Metascore

Universal acclaim - based on 7 Critics What's this?

User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 238 Ratings

  • Starring: Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder
  • Summary: A trio of Krypton villains threaten havoc on Earth, while Superman and Lois Lane are just becoming involved in a long awaited love affair -- an affair which may cost Superman his super powers. (Warner Bros.)
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. 100
    With his perfect pacing, elegant narrative design, and depth of characterization, Richard Lester has made as good a matinee movie as could be imagined: it's a big, generous, beautifully crafted piece of entertainment, with the distinctive Lester touch in the busy backgrounds and the throwaway dialogue.
  2. A marvelous toy. It's funny, it's full of tricks and it manages to be royally entertaining, which is really all it aims for.
  3. Reviewed by: Staff (Not credited)
    100
    It boasts a more consistent tone, better special effects (such as villains throwing buses around like paper planes), and even an affecting love story.
  4. 100
    It brings the fantastic into our everyday lives; it delights in showing us the reaction of the man on the street to Superman's latest stunt.

See all 7 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 42 out of 82
  2. Negative: 24 out of 82
  1. SeanB.
    10
    It's unlikely you haven't seen this movie yet, but if you have, don't trust the naysayers who have previously posted reviews. Sure, the Donner version may be the more interesting, but "Superman 2" as it was originally release is terrific entertainment, among the most memorable of all the action pictures I saw as a kid, and fully deserving of its high Metacritic score. Expand
  2. 8
    It can be campy but it's fun and original, exploring a fallible side of Superman through his decision to rid himself of his powers for Lois Lane. Zod, of course, is classic. It's a shame Donner couldn't finish his version, but I feel Lester did a fine job finishing the project. Expand
  3. JohnF
    6
    Overrated, the only reason metacritic gave it a swell review was because there were only 7 critics to average from.
  4. JustinL
    4
    Overated, only top 100 because there's only 6 positive reviews. If there were at least 20, then it would even things out a bit.

See all 82 User Reviews

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