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Superman

To date, the 1978 theatrical version of Superman remains the only motion picture based on a comic book to have a lush, epic feel. Developed by Godfather scribe Mario Puzo with reverence for the venerable superhero, Superman pays homage to the lege...

Run Time: 2:23
U.S. Release Date: 1978-12-15
MPAA Rating: "PG" (Violence)
Genre: ADVENTURE
Director: Richard Donner
Cast: Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, ...
Superman

For decades, Superman was considered the brightest bauble in DC’s tiara (at least until that title was claimed by Batman). However, in recent years, that jewel has become tarnished as a combined result of neglect and malpractice. While audiences...

Run Time: 2:09
U.S. Release Date: 2025-07-11
MPAA Rating: "PG-13" (Violence, Profanity)
Genre: Adventure
Director: James Gunn
Cast: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, ...
Superman II

According to the original plan, Superman II was intended to be released six months after the original Superman (in fact, the end credits for Superman contain the following statement: "Coming Next Summer: Superman II"). The idea had been to film t...

Run Time: 2:07
U.S. Release Date: 1981-06-19
MPAA Rating: "PG" (Violence)
Genre: ADVENTURE
Director: Richard Lester
Cast: Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Terence Stamp, ...
Superman III

Talk about movies that haven’t aged well… Seen a couple of decades into the 21st century, this 1983 relic is an embarrassment. Come to think of it, however, it wasn’t that great when it came out. There are three major problem areas: the scri...

Run Time: 2:03
U.S. Release Date: 1983-06-17
MPAA Rating: "PG"
Genre: Adventure/Comedy
Director: Richard Lester
Cast: Christopher Reeve, Gavan O’Herlihy, Pamela Stephenson, ...
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace

In 1987, Superman returned to the big screen after a four-year absence. The fanfare was more muted than it had been for any of the previous three entries into the franchise, including the critically lambasted and fan-unfriendly Superman III, which...

Run Time: 1:30
U.S. Release Date: 1987-07-24
MPAA Rating: "PG" (Violence)
Genre: Action/Adventure
Director: Sidney J. Furie
Cast: Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, ...
Superman Returns

At the end of Superman II, the producers promised "Coming Soon: Superman III." It has taken 26 years for that promise to be fulfilled. To be sure, there were movies in the 1980s called Superman III and Superman IV, but those were bad jokes masquera...

Run Time: 2:37
U.S. Release Date: 2006-06-28
MPAA Rating: "PG-13" (Violence)
Genre: ADVENTURE
Director: Bryan Singer
Cast: Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, ...
Supervized

Let me admit to loving the premise behind Supervized. The problem is that a movie needs more than a great premise – it needs to grow and nurture that idea, and that’s where Supervized falls short. To an extent and for a while, the film get...

Run Time: 1:28
U.S. Release Date: 2019-07-19
MPAA Rating: "R" (Violence, Profanity, Sexual Content, Brief Nudity)
Genre: Action/Comedy
Director: Steve Barron
Cast: Tom Berenger, Ned Dennehy, Fionnula Flanagan, ...
Surrogates

Surrogates was not pre-screened for critics. Most of the time, I understand when a studio takes this route - it's a way to avoid undue negative publicity before the release of a movie that is recognized behind-the-scenes as being a turd. Once in ...

Run Time: 1:28
U.S. Release Date: 2009-09-25
MPAA Rating: "PG-13" (Violence, Profanity, Sexual Situations)
Genre: SCIENCE FICTION/ACTION
Director: Jonathan Mostow
Cast: Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, ...
Sweeney Todd

Every December, one of the major studios brings us a musical - something to lighten the spirits and brighten the holidays. This year, in the proud tradition of Chicago and Dreamgirls, we have Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. With T...

Run Time: 1:58
U.S. Release Date: 2007-12-21
MPAA Rating: "R" (Violence, Profanity)
Genre: MUSICAL
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, ...
Swing Vote

In the past, it has been difficult to get the public interested in political films. This is especially true of younger viewers who are not old enough to participate in the voting process. 2008 may be different, however, with the "rock star" candi...

Run Time: 1:59
U.S. Release Date: 2008-08-01
MPAA Rating: "PG-13" (Profanity)
Genre: DRAMA/COMEDY
Director: Joshua Michael Stern
Cast: Kevin Costner, Madeline Carroll, Paula Patton, ...