WHO IS THE BEST LEX LUTHOR?

Both the big and small screens have been given their fair share of adaptations of one of the biggest villains in all superhero history. From Animated Series to live action shows like Smallville and Supergirl--- we're here to give you the top 5 Lex Luthors of all time... according to us.
#LexLuthor #Superman #Smallville #TheAnimatedSeries #SupermanTheAnimatedSeries #Supergirl #MichaelRosenbaum #JonCryer #ClancyBrown #GeneHackman
SUBSCRIBE AND CLICK THAT BELL TO BE NOTIFIED
LINKS, LINKS, AND MORE LINKS
JOIN THE PATREON AND BECOME A CERTIFIED VEEGENERATE - / sijw
TIP JAR- PayPal.me/VeeInfuso
GET A CAMEO - www.cameo.com/veeinfuso?_bran...
JOIN ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER - / veeinfuso
JOIN THE DISCORD - / discord
BACK UP KZbin CHANNEL - / @squaredcircleunderground
EMAIL ME @ [e-mail]

[@dannyakins8742]

Michael Rosenbaum is definitely my favourite Lex Luthor

[@filmdemo4]

He was a very good lex!

[@ronaldsprowal9978]

Agreed He is the Best better than all the Rest .. He my favorite too

[@savagedarksider5934]

My is the DCAU and Jon Cryer.

[@jayku1624]

Same here

[@robertw31968]

Mine too.

[@TOMMY-tv7rd]

Smallville did him best and captured all angles of him even making us feel bad for him

[@TheMatriX423]

I agree

[@robertw31968]

Definitely sir!!

[@emobassistformallygeddysco3126]

Nah superfriends lex was the best lolz nah im jk Gene Hackman has my vote

[@aurahoneydew9607]

That's not really that impressive since from the 20th Century to now everyone sympathizes with the villain. Something sexy about evil.

[@aurahoneydew9607]

@@emobassistformallygeddysco3126 Genes is out done by the DCAU's version

[@TacTar]

Michael Rosenbaum is the best Lex Luthor imo. He did a great job demonstrating the cleverness and insightfulness of Lex. "Clark, when my father passes on, kings will come to his funeral. When your father passes on, his friends will come." Just a line I always remember Lex saying to Clark

[@bubs200]

sounds like something from the comics and that makes it beautiful

[@mayotango1317]

@@bubs200 What comics you read? Because he is so evil.

[@AzguardMike]

"you were right about me all along Mr. Kent...... I am the villain of the story. Now tell Clark to do as he's told, before something bad happens!" *shoots Mr Kent in the leg* "sigh......like that"

[@freedomlover9560]

@@AzguardMike That's right...I know about the meteor rocks. And Clark's special gifts.

[@JENNAORTEGA465]

Gene Hackman is the best

[@digitalcabbage910]

Michael Rosenbaum set the new standard for Lex Luthor. Jessy Eisenberg just showed us what not to do.

[@theoutsiderjess4869]

He was misscated not as bad as Jared Leto Joker but bad nonetheless

[@jasonhearn5818]

Michael for live action...Clancy for animated

[@BigStevie]

Clancy Brown all the way!!

[@11094DEREK]

I agree but I never watched Smallville

[@AndreNitroX]

He just captured the essence of Lex

[@osmanyousif7849]

It's a shame they couldn't let him play the role in live action because he would have nailed it.

[@ericwatkins9554]

Michael Rosenbaum because I grew up with smallville and trust me when I tell you smallville back in the day was way better than the arrowverse it's not even a comparison. Michael played the role of lex Luthor to a T and brought that evil character to life and was really believable.

[@pwnranger3496]

Season 1-4 of Smallville was better. Season 5 on up declined in quality dramatically

[@randallflagg3700]

Don't trust anybody who uses "trust me" as an actual point! I also grew up with *Smallville* , but the nostlagia makes you only remember the good parts. like how good Justin Hartley was at playing Green Arrow (who was much closer to the "real" GA than the one from the Arrowverse, who is a GA/Batman hybrid). James Marsters as Brainiac was also a high point... And I'm *very* forgiving about some of Smallville's most disliked charas/storylines; I liked Michael Hogan as Slade Wilson [it wouldn't be fair to compare him to Manu Bennett obviously, but I enjoyed the little we got] ], and I actually enjoyed the first live action Doomsday... But if you praise Smallville, and then trash *Arrow* seasons 1,2,3 and 5, you _might_ be biased. Sure, season 4 sucked (but hey it brought Matt Ryan back as Constantine, after his own show failed to produced a second season; too bad, that first season was awesome... plus, Anarky was awesome in his first live action appearance \o/). and season 3 was pretty much "Batman Begins: Arrow edition" (the same way *Gotham* season 5 was "The Dark Knight Rises; the extended season"), but the 5th season tied it all together nicely. "The Flash" season 1&2 are also great seasons on par with the best ones from Smallville IMHO. Even if "The Flash" show declined very fast after the controversial season 3 (still much better than some later seasons, but a step down from 1&2), you can't take these first 2 seasons back... And if we're going to compare Luthors, even if I grew up with Rosenbaum, and he really made me care for the character of Lex... Jon Cryers really blindsided me, and 100% saved *Supergirl* season 4. /rant

