Countless different mental iterations of a Superman movie have come and gone, including the ideas above and many more, but I think I finally have one that could stick.

Superman for All Time

Here’s an outline of what could easily be several different movies, one long epic, or both.

1910 - Kryptonian rocket lands on Earth, and the child inside is adopted by the Kents.
1939 - War begins in Europe, Clark adopts the Superman persona and goes to try to stop it.
1946 - The war is over and Clark moves to Metropolis to get a job as a reporter. He considers retiring Superman, but crime in the city leads him to continue his battle for truth and justice.
1960 - The Justice League is formed in response to The Center (see The New Frontier) (also here: enter Starro!).
1971 - Superman and his pal Jimmy Olsen encounter The Fourth World
1992 - Magog drives Superman into retirement.
2000 - The return of Superman and Kingdom Come.