Movie Review for Superman Returns

Summary: Superman--born on a planet which has long since died--has been raised by adoptive parents on the Kent farm in Kansas. The young boy Kal-El is renamed Clark Kent, and though he has grown up among humans, he is not one of them. Under Earth's yellow sun, he can do two things humans can only dream of, but to co-exist with them he must live a dual life as mild, unassuming Clark Kent, secretly transforming into the Man of Steel when the world cries out for him. But now, the world's crises have gone unheeded for five long years since Superman's mysterious disappearance. Without him, crime has risen in the city of Metropolis and beyond; that's not even counting the future destructive acts of Lex Luthor, who has been sprung from prison with the specific intent of using Superman's technological secrets for his own personal gain and glory. Lois Lane, star reporter for the Daily Planet and the love of Superman's life, has moved on since Superman left without a word. She has even won a Pulitzer Prize for her essay, "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman." Lois has other issues to contend with--she is now engaged to the editor's nephew and has a young son to look after. But for Superman, the long search for his place in the universe ends back at the Kent farm, among the only family he has ever known. His destiny lies in Metropolis, where one look in Lois's eyes tell him that this place, among the flawed but ultimately good people of Earth, is his true home. And with Lex's plan coming to fruition mere hours after his return, the world will never need Superman more than it does now.

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Kamal 'The Diva' Larsuel of 3BlackChicks Review (7/0)
            Superman returns with a vengeance.

By Kamal 'The Diva' Larsuel of 3BlackChicks Review (7/0)
            Superman returns with a vengeance.

By Kevin Carr of 7M Pictures (7/0)
            this decent story is hampered by possibly the worst rendition of Luthor to ever hit the screen

By Jurgen Fauth of About.com (7/0)
            There's nothing duller than a hero without flaws.

By Rebecca Murray of About.com (6/1)
            It didn't blow me away, but Bryan Singer and his cast have delivered a beautiful film with solid ...

By John Wirt of Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA) (7/0)
            Despite its Messiah complex, Superman Returns successfully revives the series for the big screen.

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Mike McGranaghan of Aisle Seat (7/0)
            The movie is probably about as good a Superman epic as you can get without taking some crazy, uni...

By Phil Villarreal of Arizona Daily Star (7/0)
            He remembered the cape, the spandex, the shiny boots and the big red S on his chest, but wait. . ...

By Philip Martin of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (7/0)
            ...enjoyable enough for the casual fan, and the superinitiated are going to find plenty of detail...

By Christy Lemire of Associated Press (7/0)
            Does the world really need Superman? Maybe not everyone. But people who love movies do.

By Eleanor Ringel Gillespie of Atlanta Journal-Constitution (4/3)
            A super show.

By Lori Hoffman of Atlantic City Weekly (7/0)
            ... an enjoyable — if overly long — tribute to the original spirit of the comic books and the ser...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Marjorie Baumgarten of Austin Chronicle (7/0)
            Yes, this Superman soars, but he doesn’t always take us with him.

By Jordan Hiller of Bangitout.com (7/0)
            In a time where the youth of this nation are fighting and dying to defend this country, the film ...

By Neil Smith of BBC (7/0)
            Logical progression, intelligent reappraisal, and nostalgia trip all in one, Superman Return is b...

By Emily Blunt of Blunt Review (7/0)
            Look up the sky...it's a bird...it's a plane...no it's Brandon Routh manly manning up the horizon...

By Ty Burr of Boston Globe (7/0)
            ...a generally thrilling entertainment that's not quite the grand slam you want it to be.

By Fred Topel of Can Magazine (7/0)
            Brings back all the nostalgia from the classic series with the modern joy of the digital box of t...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Fred Topel of Can Magazine (7/0)
            Brings back all the nostalgia from the classic series with the modern joy of the digital box of t...

By Kam Williams of Cape May Beachcomber (7/0)
            The Man of Steel as a morally-compromised and ethically-challenged figure has the potential to be...

By Lawrence Toppman of Charlotte Observer (7/0)
            The film has such an expansive, likeable spirit that you feel petty quibbling about details.

By Roger Ebert of Chicago Sun-Times (7/0)
            This is a glum, lackluster movie in which even the big effects sequences seem dutiful instead of ...

By Roger Ebert of Chicago Sun-Times (7/0)
            This is a glum, lackluster movie in which even the big effects sequences seem dutiful instead of ...

By Michael Phillips of Chicago Tribune (7/0)
            ...a pretty decent comic book movie.

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Peter Rainer of Christian Science Monitor (7/0)
            Maybe The Incredibles has spoiled me for superhero movies. The new Superman has its visionary cha...

