Superman II (1980)
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After the release of the first film, Superman must face the threat of Kryptonian criminals and the schemes of Lex Luthor.
The story
Following the events of the first film, Superman faces a new threat when the criminals General Zod, Ursa, and Non are released from the Phantom Zone and land on Earth. These Kryptonians, granted superpowers by the sun, seek revenge against Superman for their imprisonment. Simultaneously, the villainous Lex Luthor seeks to exploit their arrival to further his own goals of world domination. Superman must navigate his dual identity as the hero of Earth and the man who loves Lois Lane while confronting these formidable enemies from his home planet.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After the Phantom Zone is shattered, General Zod, Ursa, and Non are released and gain superpowers. They land on the Moon, kill a team of astronauts, and head toward Earth. Meanwhile, Clark Kent and Lois Lane are sent to Niagara Falls; Lois discovers Clark's secret identity after he reveals himself in the Fortress of Solitude. Clark chooses to temporarily give up his powers to live as a mortal with Lois. However, Zod and his allies seize control of the White House. Realizing his mistake, Clark restores his powers. Lex Luthor joins forces with the Kryptonians, and a massive battle ensues at the Daily Planet. Superman lures the villains to the Fortress of Solitude, where he manages to depower them using a red sunlight chamber. After the conflict, Clark uses his abilities to erase Lois's memory of the recent events to protect her from the truth of his life.
- First release year
- 1980
- Runtime (minutes)
- 127
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Richard Lester
- Writers
- Mario Puzo · screenplay; David Newman · screenplay; Leslie Newman · screenplay; Mario Puzo · story
- Cast and characters
- Gene Hackman · Lex Luthor; Christopher Reeve · Clark Kent / Superman; Ned Beatty · Otis; Jackie Cooper · Perry White; Sarah Douglas · Ursa; Margot Kidder · Lois Lane; Jack O'Halloran · Non; Valerie Perrine · Eve Teschmacher; Susannah York · Lara; Clifton James · Sheriff; E.G. Marshall · the President of the United States; Marc McClure · Jimmy Olsen
- Genres
- action; fantasy; science fiction
- Themes
- Identity; Responsibility; Sacrifice
- Tone and mood
- heroic; humorous
- Setting
- Earth (including the White House, Niagara Falls, and the Fortress of Solitude in the Arctic) and the Moon.
- Premise and plot tags
- superhero; alien invasion; sequel
- Source material / true-story basis
- DC Comics
- Franchise connections
- Superman
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics who praised the performances, visual effects, and humor. It was a box office success, though less than its predecessor.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 83 · scale: 100 · review count: 16
- Production trivia
- The film was shot in several locations including Canada, Paris, Norway, and Saint Lucia.; The character of General Zod was ranked as one of the greatest villains of all time by Total Film.; A 2006 documentary notes that Sarah Douglas was the only cast member to do extensive around-the-world press tours.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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