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IMDbPro

Superman II

  • 1980
  • PG
  • 2h 7m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
111K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,862
360
Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder in Superman II (1980)
Trailer for Superman II
Play trailer2:21
2 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionAdventureSci-Fi

Superman agrees to sacrifice his powers to start a relationship with Lois Lane, unaware that three Kryptonian criminals he inadvertently released are conquering Earth.Superman agrees to sacrifice his powers to start a relationship with Lois Lane, unaware that three Kryptonian criminals he inadvertently released are conquering Earth.Superman agrees to sacrifice his powers to start a relationship with Lois Lane, unaware that three Kryptonian criminals he inadvertently released are conquering Earth.

  • Directors
    • Richard Lester
    • Richard Donner
  • Writers
    • Jerry Siegel
    • Joe Shuster
    • Mario Puzo
  • Stars
    • Gene Hackman
    • Christopher Reeve
    • Margot Kidder
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    111K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,862
    360
    • Directors
      • Richard Lester
      • Richard Donner
    • Writers
      • Jerry Siegel
      • Joe Shuster
      • Mario Puzo
    • Stars
      • Gene Hackman
      • Christopher Reeve
      • Margot Kidder
    • 337User reviews
    • 148Critic reviews
    • 83Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 7 nominations

    Videos2

    Superman II
    Trailer 2:21
    Watch Superman II
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 34
    Video 28:35
    Watch Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 34

    Photos359

    Gene Hackman and Valerie Perrine in Superman II (1980)
    Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder in Superman II (1980)
    Gene Hackman in Superman II (1980)
    Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder in Superman II (1980)
    Christopher Reeve in Superman II (1980)
    Terence Stamp and Jack O'Halloran in Superman II (1980)
    Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder in Superman II (1980)
    Christopher Reeve in Superman II (1980)
    Gene Hackman and Valerie Perrine in Superman II (1980)
    Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder in Superman II (1980)
    Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder in Superman II (1980)
    Christopher Reeve in Superman II (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gene Hackman
    Gene Hackman
    • Lex Luthor
    Christopher Reeve
    Christopher Reeve
    • Superman…
    Margot Kidder
    Margot Kidder
    • Lois Lane
    Ned Beatty
    Ned Beatty
    • Otis
    Jackie Cooper
    Jackie Cooper
    • Perry White
    Sarah Douglas
    Sarah Douglas
    • Ursa
    Jack O'Halloran
    Jack O'Halloran
    • Non
    Valerie Perrine
    Valerie Perrine
    • Eve Teschmacher
    Susannah York
    Susannah York
    • Lara
    Clifton James
    Clifton James
    • Sheriff
    E.G. Marshall
    E.G. Marshall
    • The President
    Marc McClure
    Marc McClure
    • Jimmy Olsen
    Terence Stamp
    Terence Stamp
    • General Zod
    Leueen Willoughby
    Leueen Willoughby
    • Leueen
    Robin Pappas
    • Alice
    Roger Kemp
    • Spokesman
    Roger Brierley
    • Terrorist #1
    Anthony Milner
    • Terrorist #2
    • Directors
      • Richard Lester
      • Richard Donner(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Jerry Siegel
      • Joe Shuster
      • Mario Puzo
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In a 2004 interview, Margot Kidder claimed that Richard Donner shot enough scenes to make his own cut of the film, and that the unused footage was "somewhere in a vault". A website started a petition for Warner Bros. to allow and sponsor Donner's cut of this movie. The footage was re-edited into Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (2006).
    • Goofs
      (at around 39 mins) When the boy at Niagara Falls begins to fall it takes approx. 28 seconds for Superman to catch him. Since the fall would have been only about 200 feet it would have taken the boy around 4 seconds to hit the water.
    • Quotes

      Superman: General, would you care to step outside?

      General Zod: Come to me, son of Jor-El, kneel before Zod!