By Peter Rainer of Christian Science Monitor (7/0)
            Maybe The Incredibles has spoiled me for superhero movies. The new Superman has its visionary cha...

By Peter T. Chattaway of Christianity Today (7/0)
            The film's weaknesses aside, there is no denying that Singer has pulled out all the stops in his ...

By Devin Faraci of CHUD (7/0)
            In one of the most exasperating recent examples of directorial overindulgence, what had been a fu...

By Jules Brenner of Cinema Signals (7/0)
            Five bravos to Bryan Singer and his team for showing us that Superman's heart is commensurate wit...

By Joshua Tyler of CinemaBlend.com (7/0)
            Bryan blends his beautiful vision with an elegant, intimate story and the result is a work of rea...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Rubin Safaya of Cinemalogue.com (7/0)
            Routh isn't given much else to do except act as a Flying Plot Device... Kate Bosworth's Lois Lane...

By Dan Jardine of Cinemania (7/0)
            Well-intentioned, sure, but in the end, clumsy, inept and ineffectual

By David Keyes of Cinemaphile.org (7/0)
            Sidelines the prospect of solid character exploration in favor of a plot so silly and clumsy that...

By James Rocchi of Cinematical (7/0)
            Bryan Singer's Superman Returns is amazing entertainment, a vital, exciting vision of a pop-cultu...

By James Rocchi of Cinematical (7/0)
            Bryan Singer's Superman Returns is amazing entertainment, a vital, exciting vision of a pop-cultu...

By Scott Weinberg of Cinematical (7/0)
            A case of "good, sometimes very good, but definitely not great," which is kind of a small-yet-nag...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Luis Martinez of Cinenganos (7/0)
            El Hombre de Acero vuela nuevamente y, además de Lex Luthor, ahora enfrenta a un nuevo enemigo: e...

By Luis Martinez of Cinenganos (7/0)
            El Hombre de Acero vuela nuevamente y, además de Lex Luthor, ahora enfrenta a un nuevo enemigo: e...

By Karina Montgomery of Cinerina (7/0)
            I'm not a fanboy, but Superman Returns is a great triumph, an ode both to the DC icon and the lat...

By Karina Montgomery of Cinerina (7/0)
            I'm not a fanboy, but Superman Returns is a great triumph, an ode both to the DC icon and the lat...

By Mark Palermo of Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia) (7/0)
            One of the few satisfying event films so far this summer.

By Mark Palermo of Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia) (7/0)
            One of the few satisfying event films so far this summer.

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Cole Smithey of ColeSmithey.com (7/0)
            "Superman Returns" is a sumptuous cinematic experience where its necessary spectacle never takes ...

By Jeffrey M. Anderson of Combustible Celluloid (7/0)
            Bryan Singer delivers the beautiful new Superman Returns, an impeccably made film, but with littl...

By Matt Brunson of Creative Loafing (7/0)
            For fans of Donner's 1978 model, the pleasures begin immediately.

By Les Wright of culturevulture.net (7/0)
            [Director Singer] reinvigorates an original American archetype. 'Superman Returns' gets it exactl...

By David Edwards of Daily Mirror [UK] (8/0)
            Many happy returns, Superman, you've been away too long. Unfortunately, you deserve a lot better ...

By Philip Wuntch of Dallas Morning News (7/0)
            Superman Returns' real hero is director Singer. He gives us a movie that is mellow when it should...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Steven D. Greydanus of Decent Films Guide (7/0)
            Honors and builds upon the strengths of its predecessors while gracefully minimizing their weakne...

By Boo Allen of Denton Record Chronicle (TX) (7/0)
            Dazzling.

By Robert Denerstein of Denver Rocky Mountain News (7/0)
            Singer's first flight into Superman territory generates enough thrills to ensure a return engagem...

By Jeff Vice of Deseret News, Salt Lake City (7/0)
            As the title character, relative newcomer Routh impresses -- he's clearly trying to channel Reeve...

By Steve Crum of Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers (7/0)
            Our caped hero does not turn the world backwards to relive time, but much of director Bryan Singe...

By Bill Gibron of DVD Verdict (7/0)
            Bryan Singer's Superman Returns is good ... damn good. It's just not great. As a matter of fact, ...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By John J. Puccio of DVDTown.com (7/0)
            Yes, the new Superman Returns movie flies. It just doesn't soar.

By Owen Gleiberman of E! Online (7/0)
            The movie gets tighter and fiercer as it goes along.

By Brian Mckay of eFilmCritic.com (7/0)
            by the time those end credits rolled, I had laughed, cried, and cheered far more than I have for ...

By Brian Mckay of eFilmCritic.com (7/0)
            by the time those end credits rolled, I had laughed, cried, and cheered far more than I have for ...