[@TechTino]

@@pwnranger3496 seasons 1 and 2 suck ass tbh, 3 is good, 4 is good, the rest are great apart from 8 and some of 7 in my book

[@mar_speedman]

Smallville was a great show, if you ignore all the times Clark was being a stupid jerk lol

[@mar_speedman]

@Black Ninja Well, yeah, but he sure didn't know how to *show it* It's not that he was self righteous. That's understandable. He *is* Superman, as you said. The problem is that he's awfully confrontational and insensitive. And his decision making is terrible, in a way that actually bothers you as a viewer, rather than it being something you'd expect.

[@noneed4me2n7]

Clancy Brown and Michael Rosenbaum, which buy chance got to play opposite in switched roles on JLU “the great brain robbery”. Loved that episode and enjoyed Smallville for a time.

[@cray-seacoral]

"Have you seen my humanity before you decided I had none?" -Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor

[@AndreNitroX]

Dad you have no idea what I’m capable of

[@kayden7911]

"I am the villain of the story."

[@bisexualichigo4227]

The best for me will always be the one from the Superman animated and Justice League series.

[@knightweb85]

That's Clancy Brown

[@WhatsReallyGoingOn84]

Yup.

[@The810kid]

80 Million Dollars on a fake election campaign just to tick superman off.

[@Southern_Crusader]

@@The810kid “Sorry, I had to put my power suit on.” [adjusts suit cuffs]

[@AndreNitroX]

Clancy brown made Lex one of the best villains in fiction for me

[@rogvortex58]

Best is Michael Rosenbaum.

[@delycan4912]

Smallville Lex is best Lex. Hope Michael stays safe with his skin cancer :(

[@zemox2534]

He has skin. Cancer?!

[@TheMallachiv]

Wtf??

[@lilamontoya5609]

I didn't know that

[@zahitporras159]

Micheal Rosenbaum will forever be my favorite. When they announced that John Cryer was going to portray Lex I was skeptical, however he has done an amazing job with the character. So Cryer would be my second choice

[@thepubknight6144]

His "He's not a man!!" Scene was what made me a fan of his Lex That's a spot on Lex

[@kayleighryan3432]

John Shea was a great Lex Luthor! Billy Zane would be the dream Lex Luthor.

[@Qster83]

Shea is underrated!

[@ChromeFamily]

Zane sucks as an actor

[@davem5276]

Yeah, Shea or Hackman are the first people I think of as Lex.

[@MrFrostien]

@@davem5276 Hackman 's Luthor was a goofball

[@JENNAORTEGA465]

@@ChromeFamily no but you

[@trintenm8551]

To your friends point about Smallville's Lex Luthor -- Lex did terrible things for the right reasons (at first). He learned from his dad how to deal with a problem. You didn't just fix the problem, you would destroy the problem. Make sure it can never crop up again. Like the investigative reporter, where Lex tells him to get on a bus, cancelled his cell phone service, and threatened to foreclose on the guys house to make the reporter stop harassing the Kents. I was a fan of Clancy Brown as well. I really wish they would hire him to play Lex in a live action skit. That guy has the vocal range, the inflection, and is physically commanding. He'd crush it.

[@kensmith2285]

1. Michael Rosenbaum 2. Clancy Brown 3. Jon Cryer The reason I don't add Gene Hackman to the list is because he set the bar. His portrayal of Lex Luthor was already diabolical, ruthless, and selfish as hell. However, the way he performed was brilliant.

[@trompentertainment5927]

I’ve met Michael rosenbaum at a comic con in London in 2017 we had a chat about his roles as I’m a huge huge fan of his from the flash to Lex luthor I have all the seasons of smallville. In my opinion jon cryer and Michael rosenbaum are the two greatest Lex luthors ever

[@TarfuLuke]

Michael Rosenbaum Is by far my favourite Lex, his Arc in smallville is brilliant, he doesn't start as a villain but his dad and Clark make him into one.

