Rotten
Superman doesn't have enough conviction or courage to be solidly square and dumb; it keeps pushing smarmy big emotions at us -- but half-heartedly.
Pauline Kael, New Yorker
Superman
You'll believe a man can fly.
1978 · 2h 24m · PG
Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Directed by
Richard Donner
Free account saves your watchlist and ratings.
Superman
Overview
Mild-mannered Clark Kent works as a reporter at the Daily Planet alongside his crush, Lois Lane. Clark must summon his superhero alter-ego when the nefarious Lex Luthor launches a plan to take over the world.
Director and cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
87%
Tomatometer
Fresh
It's the simple, earth-bound quality of the film that makes this comic-book fantasy soar.
Judith Martin, Washington Post
Rotten
The film is best when it takes itself seriously, worst when it takes the easy way out in giggly camp -- as it does, finally and fatally, when Lex Luthor enters the action.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Fresh
By keeping the spectacular possibilities open, through the opening scenes of the destruction of Krypton, and the subsequent growth to manhood of the planet's only son on the plains of the Midwest, the film allows naivete and knowingness to coexist.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Fresh
Superman is good, clean, simple-minded fun...
Vincent Canby, New York Times
More films
Superman Returns (2006)
Action · Adventure · Science Fiction · PG-13
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.
- Runtime
- 2h 34m
- Director
- Bryan Singer
- Cast
- Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey
IMDb
6.1
Rotten Tomatoes
72%
Metacritic
72
Superman II (1980)
Action · Adventure · Science Fiction · PG
Three Kryptonian criminals led by General Zod team up with Lex Luthor to conquer Earth, forcing a depowered Superman to regain his strength and stop them.
- Runtime
- 2h 7m
- Director
- Richard Lester
- Cast
- Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Terence Stamp
IMDb
6.8
Rotten Tomatoes
85%
Metacritic
83
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (2006)
Action · Adventure · Romance · PG
is a 2006 superhero film directed by Richard Donner. It is a re-edited director's cut of the 1980 theatrical version of Superman II, directed by Richard Lester, and serves as an alternate direct sequel to the 1978 film Superman. The film stars Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, and Marlon Brando in original footage filmed by Donner in 19...
- Runtime
- 1h 55m
IMDb
7.9
Rotten Tomatoes
90%
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
Action · Adventure · Science Fiction · PG
With global superpowers engaged in an increasingly hostile arms race, Superman leads a crusade to rid the world of nuclear weapons. But Lex Luthor, recently sprung from jail, is declaring war on the Man of Steel and his quest to save the planet. Using a strand of Superman's hair, Luthor synthesizes a powerful ally known as Nuclear Man ...
- Runtime
- 1h 30m
- Director
- Sidney J. Furie
- Cast
- Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman
IMDb
3.8
Rotten Tomatoes
17%
Metacritic
24
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
Action · Adventure · Science Fiction · PG-13
A teenage Peter Parker grapples with both high school and amazing super-human crises as his alter-ego Spider-Man.
- Runtime
- 2h 16m
- Director
- Marc Webb
- Cast
- Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans
IMDb
7.0
Rotten Tomatoes
71%
Metacritic
66
Snow (1963)
Documentary · N/A
Comprising train and track footage quickly shot just before a heavy winter's snowfall was melting, the multi-award-winning classic that emerged from the cutting-room compresses British Rail's dedication to blizzard-battling into a thrilling eight-minute montage cut to music. Tough-as-boots workers struggling to keep the line clear are ...
- Runtime
- 8m
- Director
- Geoffrey Jones
IMDb
7.0
Rail (1967)
Documentary · N/A
"Rail" captures British Railways at a major turning-point in its history. In certain respects, this was a period of considerable upheaval and loss. There was a facing-up to the increasing need for a big modernisation drive. Full and speedy electrification, or the wider promotion of diesel-power on remaining lines, became a matter of to...
- Runtime
- 14m
- Director
- Geoffrey Jones
IMDb
7.4
Locomotion (1975)
Documentary · N/A
Collage film about the history of trains set to music.
- Runtime
- 16m
- Director
- Geoffrey Jones
IMDb
7.2
Shell Spirit (1963)
N/A
Directed by Geoffrey Jones.
- Runtime
- 2m
- Director
- Geoffrey Jones
IMDb
6.8
Comments
Talk about the film with other members