Superman Returns

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2:16

Superman Returns

PG-13

Released Jun 28, 2006

2h 34m

Adventure

Action

Sci-Fi

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

265 Reviews

60%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

While Lex Luthor plots to destroy him once and for all, the Man of Steel (Brandon Routh) returns after a long absence to a much-changed world. Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) has moved on with her life, and society has learned to survive without him. Superman must find a way to reconnect with her and find his place in a world that may no longer need him.

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Critics Consensus

Bryan Singer's reverent and visually decadent adaptation gives the Man of Steel welcome emotional complexity. The result: a satisfying stick-to-your-ribs adaptation.

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Namrata Joshi

Outlook

The man doesn't have an ounce of charisma and at best can only be described as an expressionless log of wood. In retrospect, I'd settle for our own delectable Hrithik.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 15, 2019

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Eric Kohn

Reverse Shot

The movie runs nearly half an hour longer than it should, with a new plot strand introduced in the third act that has questionable vitality in the presumed sequel.

Jul 6, 2010

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Brian Tallerico

UGO

May be the most reverent superhero film ever made.

Mar 24, 2007

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Successfully channels everything that people like about Superman, at times, while other times feel like it's merely trying to ensure people remember that the character still exists.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 20, 2023

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

The glossiness of the visuals and the faithfulness of the cast in mimicking their ’70s counterparts makes the film a fitting revisit to a meandering property.

Rated: 4/10

Jul 11, 2022

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David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

Superman Returns ... is not the worst of today's entertainments, but interest in it eventually collapses under the weight of the film's self-seriousness and overbearing special effects.

Feb 14, 2021

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Michael P

It's good as a Superman movie but the movie itself is a bit boring and way to long. It's difficult to judge the actors for that they did since at times it feels like they're trying to imitate their original counterparts but at other times it feels like they're trying to do their own thing which is when they were great. The story itself is really good but lacked action and thrills I would expect and the last 20 minutes felt unnecessary. Overall it's fine

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/25

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r96 s

'Superman Returns' brings an ounce of life back into the series, at least when compared to the prior three installments, but unfortunately overall it's disappointing. For such an overlong run time, I feel like nothing actually happens in this either. I doubt I'll remember it. Brandon Routh is decent as the title character, I don't have any notable positives about his performance but then I don't hold any negatives about him either. The same can be said about the rest of the cast to be honest, Kevin Spacey plays a bad guy well (barely acting, some may say). It's better than 'Superman III', which I guess is one of the reasons for this to even exist; given it ignores events from that film onwards. For me, whilst it's not out and out bad, I didn't get anything noteworthy from this 2006 flick.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/09/25

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Obi-wan K

1st why did they make a 4th one 2nd Mid movie 3rd who had the idea to make this

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/03/25

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Audience Member

Bryan Singer's Superman Returns. It's as good as a blue contract wearing Superman/Clark Kent can be. Which isn't good.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/03/25

Full Review

Pietro M

A very underrated film, the romance with Lois is the highlight of the film, being very well directed and bringing the relationship to life, the film contains several plot holes just like all the other Superman films. With actors marking their roles, it is a beautiful sequel to the classic films, 2 and a half hours well spent!!!!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/21/24

Full Review

alan g

Completely confusing and unwatchable. This Superman has no appeal whatsoever. Brandon Routh cannot act. Bad acting, bad plot, bad "special" effects. A waste of Kate Bosworth and Kevin Spacey. Too long and boring.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/27/25

Full Review

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Bryan Singer

Director

Brandon Routh

Clark Kent

Kate Bosworth

Lois Lane

James Marsden

Richard White

Frank Langella

Perry White

Eva Marie Saint

Martha Kent

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Superman: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

While Lex Luthor plots to destroy him once and for all, the Man of Steel (Brandon Routh) returns after a long absence to a much-changed world. Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) has moved on with her life, and society has learned to survive without him. Superman must find a way to reconnect with her and find his place in a world that may no longer need him.

Director: Bryan Singer
Producer: Jon Peters, Bryan Singer, Gilbert Adler
Screenwriter: Bryan Singer, Michael Dougherty, Dan Harris, Michael Dougherty, Dan Harris
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Rating: PG-13 (Some Intense Action Violence)
Genre: Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 28, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 2, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $200.1M
Runtime: 2h 34m
Sound Mix: SDDS, DTS, Dolby Digital, Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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