[@SignumInterriti]

"Jesse was a very great Riddler, if only that's the character he was hired to play", that is on point. Also, it's Michael Rosenbaum all the way. His Lex was my favourite part of my favourite show and he's the reason I root for Lex over any villain (and most heroes to be honest) in any version and story, because I always imagine that is where he came from. A thoughtful, badass genius who is a true and reliable friend, trying his best to trust someone despite everything he was tought, only for that trust to never be returned. I know with my brain that he had to become evil but my heart never forgave Clark for not telling Lex the truth back in season one.

[@Yup712]

Michael Rosenbaum’s portrayal on “Smallville” is one of the best ever in my opinion. I didn’t start watching “Smallville” until around like 2008-2010 and needed something to watch while I was in an extended hospital stay. And I went into watching that show with a negative perception of the character because I was like: “What the hell? Lex Luthor knows Superman in high school? So f-in stupid!”. And then I ended up loving his portrayal and character arc. You really sympathized with him and his descent to the dark side tugged at your heart strings. And then that monologue in the final episode!!!!!! I like Kevin Spacey as Lex just HATED his storyline in “Superman Returns”. Such a great actor whose performance was wasted on a sh*tty script. I’ve never seen Jon Cryer’s performance, but will definitely check it out.

[@jay_sun2088]

1. Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville Lex Luthor) 2. Clancy Brown again (LEGO Lex Luthor) 3. Clancy Brown (Justice League Animated series Lex Luthor) 4. Mark Rolston (Injustice Lex Luthor) 5. Kevin Spacey (Superman Returns (Lex Luthor)

[@mrcritical6751]

Seriously you rank Lego Lex over Timverse Lex?

[@jay_sun2088]

@@mrcritical6751 LEGO Batman 2 GOATED. It’s still the same actor, just slightly different tones.

[@mrcritical6751]

To be fair you could argue that Lego Lex is Clancy after he’s had years to refine and get the character down perfectly

[@mrcritical6751]

@Chuck Haggert Gene is good but he’s also kinda goofy, he needed to strike a better balance

[@natek4488]

1. Clancy Brown (DCAU) 2. Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville) 3. Kevin Spacey (Superman Returns) 4. Gene Hackman (Superman 1978) 5. Jon Cryer (Supergirl)

[@supergirlvideoclips894]

Jon Cryer Lex Luthor is definitely my favorite Lex Luthor. I really hope he joins Superman and Lois TV Show.

[@junior523]

Mine too

[@Sbonelo_]

Doesn't matter the closest thing to a Lex Luthor in real life is Jeff Bezos. Sh*t 🔥🔥

[@shawnbaker3245]

Don't you mean Elon Musk?

[@TechTino]

@@shawnbaker3245 Jeff bezos LOOKS like lex, Elon does not, otherwise yeah

[@shawnbaker3245]

@@TechTino The otherwise is where I was going.

[@Rodshark75]

Yeah, mixed with Trumpy

[@anothercleverusername992]

I say, _Donald Trump._ Bezos has the look... Trump has the villainy and power.

[@PureSharp]

i recently started rewatching smallville and michael is hands down the best Lex. made me realize he was one of the reasons i really like the series

[@frankfilippelli9223]

Best: Clancy Brown, with out question! Worst: Jesse Eisenberg, I wouldn’t even think to put him on a list. If there was a top 10 list and I had 5 empty slots to fill, I’d still much rather leave them empty before I consider entering his name. Facts!

[@theartistformerlyknownasperson]

I agree

[@BobbyJCox]

You see, the fact that you didn’t know that “without” is a compound word is precisely the reason you missed that Michael Rosenbaum’s portrayal is the best. He’s fully developed, multidimensional, charming, highly intelligent and tragic. Rosenbaum’s Lex is the undisputed best … without question.

[@SpiegelmanSzn]

Jon Cryer might not be the best Lex Luthor. But the fact that he’s convinced me he’s actually competent to play him is a gift in and of itself. Dude did a solid job and with better written material he could keep doing better.

