Movie · 2006 · Science Fiction, Action, Adventure · 2h 34m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 1.6/10 (476.5K ratings)
Look up in the sky!
Overview
Superman returns to discover his 5-year absence has allowed Lex Luthor to walk free, and that those he was closest to felt abandoned and have moved on. Luthor plots his ultimate revenge that could see millions killed and change the face of the planet forever, as well as ridding himself of the Man of Steel.
Ratings
Curator score: 1.6/10
IMDb: 6.1/10
Letterboxd: 2.68/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 72%
Metacritic: 72
TMDB: 5.8/10
Director
Bryan Singer
Production
Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures, Peters Entertainment, Bad Hat Harry Productions, DC
Cast
Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, James Marsden, Parker Posey, Frank Langella, Sam Huntington, Eva Marie Saint, Marlon Brando, Kal Penn, Tristan Lake Leabu, David Fabrizio, Ian Roberts, Vincent Stone, Jack Larson, Noel Neill, Keegan Joyce, Jordana Beatty, Rob Flanagan, Stephan Bender
Where to watch
Max
Curator Review
Verdict
A sincere, often handsome Superman sequel that values melancholy, hope, and old-school heroism over constant action. It has strong atmosphere, a memorable central performance, and some genuinely moving ideas about absence and belonging, but the pacing is sluggish and the story can feel over-reverent and underpowered.
Best for
Viewers who like earnest, mythic superhero stories
Fans of nostalgic legacy sequels
People who prefer character emotion over nonstop spectacle
Audiences interested in a more reflective Superman
Skip if
You want fast, modern, joke-heavy superhero pacing
You need a tightly plotted blockbuster with constant momentum
You dislike reverent, melancholy sequels
You want a more aggressive or physically dominant Superman
Overview
Superman Returns is less a reboot than a wistful act of remembrance. It treats Superman as a symbol first and an action figure second, building its drama around absence, longing, and the uncomfortable fact that the world has learned to move on without him. That gives the film a melancholy shape that is unusual for a summer superhero movie, and when it works, it works beautifully.
Worth noting
The movie’s strengths are sincerity, visual polish, and a lead performance that understands Clark Kent as gentle, watchful, and almost painfully decent. The best scenes lean into the emotional cost of returning home after years away, and the film has a few striking set pieces that feel classical rather than chaotic. It also benefits from a villain who is gleefully petty in a way that suits the material.
Bottom line
Its main problem is that it often feels trapped between tribute and invention. The pacing is long, the emotional beats are sometimes overextended, and the film can seem unsure how much forward motion it wants beyond honoring the earlier mythology. Still, for viewers open to a quieter, more elegiac superhero film, it remains an interesting and occasionally moving outlier.
Top Letterboxd reviews
basharmousa (1★) · 2798 likes
I got shivers down my spine when kevin Spacey said "where's the boy?"
Josh Lewis (3★) · 1113 likes
You know, all the stuff people seemed to like/find profound in the first half of Man Of Steel (the moody meditations on family, spirituality and nostalgia) is here... but like good, and channeled via some good old-fashioned moviemaking sincerity that I think compliments it.
Evan (3★) · 676 likes
Take elements from this and elements from Man of Steel and I think you've got the perfect Superman film.
I'm surprised by all the dislike towards this film. It's very well directed. Sure, it might not have the best pacing. But I never found myself bored or wanting it to end. I was always interesting in what was happening and what would happen next. Kevin Spacey was excellent as Lex Luther and Brandon Routh made a very solid Superman.
I prefer Man of Steel because I like my Superman kicking ass, but I also like a calm and collected Superman as well.
elliebean (3★) · 636 likes
now why is this the third film i can think of off the top of my head where james marsden gets cucked 😭
2004 · Action, Adventure, Science Fiction · 2h 7m · PG-13 · Curator 8.2/10 (2.8M ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, fuboTV, Netflix Standard with Ads
A superhero sequel that combines emotional pressure, public responsibility, and strong character-driven storytelling.