Park in Mentor, Ohio, about 25 miles east of Cleveland. The mile-long natural sand beach on Lake Erie doubles as a military encampment site in the film.
The park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset and is free to enter, though parking fees apply in peak season. It is easy to reach from downtown Cleveland via I-90 East.
Cleveland Arcade
The Cleveland Arcade, a stunning 19th-century indoor shopping arcade, was used for a notable scene near the end of the film.
This five-story structure with its glass ceiling is one of the most architecturally impressive buildings in Ohio. It is open to the public and houses a Hyatt Regency hotel inside.
The arcade is located at 401 Euclid Avenue and is generally open during hotel and retail hours, making it easy to combine with a visit to the nearby Leader Building and Public Square.
Other Superman (2025) Filming Locations
Ohio was the core of the 2025 production, but the film pulled from other locations as well. James Gunn's team traveled to Norway, Georgia, and Kentucky to complete the full scope of the story.
Fortress of Solitude in Svalbard, Norway
The Fortress of Solitude was filmed in Adventdalen, also known as Advent Valley, on the island of Spitsbergen in Svalbard, Norway. This Arctic archipelago sits roughly 1,300 miles from the North Pole, halfway between mainland Norway and the polar ice cap.
Its icy, remote landscape made it the perfect physical stand-in for Superman's isolated stronghold. Svalbard can be reached by tourist flights from Oslo via Scandinavian Airlines to Longyearbyen Airport, the main settlement on Spitsbergen.
Travel is possible but expensive, and guided tours of the surrounding tundra are recommended since polar bear encounters are a real risk outside town.
Daily Planet Newsroom in Macon, Georgia
The interior Daily Planet newsroom scenes were filmed at Terminal Station in Macon, Georgia. The 1916 Beaux Arts building at 200 Cherry Street was designed by Alfred T. Fellheimer, the same architect behind New York's Grand Central Terminal.
Production designers cleared the station's original passenger benches and replaced them with newsroom desks, cameras, and period-appropriate clutter to transform the grand concourse into the bustling heart of the Daily Planet.
The building is not regularly open for public tours, but its exterior is visible from Cherry Street.
Hall of Justice in Cincinnati
The Hall of Justice was filmed at the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. This Art Deco building, completed in 1933, has a distinctive rotunda, grand arched facade, and colorful mosaic murals inside that made it a natural fit for a superhero headquarters.
It is one of the most iconic buildings in the Midwest and operates as a working museum complex housing natural history, history, and children's exhibits. Admission is required and hours vary by season, so check the museum's website before visiting.
Smallville Farm Near LaGrange, Georgia
The Smallville farm sequences in the 2025 film were shot on a rural property on Stovall Road near LaGrange, Georgia, about 60 miles southwest of Atlanta.
The production found open farmland and a homestead that gave Clark Kent's childhood home the same warm, grounded quality as the Illinois farm used in Man of Steel. The location is on private land, so public access is not available. It can be viewed from the road.
Desert Battle Scenes in Georgia
Several large-scale battle scenes set in desert terrain were filmed at Atlanta Sand, a commercial sand mine in Roberta, Crawford County, about 80 miles south of Atlanta. The flat, pale landscape of the mine stood in effectively for an arid environment.
Studio work for controlled and effects-heavy sequences was handled at Trilith Studios near Atlanta, one of the largest purpose-built film campuses in North America.
Kentucky Location
Some additional scenes in the 2025 film were completed in Kentucky, though the production has not publicly specified which locations were used or which scenes were shot there.
The state's rural landscapes and production incentives have made it an increasingly common filming destination. This guide will be updated when further details are confirmed.
Superman Filming Locations by Movie
Here is a concise overview of where each major Superman production was filmed.
Superman (1978)
Richard Donner's original Superman used Calgary and the surrounding Alberta prairies for the Smallville sequences. Metropolis scenes drew heavily on New York City, with Grand Central Terminal serving as the location above Lex Luthor's underground lair.
Interior and studio work was handled at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England. The Fortress of Solitude was built as a practical set and filmed near Fortress Mountain in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, lending the location a genuinely remote and frozen quality.
Superman II (1980)
Superman II was filmed largely back-to-back with the first film, sharing many of the same New York and Pinewood Studios locations.
The film opened with a sequence set in Paris, using establishing shots of the Eiffel Tower and surrounding streets for a bomb-threat scene involving Lois Lane.
Niagara Falls served as a key real-world location, used for the scenes where Lois tests her suspicions that Clark Kent is Superman by putting herself in danger near the falls.
Most of the major action and interior sequences returned to Pinewood Studios.
