Superman Returns
Movie, 2006, Superman Returns, Set in Five years after Superman II
Superman Returns is #10 of 11 in release order and #8 of 11 in chronological order in the Superman.
The story
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.
Superman Returns recap
This film follows Superman and Superman II and ignores the later sequels. After astronomers find what may be the remains of Krypton, Superman leaves Earth for five years to look. He finds only ruins and comes back to the Kent farm, then returns to the Daily Planet as Clark. Lois Lane has moved on: she has a young son, Jason, lives with Perry White's nephew Richard, and won a Pulitzer Prize for an article called Why the World Doesn't Need Superman. Superman saves Lois on a falling plane, and his return is front-page news. Lex Luthor, freed on a technicality, robs the Fortress of Solitude and uses Kryptonian crystals to grow a new continent in the Atlantic, laced with kryptonite, which will flood much of the world. Lois tracks him down and is captured with Jason, who shows unusual strength.
Superman Returns ending explained
Lex stabs Superman with a shard of kryptonite and leaves him to drown, but Lois and Richard save him. Superman lifts the entire continent into space, then falls back to Earth and lies in a coma. Lois whispers something to him, and he recovers and visits Jason as he sleeps, confirming the boy is his son. Lex and his girlfriend Kitty are left stranded on a desert island.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Superman Returns
Superman Returns is streaming on HBO Max in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 6.1/10, Rotten Tomatoes 72%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Smallville, before Superman & Lois.
- Chronological order: after Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, before Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.
What to watch before Superman Returns
Nothing. Superman Returns (2006) doesn't continue an earlier version, so it stands on its own.
Cast
- Brandon Routh as Clark Kent / Superman
- Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane
- Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor
- James Marsden as Richard White
- Parker Posey as Kitty Kowalski
- Frank Langella as Perry White
- Sam Huntington as Jimmy Olsen
- Eva Marie Saint as Martha Kent
- Marlon Brando as Jor-El
- Kal Penn as Stanford
- Tristan Lake Leabu as Jason White
- David Fabrizio as Brutus
Directed by Bryan Singer.