FAQ for
Superman Returns (2006) More at IMDbPro »

The following FAQ entries may contain spoilers. Only the biggest ones (if any) will be covered with spoiler tags. Spoiler tags are used sparingly in order to make the page more readable.

For detailed information about the amounts and types of (a) sex and nudity, (b) violence and gore, (c) profanity, (d) alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and (e) frightening and intense scenes in this movie, consult the IMDb Parents Guide for this movie. The Parents Guide for Superman Returns can be found here.

No. Superman Returns is based on a script by writers Michael Dougherty, Dan Harris, and Bryan Singer. The Superman character is, of course, based on the fictional character created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born artist Joe Shuster in 1932 and sold to Detective Comics, Inc. in 1938. Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1 (June 1938), and the rest is history.

Superman Returns has what has been described as a "loose continuity" with Superman and Superman II in that it re-establishes Donner's Superman continuity for a modern audience, so some consider it to be a sequel. The reason for re-establishing the continuity has to do with the large gap of time between this film and the first two installments. Director Bryan Singer felt it was necessary to refresh the audience's memory, as well as honor Donner's work, by including similar situations and dialog amidst new plot elements that set the film apart as its own. It was also meant as a passing of the torch to Singer and the cast and to provide closure to the older stories. There are numerous references to the original 1978 film in particular, although the continuity is not exact upon close scrutiny and, of course, all roles except Marlon Brando as Jor-El have been recast (though Glenn Ford does appear in a photo of Jonathan Kent on the mantle). In the final two Christopher Reeve installments, Martha Kent is deceased, creating one major breach of continuity between the third and fourth installments and the Bryan Singer film. The film is meant to have taken place after the second film, however, and discounts the "history" established in the third and fourth installments (Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace).

It may seem incongruous that Superman can lift a large portion of Lex Luthor's Kryptonite-lace continent and hurl it into space. However, he first gathers strength from the Earth's yellow sun (his traditional power source), and then using the insulation of the bedrock between himself and the Kryptonite to temporarily protect him until the Kryptonite grew into the bedrock. It can also be said that he gets far on sheer force of will. The Herculean effort, and the exposure to the Kryptonite, does nearly kill him. One must also understand that this is loose continuation of the original Superman 1 and 2, where Superman was based on the Silver Age version of Superman. That Superman, as well as the current Superman almost again, has unlimited strength.

The idea that crystals inherit the traits of the minerals around them must be addressed. Though this is true to an extent, crystals cannot simply be used to make an exact duplicate of any solid element. The Kryptonite emulated by the crystal was then diluted, dampening its potency to an unknown degree. This is evidenced by the fact that Superman was only weakened by contact with the continent. A true continent made of pure Kryptonite would have killed him before he even landed on it. Assuming that this crystal will also continue absorbing mineral traits, once the emulated Kryptonite crystals hit the ocean bedrock, it was diluted once more, absorbing the traits of the minerals contained within the ocean floor. It must also be said that the chunk of Kryptonite Lex stole was already diluted in the first place by earth rock, having been filtered through the crystalline minerals already in the Addis Ababa mine where it came from. Thus, what Superman was exposed to on the surface of the continent was much more potent than what was on the bottom of the continent.

1. Lex Luthor's plot to get rich(er) from land, whilst killing millions and billions of people in the process.

2. Lex and Kitty Kowalski's (and Eve Teschmacher in 1978) dialog about what his father used to tell him. And her later showing of emotion at a crucial time.

3. After saving an aircraft with Lois on board, Superman says: "I hope this doesn't put any of you off flying. Statistically speaking, it's still the safest way to travel." And, as in the first movie, Lois faints after Superman flies away.

4. Superman stops Lois from lighting a cigarette on a balcony before he takes her on a night-flight.

5. Clark Kent bumps into Lois, her purse falls to the floor, things fall out, and he helps her pick them up.

6. Clark and Lois and a revolving door.

7. Clark says "Swell."

8. Young Superman running in a cornfield and throwing a ball to the horizon.

9. Superman's spacecraft and its skid marks on the ground.

10. Line about a news story concerning a massacre.

11. The piece of meteorite from Krypton found in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

12. Lex's wig collection.

13. John Williams' theme returns for the new film.

14. The title graphics, while not the same, are designed in a similar style to the original.

15. Marlon Brando plays Jor-El.

16. Kitty and Ms. Teschmacher are both involved in a car accident, both designed by Lex Luthor as a distraction so that Luthor himself can steal a missile in the first film and a piece of Kryptonite in Superman Returns.

17. Lois's newspaper article 'I spent the night with Superman' is referenced.

18. Superman nearly drowns in both films, due to Lex.

19. In the first film Clark Kent has trouble hailing a taxi until Lois whistles one down. In this movie, it is Clark who whistles down the cab after Lois has trouble hailing one.

20. Superman is shot in the chest with a machine gun on a rooftop in both movies.

There is a continuing debate over what Superman says when he is being beaten by Lex Luthor and his thugs. A leading theory is that he shouts, "I'm still Superman!" On the DVD the subtitles clearly support that theory. This was a leftover from the original story Singer wanted for Superman Returns, which involved Superman struggling with his place in the world and wanting to give up on his life as a hero. This line then would have been his acceptance of his role on Earth, but this was sadly dropped from the film.

Superman's Metropolis is a fictional U.S. port city located on the north-eastern Atlantic coast. In the DC Comics Universe, Metropolis is considered to be located in New York State (which is said to be geographically larger in the DC Comics universe than it is in our own). It was originally a stand-in for New York City, but has since acquired a character all its own. Some sources had previously placed Metropolis in the state of Delaware across from Gotham City on the shore of Delaware Bay; however, this has been superceded by more recent continuity. Some have said that the Metropolis of the movie Superman (1978) replaces New York City entirely. In Superman Returns, when Lex Luthor unveils his plan on a series of maps, Metropolis can be seen located on the Northeast U.S. map, exactly where New York City would be. Also, Long Island is not present at all.

The song is called "Heart and Soul" and is one of the first songs many learn to play on the Piano.

It's the same song played by Tom Hanks and Robert Loggia in the film "Big".

In the original Superman movies, based on the silver age comic book superhero, Superman's costume was woven from blankets that arrived with him in the rocket that brought him from Krypton. His boots, belt and so on were crafted from other parts of the rocket, such as the upholstery, safety harness, etc. Under the Earth's yellow sun, they became invulnerable, just as he does. Later comics introduced the idea that a natural bio-electric aura accounts for part of Superman's invulnerability acting like a natural force field mere millimeters from his skin, this accounts why his costume (made of normal materials in these comics) is often protected.

It was common in the newer comics for Superman's cape, not close enough to his body to be protected by the aura, to be torn to shreds during his activities. During Superman Returns, no damage is shown to occur to his cape, leading to speculation that the movie uses the earlier costume premise. It seems that a doctor or nurse yanks his suit top from his chest when he enters the emergency room. However the doctor is heard saying "here it is" immediately prior to removing the suit top, indicating that he found some kind of zipper or quick-release fastener.