[@Elementa2006]

My Top 5 Lex Luthors: 1. Clancy Brown: By all accounts the best incarnation, Brown's Lex combined the business tycoon aspect of modern Post Crisis comics while retaining the evil genius aspect of the Pre-Crisis era. This Luthor felt like a true opposite to Superman and Brown's voice really sold the character. 2. Michael Rosenbaum: The best live action Lex Luthor, this was the most developed and sympathetic incarnation of the character and the modern take on the 60s and 70s comic Lex Luthor as written by writers like Elliot S! Maggin who tried to give the character more dimension and depth than just being an evil genius trope. You really wanted things to work out for him and defeat his destiny that when he finally went to the darkside, it was genuinely heartbreaking and also fantastic and that goes back to Rosenbaum's amazing performance. 3. Mark Rolston: Rolston's Lex was the best use of the character who pulled strings behind the scene and the show used the whole Superboy being a clone of Lex better than the comics. 4. John Shea: This incarnation was considered controversial for the time because this version had hair, however Shea was so good in the part, particularly that he was a faithful adaptation of the comic Lex at the time, the Post Crisis Businessman Lex, he had this smug "magnificent bastard" attitude that was also kind of charming. 5. Sherman Howard: The second actor to play the character in the 1988-1992 Superboy TV series as a new face Lex created for himself using plastic surgery to assume the appearance of Warren Eckworth, a wealthy inventor and business tycoon (the original actor didn't come back because he wasn't very good). This Luthor was a more psychotic and mentally unbalanced version of the character like the Eisenberg incarnation tried to do except done well. Howard's Luthor is a joy to watch on screen.

[@TomGallagherSuperboyBeyond]

Thank you for mentioning Sherman Howard. Since you are clearly a fan of Superboy i'm gonna do something i never ever do. Gonna suggest you check out a youtube channel called Superboy The Legacy. We do podcasts and commentaries all about Superboy. Think you'll enjoy it. Our last episode of the podcast we interviewed Michael Manno who played Leo (Lex's best friend from the first season) and we have plans to also interview other actors including both of the Superboys John Newton and Gerard Christopher, Lana Stacy Haiduk, Bizarro Barry Meyers, hopefully Sherman Howard too, as well eventually some writers and directors.

[@Elementa2006]

@@TomGallagherSuperboyBeyond no problem, always good to spread some love for the Superboy series and I'm already subscribed to the Superboy The Legacy channel and have the site on my favorites.

[@TomGallagherSuperboyBeyond]

@@Elementa2006 awesome, thank you for the sub!

[@uffevonlauterbach]

I think Michael Rosenbaum was the best Lex. I've always liked Clancy Brown's Lex, so these guys would be my first two on my top five best Lex Luthors. I don't know who I'd choose for the other three, though.

[@flashfire9825]

CLANCY BROWN ANY ONE SAYING OTHERWISE IS WRONG!!!!!!!!!

[@mr.tomatohead3709]

I see you too are a man of culture

[@Darth-vade123]

Agreed he is so great

[@BigStevie]

AMEN!!!!!!!!!

[@da1king0fwakanda56]

Rosenbaum and Welling deserved a movie.

[@sidspano3204]

Michael Rosenbaum definitely was the best. His character arc and performance was incredible and honestly is one of my favorite TV characters of all time. I feel the Lex Luthor of the New 52 and Rebirth takes a lot of cues from Rosenbaum in the sense that this Lex does not see himself as a villain....he does a lot of shady, seedy, and at times outright villainous and evil things but in his mind truly believes it is for the greater good...that some human (not a metahuman or superhero) has to be the one to save the world...however he cannot see through his own narcism (and insecurities and delusions of grandeur) that despite his "good intentions" it always has to be done in a way that puts Lex Luthor front and center. I do enjoy Eisenberg as well, it was a mirror reflection of billionaires in a millennial setting. His entire plot, dilaogue and motivation etc was very Lex Luthor....it was his origin, we were seeing him develop into the Lex we all know but I am also not oblivious as to why some people didn't like him.

[@R34G4N]

agree about eisenberg! he wasn’t played an established lex, but rather one that’s just starting out. an origin story. if we had gotten more time with his character after bvs, i have no doubt that jesse would’ve given a fantastic and interesting performance

[@JENNAORTEGA465]

Hackman is the best

[@emobassistformallygeddysco3126]

I didn't even know Jesse Eisenberg was supposed to be Lex Luthor until they shaved his head

[@nicholasharry2233]

So you didn’t watch the movie lmao

[@zuriach1321]

@@nicholasharry2233 pretty such people were in denial. i clearly recall several people arguing back then about the casting "it's fine, he is not THE lex luthor. he is the son of Lex Luthor". and that the name is somehow a deception, i don't recall the exact reasoning behind it, but obviously the movie very clearly disproved that

[@COSun25]

I'm with Vee on Jesse Eisenberg. He should've been Edward Nygma (The Riddler).

[@BigStevie]

Indeed!

[@COSun25]

@R Mcdud I mean his Lex was LITERALLY Lex Luthor JUNIOR!! I don't know what led Zack Snyder to make this decision.

