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Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut

Play trailer Poster for Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut PG 2006 1h 56m Adventure Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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Kryptonian villain Gen. Zod (Terence Stamp) and his henchmen are accidentally freed from their outer-space imprisonment and threaten Earth with destruction, just as Superman (Christopher Reeve) decides to renounce his superpowers for his new love, Lois Lane (Margot Kidder). This alternate version of the film is based on footage shot by director Richard Donner before being replaced on the project, and it includes material not seen in the film's original 1980 release.
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Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut

Critics Reviews

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Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Loyalists overpraised this edition as superior -- that’s hardly accurate for a few reasons. Rated: 3/4 May 13, 2023 Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Given everything that happened, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut restores Donner's vision and makes the best out of an otherwise terrible situation. Rated: 4/5 May 9, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Adam P A treat to be able to see this on the big screen along with the original. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/20/23 Full Review Randal so unlike the original. changed lines and scenes. Don't ruin a classic!! Rated 1 out of 5 stars 04/19/23 Full Review matthias s Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut is a solid 3-star superhero flick that every Superman fan should check out. First off, that John Williams theme—pure chills every time! It's hands-down one of the best superhero scores ever. As a huge Superman and comics fan, this version feels way more comic-accurate. Christopher Reeve? Absolutely perfect as Clark Kent/Superman, and his chemistry with Margot Kidder’s Lois Lane is spot-on. She’s smarter, funnier, and way more charming here—huge improvement! Terence Stamp’s General Zod is still fantastic, but from the opening scene, you can tell this cut is something special. It’s not just a few changes; it captures the magical, entertaining vibe of the first film, which the theatrical version missed. While it’s not perfect, it respects the source material and delivers a much better experience. Honestly, I’m never going back to the theatrical version—this is the definitive cut for me. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/20/24 Full Review John S original superman 2 was perfect but Richard Donner's version is better Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/14/24 Full Review DanTheMan 2 The closest approximation to what Richard Donner's Superman II would have looked like, the result, while a bit rough around a couple of edges, is simply remarkable. The new version is paced much better but more importantly, however, is the dramatic weight that some of the restored scenes add to the film, so many scenes have now got their intended payoff, showing that happiness doesn't come without a price. The best bits of the theatrical version are here in full force with minimal scraps added later, marking the film itself as the remarkable artistic accomplishment it should have been upon initial release. Lester's laboured slapstick has been all but excised and in its place is a film that's closer in tone to the original and offers a more consistent balance between adventure and romance. The whole cast is on top form, Reeve especially, delivering his best performance as Krypton's last son, Hackmen is again fantastic when he hasn't been hampered by the rough edits of the theatrical cut, while Stamp once again steals the film as Zod with Brando being a more than welcome addition to provide a closure. John Williams' music is another winner despite the reused nature of certain scenes, his music was just made for the Man of Steel. While you can't technically classify The Richard Donner Cut as the complete version of Superman II, it's certainly the more well-rounded and emotionally resonant of the two cuts and easily my preferred version. There's really no other way to conclude this review without saluting Michael Thau and his efforts in bringing Donner's vision back to the masses without whom we would have never seen a man fly. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/22/24 Full Review N G So much better than the released version, like a whole different movie with all the bits you liked and new bits which add weight and depth to the Superman story (before Lester ruined it in number 3). Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/03/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut

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Movie Info

Synopsis Kryptonian villain Gen. Zod (Terence Stamp) and his henchmen are accidentally freed from their outer-space imprisonment and threaten Earth with destruction, just as Superman (Christopher Reeve) decides to renounce his superpowers for his new love, Lois Lane (Margot Kidder). This alternate version of the film is based on footage shot by director Richard Donner before being replaced on the project, and it includes material not seen in the film's original 1980 release.
Director
Richard Donner
Producer
Pierre Spengler, Michael Thau
Screenwriter
Mario Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman
Production Co
Dovemead Films, Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Comics, DC Entertainment
Rating
PG (Some Language|Sequences of Action Violence|Brief Mild Sensuality)
Genre
Adventure, Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 29, 2013
Runtime
1h 56m
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