Superman II
PG

Superman II

The Man of Steel meets his match!

1980 • 127 min • Science Fiction · Action · Adventure

Synopsis

Three Kryptonian criminals led by General Zod team up with Lex Luthor to conquer Earth, forcing a depowered Superman to regain his strength and stop them.

Our family guide

Best from age 8
87
Movie Knight Score
2570 reviews
  • 100 Reviewers · 4 · 60%
  • 68 Audience · 2566 · 40%

Superman gives up his powers for love, but when three Kryptonian criminals threaten Earth, he must find a way to regain his strength and save humanity. This classic superhero sequel features epic battles and a love story amidst world-ending stakes.

Violence & peril
6/10
Language
1/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking
1/10
Romance & sensuality
2/10
Scary moments
4/10

Heads up

  • Extensive superhero violence with property destruction
  • Some tense moments with superpowered villains
  • Brief suggestive dialogue suggesting a sexual encounter

What it models well

  • Self-sacrifice for the greater good
  • Standing up to bullies
  • The power of love
  • Responsibility

Talk about it after

  • The choices Superman makes about his powers and love
  • Why Zod and his cohorts act the way they do
  • The difference between justice and revenge

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Superman II. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

Where to watch

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Top billed cast

Director: Richard Lester • Crew: Leslie Newman, Mario Puzo, David Newman, Mario Puzo

Trailers & clips

Clark vs chud loser

SUPERMAN 2 miniature effects

DC Super Scenes: General Zod vs. Metropolis

Trailer

DC Super Scenes: Lex Luthor Helps General Zod

DC Super Scenes: General Zod Loses His Powers

DC Super Scenes: Lois Risks Her Life

DC Super Scenes: Fortress of Solitude Date

Reviewer notes

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers

<em>'Superman II'</em> is a more rounded affair, though is no more entertaining than the first film - I enjoyed both the same, more or less. Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder remain as watchable as before, but Gene Hackman isn't as memorable in this follow-up - still good, mind. I like how we got to see extra of Zod, Ursa and Non in this one, if only to see more of Terence Stamp - who I've only really seen la...

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers

_**Continues the super-story of the groundbreaking first film**_ Three Kryptonian criminals escape imprisonment in the Phantom Zone (Terence Stamp, Sarah Douglas and Jack O'Halloran) to harass citizens of the United States, including the president (E.G. Marshall), while Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) schmoozes them. Meanwhile Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) suspects that Clark Kent is Superman (Christopher Reeve) during a...

Recommended

Fun packed and humanistic sequel is worthy alright. Superman II stars Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Terence Stamp, Ned Beatty, Sarah Douglas, Margot Kidder, and Jack O'Halloran. It was to be a troubled shoot that saw two directors involved with the project. Richard Donner had completed about three quarters of the film before being taken off the project, so Richard Lester then came in to finish the film. Beca...

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers

**He was called Non because that is the amount of brains he had.** Great sequel that expands on the introductory scenes in Superman (1978) where we met General Zod, Ursa and the massive moron, Non - although I wouldn't call him a moron to his face. (Perhaps if I had a ladder) But anyway, these three criminals are inadvertently released from the Phantom Zone by Superman and they naturally head toward Earth ...

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