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits incorporate an extensive amount of footage from the first Superman movie.
    • Alternate versions
      In late 2006 a new version, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (2006), subtitled "The Richard Donner Cut", was released on DVD and Blu-ray by the new rights-holders of the franchise. It reinserts virtually everything that could been salvaged from what Donner shot for his intended original version of the film, such as the infamous Marlon Brando scenes, before the producers sacked him. This version uses less than 20% of material filmed by Richard Lester, and since that left a few gaps in the story with no possibility of re-shoots, Donner had to make do with just about every bit of footage he had shot some 25 years before, including some which had only been shot as screen tests.
    • Connections
      Edited from Superman (1978)
    • Soundtracks
      Pick Up the Pieces
      (uncredited)

      Written by Roger Ball, Hamish Stuart and Average White Band (as The Average White Band)

      Performed by Average White Band (as The Average White Band)

      Courtesy of Atlantic Records

    User reviews337

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Superman's only worthy sequel
    For those who are into the comic book movie craze today, this one is one of the best comic-y movies from the beginning of the summer blockbuster heyday. The original Superman is really an excellent film with solid, honest direction by Richard Donner. Donner shot around half of this sequel and his scenes are all excellent (Note: Every Gene Hackman scene was shot by Donner - Hackman refused to return to production after Donner was fired).

    There is still much hope that Donner's footage will re-surface. Most importantly of all there are vital scenes with Marlon Brando returning as Superman's father, Jor-El and giving his "life" to save his son and save the planet from the evil villains he vanquished from Krypton. It would also be interesting for audiences to see the difference between Donner's scenes and the ones re-shot by Lester.

    The characters are great. Superman, played by Christopher Reeve, is in solid form and he and Lois are given the opportunity to enhance their relationship from the original story. Jackie Cooper is once again great as Perry White, the chief editor of the Daily Planet.

    What makes this movie move is the villains. Gene Hackman is funnier and still up to no good and the villains from Krypton are menacing. His dialogue is truly witty and Hackman's timing is perfect. Terence Stamp is the power hungry General Zod, out for revenge against the son of Jor-El. Stamp plays it straight and his scenes directed by Donner show a true megalomaniac. Jack O'Halloran is solid as the hulking Non.

    Best of all is Sarah Douglas as the cold and evil Ursa in a truly underrated performance. She is the most curious and most interesting of the bunch. She collects badges as trophies for her conquering of earth, wearing them to mock male hierarchy. Ursa seems to be a forerunner of all of the sexy female superwomen today, but her role is not overstated and stale. She is not given gratuitous cleavage shots or anything of the sort. Ursa is a beautiful vamp and a tease, and if anything we wish she would have more screen time. Sarah Douglas constantly gives us hints as to Ursa's wishes, and we can only try to surmise what evil plans she is up to.

    The music is John Williams' score from the first film, but used differently. Not sure if much of the music is original. Ken Thorne does a good job here of accenting cuts with Williams' original score (Williams too refused to return after Donner was fired.) Some great cues are Superman returning to fight the villains, which is wonderfully heroic; Ursa's shocking appearance to both the astronauts on the moon (a violent scene that uses the darkest motifs from Krypton in the first film); and the whole Metropolis battle in the end, which is well supported by the music.

    The effects are very good for 1980. I keep reading how people are unhappy and always apologize for the FX in any movie more than a couple of years old. This one is solid and for the film it serves, does well. The only major goof is when Superman delivers the American Flag at the end - The water fountain in front of the White House is clearly a model with "frozen" bursting water! The scene in the de-powering chamber is not well-handled either.

    Overall, this is a very entertaining film, and really amazingly considering it is obviously the work of two directors. Of all the comic book movies made from the 60s thru the 90s, this one definitely rates in the top five along with the first Superman, the first two Batmans. Supermans 3 and 4 were really poor. It is too bad that Christopher Reeve did not make more good Superman films. This one has some camp, but it's way too entertaining and it's the only sequel to still have the flavor of the original. And please, let's see a special edition DVD with all of the missing Richard Donner footage!!!!!
    helpful•52
    21
    • the_mysteriousx
    • Jun 23, 2003

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    FAQ8

    • Why is Margot Kidder billed 6th when she and Christopher Reeve are the two most prominently featured actors in the film?
    • Which characters were adapted from the Superman comic books?
    • How was the rattlesnake able to harm Ursa when one of her powers is invulnerability?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 19, 1981 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
      • Canada
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Superman II - Allein gegen alle
    • Filming locations
      • Calgary, Alberta, Canada(on location)
    • Production companies
      • Dovemead Films
      • Film Export A.G.
      • International Film Production
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $54,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $108,185,706
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $14,100,523
      • Jun 21, 1981
    • Gross worldwide
      • $108,185,706
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 7 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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