[@thebarbariansasquatch8108]

100% He was Frank Gorshin's 60's Riddler.

[@jordancrooks6752]

True

[@toddnolastname4485]

He felt more like Joker to me.

[@djpegao]

Live action : Michael Rosembaum Cartoon : Clancy Brown Movies : Gene Hackman is still the bar to pass Honourable mention : John Cryer, man he makes a good Luthor for the CW universe, and is waaaaaaaaaaaay better than the Riddler/Joker that Jesse played on the big screen

[@franzdawson856]

Are you dumb? Jessie stomps on CW's lex no challenge. That bearded idiot needed a magic book to be threatening, jessie's lex was actually smart

[@moelester3807]

Franz Dawson agree

[@RealRoboKnight]

@@franzdawson856 no

[@Oh_Ehm_Gee]

When I first saw John Cryer as Lex Luthor in Supergirl, I didn't think it was John Cryer.

[@somegeekguy]

I agree. He’s really under appreciated for that role

[@somegeekguy]

@Chuck Haggert ehh... you know what. In the Snyder cut I’ll say that he was solid... and it’s ONLY because he actually has the look of luthor. Plus I think his menacing demeanor is nice and he didn’t “MMMMMHHH” maybe because he wasn’t in it for that long 🤣 but I still feel like they should have casted someone else to begin with.

[@CactusJackIV]

Mr. Brown is my favorite. That booming voice, always seeming to be in control or even a couple steps ahead. Rosenbaum is a close number 2.

[@danielgertler5976]

I hate BvS but I'll go out to bat for Jessie Eisenberg. He did a phenomenal job with what the script gave him. It's just that what the script gave him wasn't Lex Luthor. As for Cryer vs Rosenbaum, Rosenbaum's Lex is the most fully realised version. The best over all packages of writing and acting, but if I had to sit down and watch one or the other based on performance alone it would be Cryer hands down, he just owns the camera every time he's on screen.

[@wyzasukitan]

Honestly, I’m not mad at this at all. Actually I strongly agree. What Snyder gave Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck wasn’t actually Superman and Batman either, in the same way you articulated Jesse Eisenberg wasn’t able to play Lex … the true character of Lex was just absent from the script

[@osmanyousif7849]

It's a shame they couldn't let Clancy Brown play the role in live action because he would have nailed it. He just has the personality to play Lex.

[@ThePixySoloWing]

I think the "Somebody save me" Lex was the best 😂👏

[@user-mx4is4fx3c]

Billy Zane would be a perfect Luthor

[@qiff6667]

Yep.

[@sammykent5752]

Definitely.

[@thebarbariansasquatch8108]

100% He was bae in Demon Knight.

[@brandonw6139]

That'd be great casting

[@Qster83]

Im here for it

[@Mitchell_Kirkbride69]

i like Jon Cryer as Lex but he still lives with his brother at the beach

[@vetreas366]

... Also he was Lenny Luthor in Superman IV Wow... that's... I dunno how I feel about this.

[@mrcritical6751]

They just like bringing in old actors into the CW shows, they brought in the original Supergirl actress for crying out loud

[@toddnolastname4485]

Somehow, I knew that John Shea was going to be forgotten. Smallville Lex made me want to see Lex become a hero. Lionel could have taken the Lex roll in that continuity, with Lex being Superman's ally. Or maybe being Superman's enemy, believing that Clark was, unknown even to himself, an alien agent, set to find out about Earth before an invasion.

[@603840Jrg]

I really liked Giancarlo Esposito as Lex in the Harley Quinn series and I really hope he reprises the role in a more serious project.

[@davida6146]

Michael Rosenbaum is the best Lex Luthor to date. But Billy Zane could easily take the cake if given the opportunity (although he is getting old now).

[@cinemagraphic6324]

Rosenbaum in physicality, Clancy Brown in voice. That's the voice I usually have in my head, when I think of Lex Luthor. Man, imagine Michael Rosenbaum's Lex Luthor voiced by Clancy Brown. Would that be weird or badass? I'm honestly not sure.

[@colinmelton3815]

If I could get over the uncanny valley of it would be f****** amazing 🤩

[@cinemagraphic6324]

@Colin Melton I'm still working on fine-tuning a facemorph of Lex Luthor.

[@MoostachedSaiyanPrince]

Honestly, I think the Jesse Eisenbeg Lex Luther wouldn't have been terrible if they handled it differently. What I would've done is have his character act exactly as he did in his public appearances, but then behind the scenes where he's enacting his plots, he drops that facade and is revealed to be a lot more like a classic Lex Luther. It would've created a nice parallel between Lex, Batman and Superman, so that you have the eccentic public face, but that only exists as a smokescreen to throw people off the scent of how dangerous he really is.