By Collin Souter of eFilmCritic.com (7/0)
            The plane taking off, flying and nearly crashing into the earth almost serves as a metaphor for t...

By Dan Lybarger of eFilmCritic.com (7/0)
            It's great to know that Superman can still fly, but it's more fun when we know what he's thinking...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Dan Lybarger of eFilmCritic.com (7/0)
            It's great to know that Superman can still fly, but it's more fun when we know what he's thinking...

By David Cornelius of eFilmCritic.com (7/0)
            This is a truly spectacular experience... Superman Returns joins [the 1978 Superman] on the short...

By Erik Childress of eFilmCritic.com (7/0)
            Winds up failing on such a colossal level that the dispensing of parts three and four takes on an...

By Emanuel Levy of EmanuelLevy.Com (7/0)
            Bravura technology and dazzling effects can't overcome the film's shortcomings: Standard plot, po...

By Eric D. Snider of EricDSnider.com (7/0)
            It's a thinky blockbuster, yes, though there is plenty of deft humor and breathtaking visuals and...

By Eugene Novikov of Film Blather (7/0)
            The event of the summer? Maybe. After a hideous May and June, unadulterated competence feels like...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Eugene Novikov of Film Blather (6/1)
            The event of the summer? Maybe. After a hideous May and June, unadulterated competence feels like...

By Walter Chaw of Film Freak Central (7/0)
            The saddest, most desperately lonesome and melancholy mainstream film in recent memory.

By Kevin Lally of Film Journal International (7/0)
            Singer has crafted a generally exciting and dazzling entertainment.

By Felix Vasquez of Film Threat (7/0)
            Superman Returns is one of the best depictions to date.

By Pete Vonder Haar of Film Threat (7/0)
            ...Singer and company are so concerned about doing justice to Superman's past, they fail to gener...

By Sean O'Connell of filmcritic.com (7/0)
            ...soars, mainly because director Bryan Singer shows immense respect for his source material...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Sean O'Connell of filmcritic.com (7/0)
            Gaining momentum seems easy for Superman Returns. Sustaining it is another story.

By Joe Utichi of FilmFocus (7/0)
            This Superman takes flight like few before and one wonders whether the film's minor flaws mean on...

By Brian Orndorf of FilmJerk.com (7/0)
            I treasured the experience of watching Superman Returns, both as a rabid fan of Richard Donner's ...

By Brian Orndorf of FilmJerk.com (7/0)
            I treasured the experience of watching Superman Returns, both as a rabid fan of Richard Donner's ...

By Victoria Alexander of FilmsInReview.com (7/0)
            Superman stands for truth, justice and…not the other thing.

By Richard Horgan of FilmStew.com (7/0)
            Like the strands of Kryptonite that Lex Luthor uses to challenge Superman, this film grows weaker...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By MaryAnn Johanson of Flick Filosopher (7/0)
            Routh is delightful... he looks and sounds so much like poor departed Christopher Reeve that it's...

By Rob Vaux of Flipside Movie Emporium (7/0)
            Emulating [Richard] Donner may not be the most innovative path, but it's certainly the smartest.....

By Brian Juergens of Freeze Dried Movies (7/0)
            A beautifully-shot, impressively scored, and competently-acted romance about a dorky alien who sa...

By Chuck O'Leary of FulvueDrive-in.com (7/0)
            Drab looking, underwhelming and inferior to all four of the Superman films that starred Christoph...

By Chuck O'Leary of FulvueDrive-in.com (7/0)
            Drab looking, underwhelming and inferior to all four of the Superman films that starred Christoph...

By Jeffrey Lyles of Gazette (MD) (7/0)
            an iconic summer blockbuster worthy of the original superhero that will redefine him for a new ge...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Michael W. Phillips, Jr. of Goatdog's Movies (7/0)
            Emphasizes the reasons I don't find Superman all that interesting.

By Eric Lurio of Greenwich Village Gazette (7/0)
            The film's conservatism is one of its strengths. We don't have to get used to anything really rad...

By Peter Canavese of Groucho Reviews (7/0)
            Like his superhero, director Bryan Singer carries an Atlas-like burden [but]...with thorough, fan...

By Peter Bradshaw of Guardian [UK] (7/0)
            The battle is won: but only just.

By Ross Anthony of Hollywood Report Card (7/0)
            The film struggles to find its own rhythm most of time, but eventually finds it in the climb to c...

By Kirk Honeycutt of Hollywood Reporter (7/0)
            A heartfelt Superman movie that plays to a broad audience thanks to an emotionally troubled Man o...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Amy Biancolli of Houston Chronicle (7/0)
            The world needs him, all right, and it should welcome his Return.

