Superman II (1981): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Superman II is a 1981 action adventure film directed by Richard Lester and Richard Donner, starring Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder and Christopher Reeve. It runs 2 hours 7 minutes and earned $216.4 million worldwide on a $54 million budget. It won 4 awards from 11 nominations, including Best Actress at the Saturn Awards 1979. Critics gave it 83 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 7m (127 min)
- Directors
- Richard Lester and Richard Donner
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Budget
- $54M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Superman II About?
The premise of Superman II without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
While saving Earth from a nuclear missile, Superman unknowingly unleashes General Zod and his forces from their Kryptonian prison. Now, Zod seeks to dominate Earth, forcing Superman to confront his greatest challenge yet. He must balance his life as Clark Kent with his duties as the Man of Steel, all while protecting Lois Lane and preventing Zod's devastating plans from succeeding.
Superman II Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- clark kent character
- lana lang character
- legs
- man wears eyeglasses
- lois lane character
- perry white character
- superman character
- jimmy olsen character
- child in jeopardy
- psychotronic film
- shared universe
- arizona desert
+38 more Show fewer
- blockbuster
- oil spill
- gender in title
- male protagonist
- metropolis the city
- city
- urban setting
- caped superhero
- red cape
- fictional city
- birthday
- african american
- boy in jeopardy
- slimehouse
- returning actor with different character
- evil twin
- evil doppelganger
- part of tetralogy
- superhero adventure
- superhero sci fi
- actor plays a dual role
- character appears on a magazine cover
- villainess
- troubled production
- camp
- campy
- superhero action
- cigarette smoking
- the big apricot
- former cheerleader
- former football hero
- woman wears a tie
- blonde
- red dress
- police vehicle
- extraterrestrial
- evil man
- evil woman
Superman II Cast
Gene Hackman leads the cast, with Margot Kidder and Christopher Reeve. Directed by Richard Lester and Richard Donner.
-
Co-director Richard Lester -
Co-director Richard Donner
More from Richard Lester and Richard Donner
More films directed by Richard Lester and Richard Donner, best-rated first: Superman, The Three Musketeers, Lethal Weapon 2 and Lethal Weapon.
Superman II Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Superman II 83 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 83 Metascore
User score 7.3
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 67% User score
See on TMDB
Superman II Plot Summary
What happens in Superman II from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Before the catastrophic destruction of Krypton, notorious criminals General Zod, Ursa, and Non were sentenced to an eternal banishment in the Phantom Zone. Years later, a hydrogen bomb, hurled into space by Superman, disrupts the Phantom Zone near Earth, leading to the release of these three menacing figures. Once free, they are granted incredible powers from the yellow glow of the Sun. Upon their arrival on the Moon, they swiftly eliminate a crew of astronauts, before continuing their nefarious journey toward Earth with an unwavering ambition to conquer it.
Full summary
The whole story of Superman II, scene by scene
Superman II Box Office & Budget
Superman II grossed $216.4 million worldwide on a $54 million budget, 4.0 times what it cost. $108.2 million came from the US and Canada and $108.2 million (50%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$216.4M
4.0× its budget
- US & Canada
- $108.2M
- International
- $108.2M
- Budget
- $54M
Superman II Awards & Nominations
Superman II won 4 awards from 11 nominations, including Best Actress at the Saturn Awards 1979. Its biggest night was the Saturn Awards 1979, with 4 wins from 8 nominations.
4 wins11 nominations3 ceremonies
-
Saturn Awards 1982 2 nominations- Nominated Best Actor – Christopher Reeve
- Nominated Best Actress
- Saturn Awards 1979 4 wins · 8 nominations
- Won Best Actress – Margot Kidder
- Won Best Music
- Won Best Science Fiction Film
- Won Best Special Effects
- Nominated Best Actor – Christopher Reeve
-
Golden Globes 1979 1 nomination- Nominated Best Original Score – John Williams
Superman II Trailers & Videos
10 videos: 1 trailer, 8 clips and 1 behind-the-scenes video.
- Clip DC Super Scenes: I've Been Working Out
- Clip DC Super Scenes: Superman vs. Zod
- Clip DC Super Scenes: Superman at Niagara Falls
- Clip DC Super Scenes: Fortress of Solitude Date
How Well Do You Know Superman II?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
Who are the three villains released from the Phantom Zone in Superman II?
Superman II Also Known As
26 alternative titles, including “Superman 2” and “Superman Classic II”.
- Also known as
-
- Superman 2
- Superman Classic II
- 슈퍼맨2
- 슈퍼맨 II
- Superman 2: A Aventura Continua
- Superman: Druhá část
- Superman II: The Adventure Continues
- Superman II: La aventura continúa
- Superman 2 - Allein gegen alle
- Superman II - Allein gegen alle
- Супермен 2
- 超人2
+14 more Show fewer
- Superman II - A Aventura Continua
- Σούπερμαν 2
- Superman 2.
- סופרמן 2
- Superman på nye eventyr
- スーパーマンII／冒険篇
- 슈퍼맨 2
- Superman II: A Aventura Continua
- Superman II - Det store oppgjøret
- ซูเปอร์แมน 2
- 超人 2
- Siêu Nhân 2
- سوپرمن ۲, სუპერმენი II
- 超人II
Seen Superman II?
Movies Like Superman II
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut, Superman III and Superman Returns.
Superman II FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Superman II, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Superman II?
Superman II runs 2 hours 7 minutes (127 minutes).
When was Superman II released?
Superman II was released on June 19, 1981.
Who directed Superman II?
Superman II was directed by Richard Lester and Richard Donner.
More films by Richard Lester Who is in the cast of Superman II?
Superman II stars Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder and Christopher Reeve.
How much did Superman II make at the box office?
Superman II grossed $216.4 million worldwide ($108.2 million domestic, $108.2 million international) on a budget of $54 million.
How is Superman II rated?
Superman II has 83 on Metacritic and 67% on TMDB.
What awards did Superman II win?
Superman II won 4 awards from 11 nominations, including Best Actress at the Saturn Awards 1979.
Does Superman II have a post-credit scene?
No. Superman II has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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