[@jonmartin9732]

I don’t know I thought he was very dangerous especially in the ultimate edition where you found out more about his plan. It also showed how ruthless he was even killing his own assistant. He also manipulated Everyone, he very closely portrayed the lex from Birthright. You could see through out the film he was growing more in the role as well. It would of been interesting to see where his character would of gone.

[@franzdawson856]

And that's your problem, "classic lex luthor". This isnt classic this is a modern take, who will eventually grow to reassemble the classic lex. Get over your nostalgia

[@MoostachedSaiyanPrince]

@@franzdawson856 My opinion's not coming from nostalgia. I was never a superman fan and was barely aware of who Lex Luther was because growing up, I was never that in to comics, especially DC because I thought it sucked. So I only really learned about Lex Luther relatively recently as an adult, and I was exposed to both this version of Lex and the classic ones around the same time and believe the more traditional ones to be superior, and it's because I can't take Jesse Eisenbergs version seriously. The classic Lex Luther may be a non superpowerwd human, but no matter what, he comes across as someone you shouldn't dare cross, where as the obnoxious and eccentric Eisenberg version comes across as someone who would have his ass kicked on a daily basis if he didn't have money.

[@franzdawson856]

@@MoostachedSaiyanPrince No gene was pathetic. Its pretty ironic how you say lex would get beat up if he didnt have money but that describes gene perfectly. He was always playing a coward and took advantage of people underestimating him. Jessie's version literally had superman bow before him. He pushed a jolly rancher down a congress mans throat. He exerted dominance unseen since smallville and perhaps spacey.

[@MoostachedSaiyanPrince]

@@franzdawson856 I never mentioned Gene. I don't like his Lex Luther for the same reason I don't like Eisenberg's. He fails to be intimidating, despite what the movie tells you. When I say "classic" Lex Luther, I mean the man you see shows like Justice League Unlimited and Smallville. Regardless of the "dominance" that Eisenberg displays, his Lex is not someone who I could ever find intimidating. That jolly rancher thing was ridiculous because it made him come across as an eccentric weirdo rather than a badass that has complete control over the situation. In fact, reading your description of it makes it sound even worse than I thought, like something an awkward sitcom nerd would do because he doesn't understand social boundaries. Things like that are the reason people think Eisenberg was playing someone more like Riddler Lex Luther.

[@TheMallachiv]

There were very few things I remember from smallville. What I do remember , is how amazing lex luthor was.

[@matthewtapia1669]

Lex and Lionel In Smallville are a reversed situation of the future because Lionel is the main villan basically for the first half of the series but midway Lionel changes due to Clark and Joel and lex by that point has almost reached the point of the villan future when he was basically trying to be the hero in the first half of the show he tried resist to his father's nature.

[@thebarbariansasquatch8108]

As good as Rosenbaum's Lex was in Smallville, John Glover stole that show as Alexander Luthor. But my Sasquatch heart belongs Clancy Brown.

[@justintrujillo8483]

you mean lionel luthor?

[@thebarbariansasquatch8108]

@@justintrujillo8483 👆Yes, that's exactly who I meant.

[@safarehan6360]

Jon Cryer's Lex Luthor was surprisingly amazing. He's my number 2 just behind Michael Rosenbaum

[@somegeekguy]

I agree he really picked up the supergirl show by a lot tbh. That one episode where he has cancer and the tables started turning was so amazing.

[@lifeisberserk9566]

OBVIOUSLY Michael Rosenbaum and Clancy brown!! 2 best Luthor's ever

[@infinitymelon7939]

I love Smallville lex and the dcau lex

[@pwnranger3496]

Shame on both of you for not putting Gene Hackman on your list

[@somegeekguy]

And it’s a bigger shame that I had to scroll past hundreds of comments to see someone finally say this. I grew up with smallvile too and I feel like majority of the viewers did as well so they don’t acknowledge it... I was born in 98 but if we had to pick the all time best lex hands down? It’s going to be Gene Hackman period... that supergirl Lex Luthor is pretty nice too. Smallvile is always nice too.

[@SathishKumar-sk8fe]

Michael Rosebaum is such great actor. In Smallville he clearly brought so many aspects of Luthor. And he played Flash in DCAU, who is so different from Luthor. There is a fun episode where Flash and Luthor accidentally switched their bodies in DCAU, I think this episode was done intentionally, since both Justice League unlimited and Smallville were airing simultaneously. In that episode Michael showed his Luthor side while he was flash. It was so meta.