By Jeff Otto of IGN Movies (7/0)
            Singer's work is generally strong, but Superman Returns is only two-thirds of a good, never great...

By Jeff Otto of IGN Movies (7/0)
            Singer's work is generally strong, but Superman Returns is only two-thirds of a good, never great...

By Steve Rhodes of Internet Reviews (7/0)
            Brandon Routh, in a charisma-free performance, makes a superhero super boring and, with his airbr...

By Jim Slotek of Jam! Movies (7/0)
            Superman Returns was a tall order, and for fans it's a heaping plate of old-fashioned comfort foo...

By JoBlo of JoBlo's Movie Emporium (7/0)
            ...I would still recommend it pretty hardily, especially to the new generation of kids that haven...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Bob Bloom of Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN) (7/0)
            Seeing that big red “S” on the big screen again is an exciting experience. Welcome, home, Supe. W...

By James Sanford of Kalamazoo Gazette (7/0)
            elaborate adventure, rich in suspenseful action sequences... does not revitalize the Superman sag...

By James Sanford of Kalamazoo Gazette (7/0)
            elaborate adventure, rich in suspenseful action sequences... does not revitalize the Superman sag...

By David Kaplan of Kaplan vs. Kaplan (7/0)
            Outside of Routh's surprisingly capable performance, the rest of the movie is ho-hum.

By Jeanne Kaplan of Kaplan vs. Kaplan (7/0)
            This is no ordinary Superman.

By Jeanne Kaplan of Kaplan vs. Kaplan (7/0)
            This is no ordinary Superman.

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Andrea Chase of Killer Movie Reviews (7/0)
            never forgets its sense of fun, and more importantly, its exhilarating sense of wonder

By Scott Foundas of L.A. Weekly (7/0)
            What is finally most surprising about Superman Returns is how unexpectedly moving it is -- for it...

By Robert Roten of Laramie Movie Scope (7/0)
            A lovingly crafted homage to the greatest superhero of all time, and a tribute to the real life h...

By Carol Cling of Las Vegas Review-Journal (7/0)
            ... a rare sequel that deserves many happy returns all its own.

By Jon Niccum of Lawrence Journal-World (7/0)
            It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a downer.

By Nick Schager of Lessons of Darkness (7/0)
            Flled with so many grandly iconic images that it's rather easy to dismiss the film's not-inconsid...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Jeffrey Overstreet of Looking Closer (7/0)
            Brandon Routh strikes memorable iconic poses, but his Man of Steel lacks personality. ... Similar...

By Andy Klein of Los Angeles CityBeat (7/0)
            Superman Returns is never dull...but it rarely takes flight; and, when it does, it never soars hi...

By Glenn Whipp of Los Angeles Daily News (7/0)
            Superman Returns is a comic book movie for people who like virtuous superheroes, soap-opera story...

By Kenneth Turan of Los Angeles Times (7/0)
            It's not that Superman Returns doesn't have any ideas, it's got too many; this is a film that tri...

By Luke Y. Thompson of LYTRules.com (7/0)
            This is everything it should be. And if it doesn't work for you, I can't imagine what would.

By Mark Dujsik of Mark Reviews Movies (7/0)
            The Man of Steel returns in body but not quite in spirit.

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Randy Shulman of Metro Weekly (Washington, DC) (7/0)
            A magnificent, dramatically rewarding homecoming.

By Matt Pais of Metromix.com (7/0)
            High-flying, super-fun entertainment that's perfect for summer.

By Matt Pais of Metromix.com (7/0)
            High-flying, super-fun entertainment that's perfect for summer.

By Duane Dudek of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (7/0)
            It is easily the best superhero film since Spider-Man 2 and strongly resembles the 1978 film Supe...

By Susan Granger of Modamag.com (7/0)
            It's terrific, appealing to the child in all of us. Superman soars!

By Kevin N. Laforest of Montreal Film Journal (7/0)
            The Man Of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts!

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Ken Hanke of Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) (7/0)
            I expected it to be either very good, or very bad. What I got was very OK -- and you should get a...

By David Poland of Movie City News (7/0)
            It's terribly cast, poorly conceived, extremely light on action, features a romance that is not r...

By Frank Ochieng of Movie Eye (7/0)
            ...resonates with energizing purpose and reminds moviegoers why Superman was such an escapist tre...

By Nell Minow of Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies (7/0)
            Director Bryan Singer nimbly navigates the tricky balance between the old-school purists and 21st...

By Michael Elliott of Movie Parables (7/0)
            Strips away the pretense and hangs the messianic message out for all to see.

By Ryan Cracknell of Movie Views (7/0)
            A tender film that steps outside of its expected genre.

