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Superman II

Play trailer Poster for Superman II PG Released Jun 19, 1980 2h 7m Adventure Sci-Fi Fantasy Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 60 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Superman (Christopher Reeve) foils the plot of terrorists by hurtling their nuclear device into outer space, but the bomb's shock waves free the Kryptonian villain General Zod (Terence Stamp) and his henchmen Ursa (Sarah Douglas) and Non (Jack O'Halloran) from their imprisonment. Traveling to Earth, they threaten the planet with destruction at the same time that Superman decides to renounce his superpowers in order to live a normal life as Clark Kent with his new love, Lois Lane (Margot Kidder).
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Superman II

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Critics Consensus

The humor occasionally stumbles into slapstick territory, and the special effects are dated, but Superman II meets, if not exceeds, the standard set by its predecessor.

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Critics Reviews

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Patrick Gibbs Daily Telegraph (UK) Alas for good intentions, the new mixture turns out to be much as before, which I didn't rate very highly. Jun 17, 2022 Full Review Derek Malcolm Guardian Dick Lester's Superman II makes a groaningly slow start but finally ends up a better movie than Superman I. Of course, it has to be because more of the same would look a bit second-hand another time round. Jun 17, 2022 Full Review David Robinson Times (UK) Superman's adventures, certainly, could be no sillier -- suspending our disbelief, of course, by the expertise of the technology, the prettiness of the art work, [and] the effacing charm of Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder. Jun 16, 2022 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Slam-bang entertainment. Rated: 3.5/4 May 13, 2023 Full Review Lawrence O'Toole Maclean's Magazine Both the writing and the opticals are fiendishly clever and chock-full of dry, sly wit that is never gratuitously employed. May 3, 2023 Full Review John Brosnan Starburst Superman II is a winner on all counts and is even better than Superman I. It shines as a perfect example of how to put a comic strip character on the screen. Jul 26, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mike P Superman 2 is Superman Redux...After the stunning epic original; which presented The Man of Steel as Christ himself and The Son of God...This chapter brings him back down to Earth...This is the HUMAN side of Superman...As he struggles with life here on earth; trying to reconcile his love for Lois, with his annointed role as Earth's Savior....Particularly once Lois learns his secret; and he decides to give up his powers so he can marry her; all at the same time his Dad's greatest enemy General Zod comes to Earth to get revenge...And inspite of this being one of the most fraught and chaotic film sets in history; Donner was unceremoniously fired by the greedy Salkinds; causing an uproar among the cast; and inspiring actors like Gene Hackman to quit the production mid-shoot; in spite of all that; this chapter still works wonders and is indeed a very solid and even spectacular sequel to the original. Probably because it was set up so brilliantly by the first one; and then the script by Leslie and David Newman and Mario Puzo was so good; so air-tight, even Richard Lester couldn't really screw it up. And the result is actually another modern classic; a worthy successor to the masterpiece original. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/29/25 Full Review Jelisije J A more polished version of the Richard Donner cut that was still very good but was lacking with the overall message as to why Superman gives up his powers and the consequences because of it. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/25/25 Full Review Star Trek XV: T With Lester and Donner directing it, the result is an uneven good but not great sequel with a good plot, strong villain and golden acting but dated special effects and some silliness. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/09/25 Full Review Carnage David Z Superman 2 although not as good as the first film still a very good take on the man of steel! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/19/25 Full Review Daniel B Menos propositiva narrativamente y con un conflicto más estandarizado para un blockbuster familiar, “Superman 2” es divertida, tiene sus buenas secuencias de acción y uno que otro chiste que es bueno. Pero se queda muy corta si la comparamos con su antecesora. Para mí el principal problema radica en que le quitaron el apartado sentimentalista del constructo de lo que define a una persona que decide actuar por lo correcto, para simplificarlo en un superhéroe que salva a las personas, “porque es su obligación”. Pero rescato que a diferencia de la primera parte esta le toma más importancia en lo que quiere Clark Kent. Para mi un apartado que le resta a esta cinta es el Incidente Incitador de varios personajes, por ejemplo Lex Luthor es malo porque tiene que serlo, lo redujeron a un antagonista de malolandia sacado de la serie de los 60’s de Batman, y aunque en mayor parte de la película el personaje de Louis Lane me gustó, siento que faltó una mayor intencionalidad narrativa en sus acciones, tiene escenas que sobre pasan la ficción presentada cómo, cuando se deja caer del edificio, y en el primer y parte del segundo acto no tiene su rol bien definido con Clark Kent y posteriormente Superman. Aún así las motivaciones de los antagonistas me parecieron correctas, cómo el dilema moral de Clark en intentar encajar en este mundo, aunque sus “responsabilidades” no se lo permitan; un argumento que casi 20 años después de su estreno se volvió norma en cómo desarrollar a un héroe en su segunda entrega. Con lo que me quedo de esta segunda entrega está en que reafirma el mensaje de la primera parte sobre que lo que nos hace especiales de diferentes maneras está en nuestro interior, creando una contraposición con los antagonistas de esta, que, aunque tuvieran las mismas habilidades sorprendentes de nuestro héroe , y lo superaran en número, este resultó vencedor por lo puro y desinteresado de sus acciones, dando con cierre al arco narrativo de nuestro protagonista en la historia, en la que decidió anteponer un bien general que uno propio. Superman II expresa de manera genuina cómo nuestra fuerza proviene de la persona que decidimos ser, y no en lo que aparentamos ser. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/18/25 Full Review Tre B Love it it keeps the flow of the original Superman film love it but not quite as good as the first but a great film nonetheless 🔥💯💪🏿 Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Superman II

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Movie Info

Synopsis Superman (Christopher Reeve) foils the plot of terrorists by hurtling their nuclear device into outer space, but the bomb's shock waves free the Kryptonian villain General Zod (Terence Stamp) and his henchmen Ursa (Sarah Douglas) and Non (Jack O'Halloran) from their imprisonment. Traveling to Earth, they threaten the planet with destruction at the same time that Superman decides to renounce his superpowers in order to live a normal life as Clark Kent with his new love, Lois Lane (Margot Kidder).
Director
Richard Lester
Producer
Pierre Spengler
Screenwriter
Mario Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Production Co
Warner Brothers
Rating
PG
Genre
Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 19, 1980, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 15, 2008
Runtime
2h 7m
Sound Mix
Surround
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