[@harrisonkyle3029]

Animated, Clancy Brown is the most iconic, but I always preferred the cool, collected version on Young Justice. Live-action, Michael Rosenbaum, definitely.

[@jasonjackson7389]

Smallville got to explore his character the most and him and Clark being best friends was a new side of Lex I never saw in the TV shows.

[@thepubknight6144]

His "We want the same things Clark, or should I say Kal?" Line is one of my favorites of his

[@hotwheels1909]

Love your work Vee Infuseo and your content rocks

[@juliandiaz2500]

Jessie Isenberg should have been the riddler not lex Luthor

[@garenthal9638]

Riddler can’t sink buckets though like his lex

[@juliandiaz9014]

Exactly

[@blackoverblueskies6221]

Vee, I appreciate that "inside of you" reference.

[@johnsnow04]

Hackman only mentioned? Guy was "go to" Lex Luthor for almost 30 years before millenials discovered CW drama Superman.

[@BCBaron]

Superman 1978 was the first movie I ever saw in a theater as a kid, so I'm a little biased. Gene Hackman was just so damned charismatic in the role that I suspect even Superman himself couldn't help having a bit of a soft spot for the guy deep down, even though he knew he still had to take him to jail :)

[@kevdmiller]

Yeah Hackman deserved to at least be ON the list. Though I think he was a great *interpretation* of Lex, even if he didn't embody the heart of the character. So he wouldn't top my list for that reason, but he deserved more than just a mention.

[@somegeekguy]

All these viewers just grew up watching this shit. Sucks because I grew up watching smallvile too... but we all know Gene Hackman is the GRAND Lex Luthor of them all. Just as Nicholson was for joker. And sorry to say it but Eisenberg did not take the mantle as good as Heath but hey I digress.

[@williammoffit7023]

I think Jon Cryer did a great job as Lex

[@matthewrosenthal753]

Rosenbaum had the most self aware line in the history of self aware lines as Lex Luthor: “I am the villain of the story.” But guys where is John Shea? He was so slick as Lex.

[@Legonathan100]

I like that Jon Cryer starts as Lex’s Nephew in Superman 4 to Lex himself in Supergirl

[@ebrietasbiscuit]

You fell out of my “suggested”. Glad your back homie

[@mdusibisi]

DCAU is my favorite Lex, followed by Smallville Lex. Their madness has always been subtle and nuanced.

[@davidbrowne5969]

I agree I like the guy who played Lex Luthor in smallville. To me he was the best lex Luthor my personal number 1

[@m00k61]

At first I was stoked that Allen was my friend too because I've recently lost a leg and have problems with my spine that are slowly paralyzing me. And my friends have seemingly forgotten me but then he picked Jesse Eisenberg.

[@ralphdonn9518]

Smallville did it the best if you guys have a problem with it you can talk to me

[@Saintluci92]

“Looks like you were right along Mr.Kent. I am the villain of the story!” ROSENBAUM THE GOAT

[@Bacbi]

Rosenbaum, Clancy, Cryer, Rolston and while he hasn't done much Esposito did a great job on Harley Quinn and he is kinda playing an alternate reality version of Lex on the boys, but it's hard to know where they plan to take his character so will have to wait and see.

[@wlee6685]

The best Lex Luther is Donald Trump but he's not bald "yet".

[@vpelno]

This whole time I thought it was a conscious choice to make the cartoon Lex Luthor from Justice League etc. mixed black and white while he was canonically white in the comics. Never really thought about it til now.

[@Joelikesmoviesnstuff]

In my opinion, Michael Rosenbaum is the best Lex Luthor I've ever seen in live action.

[@The810kid]

Clancy Brown wins with the epic lines from the justice league unlimited cadmus storyline.

[@randomnerd3402]

CW Lex is probably the best thing about CW besides Supernatural. But once again, I've never watched Smallville, so maybe Smallville Lex is better. I really like Jesse Eisenberg as an actor, but unfortunately, he was terribly miscast as Luthor, he'd make a good Riddler though. DCAU Lex is really memorable and great, but it's not my favorite.

[@flashfire9825]

check out stargirl if you havent

[@randomnerd3402]

@@flashfire9825 I heard from someone that the Stargirl show is actually pretty solid, I might check it out. My dad is watching it and he's liking it so far.