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Kevin A. Ranson of MovieCrypt.com (7/0)
            The Man of Steel returns... more super than ever and no less entertaining.

By Kevin A. Ranson of MovieCrypt.com (7/0)
            The Man of Steel returns... more super than ever and no less entertaining.

By Clint Morris of Moviehole (7/0)
            Holy Caesar's Ghost! They've done it! - "Superman Returns" is super-exciting, super-fun, and supe...

By Mark Ramsey of MovieJuice! (7/0)
            In a moment of near-romance, Lois hugs Clark: 'I forgot how warm you are,' she says. 'And I for...

By Julian Roman of MovieWeb (7/0)
             The cinematic rebirth of Superman could not have been put in abler hands. Director Bryan Singer...

By Michael Dequina of Mr. Brown's Movies (7/0)
            When you clamor for Supes and [director Bryan] Singer to deliver a knockout rush of blockbuster e...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Kurt Loder of MTV (7/0)
            The bittersweet love story is interesting, [and] the digital action looks as costly as it obvious...

By David Edelstein of New York Magazine (7/0)
            The final scenes would make Wagner check his watch. It’s not that the movie is 157 minutes; it’s ...

By Manohla Dargis of New York Times (7/0)
            ...leaden...

By David Ansen of Newsweek (7/0)
            Next to Singer's champagne, most recent superhero adventure movies are barely sparkling cider.

By Michael A. Smith of Nolan's Pop Culture Review (7/0)
             Resembling Reeve both physically and vocally, Routh certainly has large red boots to fill. And h...

By Michael A. Smith of Nolan's Pop Culture Review (7/0)
             Resembling Reeve both physically and vocally, Routh certainly has large red boots to fill. And h...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Jim Chastain of Norman Transcript (7/0)
            The film has a parallel universe that extends beyond the losses the characters suffer to the ones...

By Jeffrey Westhoff of Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL) (7/0)
            Its deliberate lack of originality is demoralizing.

By Ethan Alter of NYC Film Critic (7/0)
            One of the most interesting, if not the most successful, comic book adaptations ever produced.

By Philip French of Observer [UK] (7/0)
            It's too long, but then so-called 'event movies' always have been.

By Frank Swietek of One Guy's Opinion (7/0)
            Move over, Spider-Man--the Man of Steel is back, and he's flying higher than ever...a lushly lyri...

By Scott Tobias of Onion AV Club (7/0)
            There's a thin line between preserving an icon and merely delivering on an expensive franchise, b...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Mark Sells of Oregon Herald (7/0)
            Quite capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound, [but] does so without much care or con...

By Steve Schneider of Orlando Weekly (6/1)
            So 30 of the 150 or so minutes are a bust. There’s still ample reason to see the thing in first r...

By Fiore Mastracci of Outtakes With Fiore (7/0)
            To appease the European and Asian markets, America takes a slap.

By Fiore Mastracci of Outtakes With Fiore (7/0)
            To appease the European and Asian markets, America takes a slap.

By Dennis Schwartz of Ozus' World Movie Reviews (7/0)
            For me the length was the real killer, if it was cut to 80 or so minutes and made w...

By Dennis Schwartz of Ozus' World Movie Reviews (7/0)
            For me the length was the real killer, if it was cut to 80 or so minutes and made w...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Frank Houston of Palm Beach Daily News (7/0)
            Like many superhero movies, Superman Returns relies on special effects to create the swooshing se...

By Tyler Hanley of Palo Alto Weekly (7/0)
            Although Singer's take on Superman is slightly reminiscent of Peter Jackson's remake of King Kong...

By Sean Burns of Philadelphia Weekly (7/0)
            ...a surprisingly tender and gentle film - one that feels like it came from somewhere very person...

By Cynthia Fuchs of PopMatters (7/0)
            Yes, he still means to save this world, but the triumph is less complete now, the costs more visi...

By Sara Brady of Premiere Magazine (7/0)
            This Superman is like nothing you've ever seen before, but it tickles something primitive and com...

By Kevin Koehler of Pretentious Musing (7/0)
            The smartest studio film in a long time.

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By James Kendrick of Q Network Film Desk (7/0)
            Routh also conveys the same sense of deep-seated decency without the alienating self-righteousnes...

By Linda Cook of Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) (7/0)
            I take this whole "Superman" thing pretty personally.

By Mark R. Leeper of rec.arts.movies.reviews (7/0)
            The writing of SUPERMAN RETURNS is full of holes and the film is poorly edited. Audiences ...

By David Nusair of Reel Film Reviews (7/0)
            ...the most effective and flat-out entertaining installment in this ongoing series.

By Timothy Knight of Reel.com (7/0)
            Long thought to be impervious to everything except Kryptonite, the Man of Steel ultimately falls ...

