Superman II

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Superman II

PG

1980

2h 7m

Adventure

Sci-Fi

Fantasy

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

113 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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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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Jay Scott

Globe and Mail

Jul 1, 2025

...[Christopher Reeve's] performance, Gene Hackman's performance and the performance of the special effects team are the three pressing reasons to see Superman II.

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Ron Base

Toronto Star

Jun 29, 2025

But what gives Superman a depth and believability lacking in other movies adapted from the comics, Popeye and Flash Gordon immediately come to mind, is the attention to character.

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Meaghan Morris

Sydney Morning Herald

Jun 28, 2025

The special effects are spare but spectacular, and the delightfully showy tricks are spaced out by comic ventures into romance, tourism and human drama.

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Richard Freedman

Newark Star-Ledger

Jan 12, 2026

Against all the laws governing sequel, "Superman II" is a much better movie than the original.

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John Ferguson

Radio Times

Sep 19, 2025

4/5

The effects are equal to the first film and there's a strong supporting cast, including an irascible Gene Hackman and the excellent Terence Stamp in what, at the time, was something of a comeback role.

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Brad Cook

Flickering Myth

Jul 10, 2025

4/5

I still regard the theatrical version of Superman II as a worthy follow-up to the original, even if there are those lingering "What if?" questions swirling around it.

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Gunner I

@RT64755212 Oct 18, 2026

Christopher Reeve does a fantastic job in this movie. Like a lot of other review on this movie, I agree that the second Superman is better than the first one due to better experience than they had in the first one.

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Julian C

@juliancooper_12 Aug 21, 2026

Superman II is full of action and drama that makes it better than the original

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Sabih A

@RT57875922 Aug 5, 2026

Just As Enjoyable as the First Christopher Reeve once again completely embodies Superman, making this another classic superhero film. Despite some inconsistencies caused by the change in directors, the movie retains the charm and heart of the original. The romance between Clark and Lois is handled well, and while the action feels dated by modern standards, it works for its time. Zod is a solid villain whose unfamiliarity with Earth leads to some entertaining moments. The film is a fun crowd-pleaser that may not surpass the original, but it remains a satisfying and enjoyably worthy sequel. In short: A charming sequel with another great performance from Christopher Reeve, enjoyable romance, and entertaining action that makes it nearly as fun as the original.

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Thomas F

@RT70557918 Jul 17, 2026

Zod and his entourage brought a new level to the series, but Reeve’s Superman remains the main attraction. Sadly, the kiss at the end erased a well put together Clark & Lois dynamic.

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Brendan K

@Bkeller25 Jul 12, 2026

A bit of a step down from the masterpiece that was the original, but it's still a very good movie overall. Clark and Lois's relationship is given additional depth, and the action scenes are exciting. Definitely recommended giving it a go if you enjoyed the first movie.

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diogo13 T

@Tua_mera Jul 10, 2026

A ideia de Superman ter que abrir mão de seus poderes por causa da Lois é tão bizarra para gerar conflito, só para ser desfeita em uns 20 minutos. Eles não exploram o conceito o suficiente para que tenha impacto, parece que está ali só para encher chouriça.

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Richard Lester

Director

Christopher Reeve

Clark Kent

Margot Kidder

Lois Lane

Gene Hackman

Lex Luthor

Ned Beatty

Otis

Jackie Cooper

Perry White

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Superman II: Trailer 1

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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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