[@flashfire9825]

@@randomnerd3402 nice

[@randomnerd3402]

@R Mcdud Alright

[@bigtoken90]

Watch smallville what's wrong with you

[@thekornreeper]

Eissenburg was weak. Might as well have Mark Zuckerberg

[@user-mx4is4fx3c]

His writing and characterization were great. He was just overreacting

[@sammykent5752]

@@user-mx4is4fx3c No, no he wasn't. It's only great if you think comic book Lex Luthor is Mark Zuckerberg. I find it funny how in a world where we have Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos (the literal real life Lex Luthor), the inspiration for a modern day Lex Luthor is Mark Zuckerberg.

[@user-mx4is4fx3c]

@@sammykent5752 A modern reimagining of classic Luthor would probably be closer to Jeff Bezos. But Eisenberg's was a modern re-imagining of Birthright Luthor. And he's closer to Mark Zuckerberg

[@thebarbariansasquatch8108]

I feel Jesse's performance is what happens when you merge Heath Ledgers Joker with Frank Gorshin's 60's Riddler.

[@thekornreeper]

@The Barbarian Sasquatch, that sounds about right

[@NavarreSkyyeRocks]

John cryer killed it

[@maryammure5151]

Rosenbaum was born to play lex luthor, like christopher reeve was born to play superman. It was just meant to be. He was so good in that role. Like he said he was born to play him. He knew how to play him so well. Wow. In awe.

[@dantespears713]

I liked John Shea, but he didn’t get enough screen time

[@andrewcozzini8259]

Okay, so let me have a try at this: 1.) Clancy Brown (DCAU, The Batman, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, LEGO properties, etc.) 2.) John Shea (Lois and Clark) 3.) James Marsden (Superman: Doomsday and DCUO) 4.) Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville) 5.) Mark Rolston (Young Justice, Injustice, Batman: Arkham Knight)

[@jonathancampbell5231]

Fun fact- Mark Rolston and Clancy Brown are both in The Shawshank Redemption. And in that film, Clancy Brown beats the sh*t out of Mark Rolston and cripples him. So The Shawshank Redemption features Lex Luthor beating up Lex Luthor.

[@brookswilliams5239]

I just realized that 😂😂

[@abeltesfaye_]

It was EASILY Michael Rosenbaum!!!! Michael is the BEST Lex in all of tv & cinematic history, it's not even close 🔥👏🏽

[@IblewuponyourfaceIII]

Michael Rosenbaum was the greatest Lex Luthors of all time! Nobody else even holds a candle next to him.

[@cliffevans4945]

Michael Rosenberg was the best lex and he played him for one episode in the justice league cartoon when lex and flash traded bodies because Michael voices the fash on the jla cartoon

[@travelerluke5748]

Smallville is my favorite take... Would like to see that kind of lex again...

[@visoredgruntR34]

I am one of the ones to grew to love the Jon Cryer Lex as he had this Xanatos gambit on point, even when he lost he won.

[@archersmith869]

Smallville had the greatest lex Luther....period

[@andrerance5798]

Vee infuser could you do a video on Young Justice season 3

[@AstonishingRed]

The DCEU couldn’t give us a great Lex OR a great Joker, and a Flash that couldn’t be more different than his comic book counterpart 😔

[@RbkARI]

Everyone looks tan in Superman TAS, it's not just Lex.

[@mikebarber12]

My top three picks for Lex Luthor 1. Jon Cryer 2. Kevin Spacey 3. Michael Rosenbaum

[@PapaTaurean]

Clancy Brown... best Luthor. Also, More My Black Friend Alan please!!

[@nedstark1353]

5.mark rolston 4.gene hackmen 3.Jon cryer 2.Clancy brown 1.Michael rosenbaum

[@davidhoj]

I FORGOT about the scene with Hackman and Reeves

[@CudiFan224]

I just noticed that Jon Cryer being Lex Luthor and being good at the role is when Bryan Cranston going from Hal to Walter White

[@thelittleorangefriend393]

I think it would have been interesting to see Eisenbergs Lex be comic accurate, and then he slowly loses his mind after the whole thing on the ship

[@theredheadrevolution4156]

He'd definitely have to put on like a hundred pounds before that, but it's not impossible.

[@Novato33]

He said get the fuck out of my house I started bursting out laughing

[@azurepursuer8017]

To be fair, he did play the role he was paid to play, they gave him the script and the direction. He played the role he was told to play very well

[@demiurgehigh5328]

Can’t believe I wasn’t subscribed when I thought I was

[@Yup712]

And Jared Leto’s Joker was redeemed in the Snyder Cut of “Justice League” and is now one of my favorite Jokers up there with Ledger and Nicholson. And that’s with literally just 5 minutes of screen time with Ben Affleck’s Batman.