By Laura Clifford of Reeling Reviews (7/0)
            ...both the film and its star maintain continuity with the earlier films while having their own u...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Robin Clifford of Reeling Reviews (7/0)
            ...this new Superman is going to be huge and will spawn its own set of sequels.

By John P. McCarthy of ReelTalk Movie Reviews (7/0)
            This latest movie based on the D.C. comic comes off like a harlequin novel-cum-Christian pageant ...

By John P. McCarthy of ReelTalk Movie Reviews (7/0)
            This latest movie based on the D.C. comic comes off like a harlequin novel-cum-Christian pageant ...

By James Berardinelli of ReelViews (7/0)
            Superman Returns is near the top -- if not at the top -- of the superhero movie pile. It offers n...

By Diana Saenger of ReviewExpress.com (7/0)
            Brandon Routh does an excellent job representing the iconic hero Superman.

By Mike Ward of Richmond.com (7/0)
            Superman Returns flawlessly repackages charismatic characters, further dips into the Man of Steel...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Peter Travers of Rolling Stone (7/0)
            Singer's movie is all about proving that Superman's selfless heroics are precisely what the world...

By Peter Travers of Rolling Stone (7/0)
            That 'S' on his suit has a whole new meaning: He's a Soul man.

By Carla Meyer of Sacramento Bee (7/0)
            Singer maintains a tone that's serious but inflected with enough comic touches so that the pictur...

By Carla Meyer of Sacramento Bee (8/0)
            Singer maintains a tone that's serious but inflected with enough comic touches so that the pictur...

By Stephanie Zacharek of Salon.com (7/0)
            Superman, born in 1938, is still very much alive in 2006. The Man of Steel has so skillfully bent...

By Sean Means of Salt Lake Tribune (7/0)
            Not since Gus Van Sant's shot-for-shot Psycho remake has a commercial filmmaker strived so labori...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Larry Ratliff of San Antonio Express-News (7/0)
            Spirited and somewhat bittersweet, Superman Returns remains a fascinating and very entertaining r...

By Jean Lowerison of San Diego Metropolitan (7/0)
            It would be easy to carp about the predictability of this film and its lack of freshness, origina...

By David Elliott of San Diego Union-Tribune (7/0)
            Using an old hero and basically old ideas, Superman Returns rises above the franchise fatigue of ...

By Mick LaSalle of San Francisco Chronicle (7/0)
            ...Superman Returns finds no reason for being, other than that it's summer and computer graph...

By Eric Melin of Scene-Stealers.com (7/0)
            By emphasizing Superman's virtual omnipotence and also his sense of eternal heartbreak and loss, ...

By Eric Melin of Scene-Stealers.com (7/0)
            By emphasizing Superman's virtual omnipotence and also his sense of eternal heartbreak and loss, ...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By James O'Ehley of Sci-Fi Movie Page (7/0)
            Lois Lane may have won the Pulitzer prize for journalism, but she is one lousy speller . . .

By James O'Ehley of Sci-Fi Movie Page (7/0)
            Lois Lane may have won the Pulitzer prize for journalism, but she is one lousy speller . . .

By Gina Carbone of Seacoast Newspapers (NH/Maine) (7/0)
            There's no spark. No life. A chuckle here or there but no romantic tension, no wit, no inspiratio...

By Sean McBride of Sean the Movie Guy (7/0)
            a lot to admire, but not much to get excited about.

By William Arnold of Seattle Post-Intelligencer (7/0)
            ...immensely satisfying...

By Moira MacDonald of Seattle Times (7/0)
            Superman Returns should swoop away with a big chunk of the summer box office, and deservedly so.

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Moira MacDonald of Seattle Times (7/0)
            Superman Returns should swoop away with a big chunk of the summer box office, and deservedly so.

By Rich Cline of Shadows on the Wall (7/0)
            It may never generate an epic scale, but that's only because it stays so relentlessly intimate.

By Keith Uhlich of Slant Magazine (7/0)
            Superman Returns is a pleasant enough piece of hackwork, anonymous in all the right ways so that ...

By Dana Stevens of Slate (7/0)
            Is anyone else out there drumming their fingers waiting for the superhero craze to be over?

By Dana Stevens of Slate (7/0)
            Is anyone else out there drumming their fingers waiting for the superhero craze to be over?

By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat of Spirituality and Practice (7/0)
             Superman as a lonely savior who in a moment of desperate need must rely on the help of some frie...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Joe Williams of St. Louis Post-Dispatch (7/0)
            Singer's revival of childhood wonder and timeless heroism [is] an extraordinary feat of movie mag...

By Nick Rogers of State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL) (7/0)
            Love triangles, maternal and paternal instincts and overcoming vulnerability are given graphic-no...

