Every Live-Action Superman Movie & TV Show Ranked
1. Superman II
It’s sometimes a common theme that sequels often exceed the offerings
of the first films. Numerous franchises such as The X-Men, Spider-Man and The
Dark Knight Trilogy are key examples of this.
Enter Superman II.
Superman II is the definitive Superman adventure. It sees The Man of Steel face off against fellow Kryptonian General Zod, played masterfully by Terrence Stamp. This gives Superman an enemy that can match him in both strength and intelligence.
The underlying theme of this film is identity, as Clark is forced to choose between his human life and his life as Superman. This gives the film much more weight than the first film, blending the drama and superhero action expertly.
Like the first film, Christopher Reeve is terrific as both Clark and Superman. Here however, he shows more range in both parts because of the conflicted nature of his character. His chemistry with all the supporting cast makes this outing feel like a comic book. Each actor nails their respective parts.
Looking through Superman’s filmography, Superman II stands out as transcending the genre by being an expertly crafted piece of cinema. Like its DC counterpart The Dark Knight, Superman II surpasses other comic book movies and cements itself at the top of the DC Comics Mount Rushmore.