10 Epic Movie Trailers That Set The Bar Too High
7. Superman Returns
In another effort starring the most recognisable DC character, Superman Returns came years since Superman IV: The Quest for Peace bombed with critics and audiences. The long-awaited return of the titular hero had a huge amount of money and marketing thrown at it in the mid-2000s.
From the get-go, director Brian Singer was keen on staying true to the older films, specifically making Returns a sequel to Richard Donner's Superman II, ignoring the films that came after. From a promotional standpoint, things were looking great. The trailer was powerful, conveying the enormous scale that could be created with modern filmmaking tech.
In a bid to honour the tone and spirit of the Christopher Reeves series, Superman Returns appeared to be a noble effort, but ended up falling short in 2006. It had its moments, such as large scale action and Kevin Spacey's strong performance as Lex Luthor. However, to many an audience, it was simply too bland and forgettable, failing to capture the charm of the original films.
Much of the main cast stood out as being profoundly uncharismatic when compared to its predecessors. This manifested in weaker box office returns; Superman slipped away again for a time, eventually being rebooted in 2013's Man of Steel.