By Nick Rogers of State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL) (7/0)
            Love triangles, maternal and paternal instincts and overcoming vulnerability are given graphic-no...

By John Venable of Supercala.com (7/0)
            Try to ignore the parallels Singer draws between Christ and Superman...go ahead, I dare ya.

By Andrew Wright of The Stranger (Seattle, WA) (7/0)
            Reverent to the point of stasis.

By Dustin Putman of TheMovieBoy.com (8/0)
            A majestic and exhilarating blockbuster that captures for the first time in the series the sheer ...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Dustin Putman of TheMovieBoy.com (8/0)
            A majestic and exhilarating blockbuster that captures for the first time in the series the sheer ...

By Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone of TheMovieChicks.com (7/0)
            Brandon Routh has no problem filling out the Superman suit (quite nicely), but he can't quite fil...

By Richard Corliss of TIME Magazine (7/0)
            The best Hollywood movies always knew how to sneak a beguiling subtext into a crowd-pleasing stor...

By Tony Medley of tonymedley.com (7/0)
            His mother tells Superman, "The Universe is a big place." Later, Lois Lane tells him, "I forgot ...

By Audrey Rock-Richardson of Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah) (7/0)
            Rapturously engaging!

By Audrey Rock-Richardson of Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah) (7/0)
            Rapturously engaging!

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Maitland McDonagh of TV Guide's Movie Guide (7/0)
            It's stately, elegant, too long, a little dull and fanatical in its fidelity to the earlier films...

By Jonathan R. Perry of Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas) (7/0)
            With child's-eye exuberance, Bryan Singer brings an obvious respect, even reverence for the mytho...

By Gregory Weinkauf of ÜberCiné (7/0)
            Alas, a pumped-up forgery.

By Brian Tallerico of UnderGround Online (7/0)
            May be the most reverent superhero film ever made.

By Urban Cinefile Critics of Urban Cinefile (7/0)
            Retaining the spirit of the comic strip, Superman Returns delivers a larger-than-life hero a sard...

By Claudia Puig of USA Today (7/0)
            ...a rousing spectacle...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Matthew Turner of ViewLondon (7/0)
            The effects are terrific - you will, indeed, believe a man can fly, especially during a showstopp...

By Willie Waffle of WaffleMovies.com (7/0)
            Shame on Honeycutt, Gleiberman, McCarthy, and Corliss for giving away the big twist, but even the...

By Michael Clawson of West Valley View (7/0)
            Super return for Superman ...

By Jeffrey Chen of Window to the Movies (7/0)
            A reminder, something to make the memories of the Donner version of Superman fresh again, affirmi...

By Dan Fienberg of Zap2it.com (7/0)
            Overlong and occasionally unfocused, it may have flaws, but like its formerly unknown star, it we...

By Steven Snyder of Zertinet Movies (7/0)
            The lasting accomplishment of Superman Returns is that it manages to free itself from the mountai...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Steven Snyder of Zertinet Movies (7/0)
            The lasting accomplishment of Superman Returns is that it manages to free itself from the mountai...

By John Beifuss of Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) (3/5) Login Required (Login Required)
            If Singer respects Superman he is downright reverent toward 'Superman,' and this continuity with ...

By Greg Maki of Star-Democrat (Easton, MD) (3/5) Login Required (Login Required)
            With so many superheroes flooding the market, the world may not need Superman, but the movies are...

By Greg Maki of Star-Democrat (Easton, MD) (3/5) Login Required (Login Required)
            With so many superheroes flooding the market, the world may not need Superman, but the movies are...

By James Hill of BET.com (5/2) No reference
            For young children, and a lot of grown folks, superheroes signify a basic good in their lives -- ...

By Annlee Ellingson of Boxoffice Magazine (3/4) No reference
            All of these elements -- the casting, cinematography, design and score -- ultimately serve Singer...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Staci Layne Wilson of Buzzine Magazine (3/4) No reference
            The story is heavy on the bittersweet, but don't let the doldrums scare you away: Superman Return...

By Pablo Villaca of Cinema em Cena (3/4) No reference
            Filme auto-indulgente e sem ritmo que transforma o Homem de Aço em um galã sem personalidade.

By Roger Tennis of Cinemaclips.com (3/4) No reference
            It's been 5 years since Superman (Brandon Routh) left Earth to search for the remains of his home...

By Roger Tennis of Cinemaclips.com (3/4) No reference
            It's been 5 years since Superman (Brandon Routh) left Earth to search for the remains of his home...

By Randy Myers of Contra Costa Times (3/4) No reference
            Welcome back, Man of Steel, you've been gone far too long.

