Global InformationSuperman Returns information
| Superman Returns | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Bryan Singer |
| Screenplay by |
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| Story by |
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| Based on | Superman characters by
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Newton Thomas Sigel |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | John Ottman |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release dates |
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Running time | 154 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget |
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| Box office | $391.1 million[3] |
Superman Returns is a 2006 American superhero film directed by Bryan Singer and written by Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris from a story by Singer, Dougherty and Harris, based on the DC Comics character Superman. It is the sixth and final installment in the original Superman film series and serves as a homage sequel to Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980),[4][5] while ignoring the events of Superman III (1983), Supergirl (1984), and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987).[4] The film stars Brandon Routh as Clark Kent / Superman, Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane and Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor, with James Marsden, Frank Langella, Eva Marie Saint and Parker Posey in supporting roles. The film centers on Superman as he returns to Earth after a five-year absence, whereupon he discovers that his love interest, Lane, has moved on with her life and that his archenemy, Luthor, is plotting a scheme to kill him and reshape North America.
After a series of unsuccessful projects to resurrect Superman on the big screen following the critical and financial failure of The Quest for Peace, Warner Bros. Pictures hired Singer to direct and develop Superman Returns in July 2004. The majority of principal photography took place at Fox Studios Australia, Sydney while the visual effects sequences were handled by a number of studios, including Sony Pictures Imageworks, Rhythm & Hues, Framestore, Rising Sun Pictures and The Orphanage;[6] filming began in March 2005 and ended in November of that year.
Upon release, the film received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its visual effects, storyline and Singer's direction, but criticized its screenplay and runtime. While the film was one of the biggest films of the year, earning over $391.1 million on a budget of $204–223 million and becoming the ninth highest-grossing film of 2006, Warner Bros. was disappointed with the worldwide box office return and cancelled a sequel set for release in 2009 as a result. The Superman film series was completely rebooted in 2013 with Man of Steel, directed by Zack Snyder, starring Henry Cavill as Superman, and launching the DC Extended Universe. Routh later reprised his role as Superman in the 2019 Arrowverse crossover "Crisis on Infinite Earths".
- ^ a b c d e "Superman Returns (2006) - Filmaffinity". Filmaffinity. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
- ^ "AFI|Catalog - Superman Returns". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
- ^ "Superman Returns (2007)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
- ^ a b Chattaway, Peter (June 28, 2006). "Superman Returns". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
- ^ Dargis, Manohla (June 27, 2006). "'Superman Returns' to Save Mankind From Its Sins". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 20, 2008. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
- ^ "Superman Returns – Side Effects Software Inc". Archived from the original on June 16, 2013.