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
Superman IV used Milton Keynes, a planned city in Buckinghamshire, England, as its version of Metropolis. The city's modernist buildings and wide pedestrian plazas gave the film a visually distinctive look compared to the New York-influenced Metropolis of earlier entries.
The central railway station and shopping centers appeared in several scenes. Some New York City locations also returned for establishing shots.
The production worked with a significantly reduced budget compared to earlier entries, which limited the range and ambition of the location work.
Superman Returns (2006)
Superman Returns filmed extensively in Sydney, Australia. Fox Studios Australia in Moore Park handled the majority of controlled interior work, including the Daily Planet newsroom set and several key action sequences built on stage.
The production also used Tamworth, a regional city in New South Wales about 300 miles north of Sydney, for the Smallville scenes, taking advantage of its flat agricultural landscape and small-town character.
Some Metropolis establishing shots used Los Angeles and New York City locations for added visual texture.
Man of Steel (2013)
As covered in detail above, Man of Steel spread its production across Plano, Illinois, Vancouver and British Columbia, Chicago, and Iceland. Studio work was handled primarily at Mammoth Studios in Burnaby, British Columbia.
Superman (2025)
The 2025 film used Cleveland, Ohio as its primary Metropolis setting. Additional locations included Adventdalen in Svalbard, Norway for the Fortress of Solitude, Terminal Station in Macon, Georgia for the Daily Planet newsroom, the Cincinnati Museum Center for the Hall of Justice, a farm property near LaGrange, Georgia for Smallville, Headlands Beach State Park in Mentor, Ohio for a military scene, Atlanta Sand in Roberta, Georgia for desert battle sequences, and additional locations in Kentucky.
Can You Visit the Superman Filming Locations?
Many Superman filming locations are open to the public. In Cleveland, most of the key sites are walkable from one another in a single day.
A suggested route starts at the Leader Building at 526 Superior Avenue, continues to the Cleveland Arcade at 401 Euclid Avenue two blocks away, then moves to Public Square and the nearby PNC Bank plaza at Euclid and East 9th, and finishes with a drive to the Detroit-Superior Bridge for views of the Cuyahoga River.
Parking is available in several garages near Public Square, and the RTA rail system connects downtown Cleveland to outer neighborhoods.
For a full day out, add Headlands Beach State Park in Mentor, about a 30-minute drive east via I-90. The park is free to enter and open from sunrise to sunset.
The Cincinnati Museum Center is open Tuesday through Sunday, with admission required. Check the museum's website for current hours and pricing before your visit.
Outside Ohio, Plano, Illinois is publicly accessible since Man of Steel used its actual streets. The Terminal Station in Macon, Georgia is visible from the street. Svalbard, Norway is reachable by flights from Oslo but is remote, expensive, and requires planning around Arctic conditions.
The Stovall Road farm near LaGrange, Georgia is private property and should only be viewed from the road.
Conclusion
Now you have a complete answer to where Superman was filmed, covering every major film from 1978 to 2025.
Cleveland, Ohio stands out as the most exciting recent addition to the Superman filming map, honoring the character's roots while giving fans a city they can actually visit and explore on foot.
Use this guide to plan your own location tour, whether you start in downtown Cleveland, make your way to Plano, Illinois, or go as far as the Arctic tundra of Svalbard.
If you found this guide helpful, share it with a fellow Superman fan or drop a comment below with your favorite filming location. More location guides like this one are just a click away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the original 1978 Superman filmed?
The 1978 film used Calgary and the Alberta prairies for Smallville scenes and New York City for Metropolis, including Grand Central Terminal above Lex Luthor's lair. Interiors were shot at Pinewood Studios in England, and the Fortress of Solitude was filmed near Fortress Mountain in the Canadian Rockies.
Is the Daily Planet building a real place?
In the 2025 film, the Leader Building at 526 Superior Avenue in Cleveland serves as the Daily Planet exterior. The Terminal Station in Macon, Georgia was used for the interior newsroom. Both are real historic buildings that you can see in person.
Was any part of Superman filmed in Metropolis, Illinois?
No major Superman film has used Metropolis, Illinois for production, though the small city celebrates its Superman connection with an annual festival each June.
How long did filming take for the 2025 Superman?
Principal photography for the 2025 Superman ran for several months across Ohio, Georgia, Norway, and Kentucky, wrapping in early 2024.
Did James Gunn film any scenes at a studio?
Yes, controlled interior and effects-heavy scenes were completed at Trilith Studios near Atlanta, Georgia, one of the largest purpose-built film production campuses in North America. DC productions have increasingly used Trilith as a home base.
