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Superman Returns

PG-13 Released Jun 28, 2006 2h 34m Adventure Action Sci-Fi Fantasy TRAILER for List
74% Tomatometer 267 Reviews 60% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
While Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) 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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Superman Returns

Superman Returns

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review Brian Tallerico UGO May be the most reverent superhero film ever made. Mar 24, 2007 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Charlie M Doesn’t offer anything new to Superman. Just a retread of things we’ve already seen. A couple memorable action sequences, but an underwhelming third act. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/30/24 Full Review DanTheMan 2 Superman Returns had all the makings of a big comeback for the Man of Steel, it feels eager to please but eventually collapses under the weight of its self-seriousness. The film flies, it just doesn't soar. The film starts well but ultimately hits a wall in the neverending third act, dragging its feet to the credits and threatening to sour the whole adventure. The melancholy tone means the experience is often a glum one, pushing mythology and sensitivity upon its audience with a very slow pace, but for the fleeting moments of action, it certainly delivers especially the plane disaster. Singer's direction is great but good lord the colour grading does not do the film justice. Please just turn up the saturation, just a little. I just want a wee bit of colour. However, I cannot fault the film's cast, it's pretty much perfect all around, supporting cast and all. Brandon Routh makes for a pretty great Superman, but the film doesn't give him a whole lot of room to explore his portrayal while also massively toning down Clark's charm and bumbling antics. Kevin Spacey gives us a more cruel and less flippant incarnation of Lex Luthor, one that feels very at home in this film and easily the highlight. John Ottman's score is the natural successor to Williams' beautiful original, incorporating the main theme where it matters most and providing some brilliant original music of his own. Spirited and somewhat bittersweet, Superman Returns is a lovingly crafted homage and a tribute to the real-life hero who best embodied the character of Superman, Christopher Reeve, remaining a fascinating and very entertaining ride most of the way, though 20 minutes too long for optimum interest and ultimately leaving you wanting more. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/24/24 Full Review Jace E Superman Returns is actually a pretty good movie. While it's not a game-changer and doesn't add a lot of depth to the character of Superman, I found myself entertained the whole way through. The action sequences were a huge improvement when compared to Quest for Peace, Routh did an admirable job as Clark/Superman and there were a good amount of callbacks to the original films. There were more than a few confusing moments and a handful of unnecessary scenes, but the film did not feel too overstuffed. I wish that the film would have been better received, as I feel that it deserved some sequels. However, with Man of Steel on the horizon, I can't complain. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/17/24 Full Review Nathan G One of my favorite Superman movies. Great plot. Kevin Spacey is a great Lex Luther and I truly enjoyed the action and the twist between Lois lane and Superman. Great addition to Christopher Reeves Superman movies. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/02/24 Full Review Alan g Worst superman movie ever. Confusing poor acting boring script. Even worse than Superman III and IV. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 07/27/24 Full Review Tylor S Oh Boy where do I start with this. This movie is supposed to be a sequel to the classic Christopher Reeve Superman films. But only Superman and Superman II. This movie completely disregards Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for more Money. Which is very odd cause this movie thinks the ladder two films are bad enough to ignore but in reality this is the film that should be considered non canon. No one acts in character, the tone just doesn't match that of the classic films. Especially with Lex Luthor. Gone is his charismatic moustache twirling energy, instead he just gives everything he sees a thousand yard stare and does nothing. Superman was for some reason gone for 5 years but he's back or as the movie states he has returned to Metropolis. Ah yes cause no one would notice that both Clark Kent and Superman both return at the exact same time. In Superman's absence Lois somehow has an 8 year old child and a husband. Much to Superman's chronic despair. Because if you recall at the end of Superman II the movie this is supposed to be a sequel to, Clark Kent leaves Lois Lane so she can find someone who isn't too busy being a super hero. But all of a sudden ol' Clarky just can't stand the thought of Lois being with another man. Outside of the everyone just being out of character, man this movie is boring. It's so, so boring it's almost unbearable. I couldn't tell you the plot cause I was too busy trying to figure out the stupid time jump. Ah yes the time jump, the thing that grinds my gears the most with this wretched excuse for a sequel. Superman II takes place in 1981 the year the movie came out and this one takes place in 2006. But how on Earth is everyone so young!? No one ages in this franchise they're like Weird Al Yankovic. In all seriousness I had a very difficult time following this movie so I may have missed some vital plot points. But that's the movie's fault for being so boring. The only good thing about this movie is the opening credits which replicate the original 1978 movie's opening credits. This movie also rips the John Williams theme straight from Superman 78. And in my opinion this movie really does not deserve to use such a legendary theme. For the people that enjoy this movie I'm happy that you enjoy it, but unfortunately I do not feel the same. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 07/04/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Superman Returns

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Cast & Crew

Man of Steel 56% 75% Man of Steel TRAILER for Man of Steel Green Lantern 25% 45% Green Lantern TRAILER for Green Lantern X-Men: The Last Stand 57% 61% X-Men: The Last Stand TRAILER for X-Men: The Last Stand The Incredible Hulk 67% 69% The Incredible Hulk X2 85% 85% X2 TRAILER for X2 Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis While Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) 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
Bryan Singer, Gilbert Adler, Jon Peters
Screenwriter
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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