By Randy Myers of Contra Costa Times (3/4) No reference
            Welcome back, Man of Steel, you've been gone far too long.

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Garth Franklin of Dark Horizons (3/4) No reference
            A good performance by Routh, solid production values and great action can't overcome a heavy-hand...

By Michael Booth of Denver Post (3/4) No reference
            The main point of Superman Returns is that Singer spends 2 1/2 hours avoiding a franchise-size fu...

By Richard Roeper of Ebert & Roeper (3/4) No reference
            ... while I can't call it a home run, I'll say it's a solid base hit.

By Michelle Alexandria of Eclipse Magazine (3/4) No reference
            Watching two hours of a listless, lost, Superman isn't exactly fun. Compared to Reeves, Reeve, Ne...

By David Foucher of EDGE Boston (6/1) No reference
            Nothing can stop Superman: not bullets, not plot holes, and certainly not mere mortals like the o...

By Bill Clark of FromTheBalcony (6/1) No reference
            There is something to be said for having the Man of Steel back on the silver screen for a tune-up...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Robert W. Butler of Kansas City Star (3/4) No reference
            When it was all over, something was missing. Oh, yeah. The fun.

By John Larsen of Light Views (3/4) No reference
            Superman Returns defies the odds by taking chances, mixing old and new, layering on nostalgia whi...

By Rene Rodriguez of Miami Herald (3/4) No reference
            ... Superman Returns brings a richer, grander perspective to a seminal character without changing...

By Jorge Avila Andrade of Moviola (3/4) No reference
            Romántica, emocionante, trepidante, mística y entrañable, es un digno homenaje al héroe más grand...

By Rex Reed of New York Observer (3/4) No reference
            Strictly for fans on school vacation.

By Lou Lumenick of New York Post (3/4) No reference
            ...ups the ante with must-see results.

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Lisa Rose of Newark Star-Ledger (3/4) No reference
            Singer gets the details right but the big picture is uneven.

By Gene Seymour of Newsday (5/2) No reference
            Superman Returns is pop mythology reinvigorated with intense grandeur, infectious energy and fier...

By Shawn Levy of Oregonian (3/4) No reference
            A dull, muddled and uninspiring film that combines pedestrian acting, lackluster special effects ...

By Shawn Levy of Oregonian (3/4) No reference
            A dull, muddled and uninspiring film that combines pedestrian acting, lackluster special effects ...

By Roger Moore of Orlando Sentinel (3/4) No reference
            It will get to you, if you can be gotten to.

By Roger Moore of Orlando Sentinel (3/4) No reference
            It will get to you, if you can be gotten to.

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Wesley Lovell of Oscar Guy (7/1) No reference
            A good start at revitalizing a dead series. Get rid of Kevin Spacey for the sequel and you might ...

By Mike Sage of Peterborough This Week (3/4) No reference
            Superman Returns is a thundering epic of Spielbergian proportions: colossal action, grandiose eff...

By Steven Rea of Philadelphia Inquirer (3/4) No reference
            This Superman is good. Very good.

By James Berardinelli of ReelViews (3/4) No reference
            Its combination of romance and fantasy adventure is unparalleled in superhero comic book-to-movie...

By Forrest Hartman of Reno Gazette-Journal (3/4) No reference
            After nearly 20 years in hiding, one would expect Superman's return to be special. Alas, the most...

By Jack Garner of Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (3/4) No reference
            Nothing like an old friend to save a lackluster summer movie season, especially if that friend is...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Stefan Birgir Stefansson of sbs.is (3/4) No reference
            better than 3 and 4

By Phoebe Flowers of South Florida Sun-Sentinel (3/4) No reference
            At every turn in Superman Returns is a sense of respect for all that's preceded it.

By Chris Hewitt (St. Paul) of St. Paul Pioneer Press (3/4) No reference
            It fulfills the minimum requirements for summer blockbusters without going the extra mile as last...

By Josh Larsen of Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) (3/4) No reference
            I'm battening down the hatches as I write this (sticks and stones may break my bones, but fanboy ...

By Angela Baldassarre of Sympatico.ca (3/4) No reference
            There's a lot riding on this Superman's broad blue shoulders. Not only does newcomer Brandon Rout...

By Daniel M. Kimmel of Worcester Telegram & Gazette (3/4) No reference
            [It's] a summer popcorn movie, no question, but it looks great, has laughs and thrills, and even ...

                         Reviews of Superman Returns
By Harvey S. Karten of Compuserve (7/1) Not Reachable
            A dismal affair with robotic acting and humorless dialogue.

Movie Distributors

Production Companies
Peters Entertainment
Bad Hat Harry Productions
Rat Entertainment

Movie Studios
Warner Bros. Pictures
Inc.