Superman II (1980)

🎞️ Let’s start by showing y’all the trailers, shall we?

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📝 Non-Spoiler Plot Rundown:

The sequel picks up not long after the events of Superman: The Movie, with Clark Kent still balancing his double life as a mild-mannered reporter and the world’s most powerful alien. But trouble’s brewing in the form of General Zod and his fellow Kryptonian criminals, Ursa and Non, who are accidentally released from the Phantom Zone and set their sights on Earth. Meanwhile, Clark is faced with a heartbreaking dilemma — can Superman truly love Lois Lane if it means giving up his powers and identity? The stakes are higher, the tone is darker, and the action? Oh, it soars.


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🧍‍♂️ Character Breakdown:

Clark Kent / Superman (Christopher Reeve) – Still sweet, still awkward, still somehow able to convince people he’s not Superman despite having the same face. Reeve remains charming and sincere — if not a little one-note at times.

Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) – Smarter this time around, and she knows something is up with Clark. Her role is more emotionally driven here, and Kidder handles it with grit, even if Lois still gets sidelined later on.

General Zod (Terence Stamp) – Instantly iconic. The cape. The glare. The phrase “Kneel before Zod.” This man walks into every room like he already owns it and has filed the paperwork to prove it.

Ursa & Non – The backup band of doom. Ursa’s fierce, Non’s a brick wall with no brain, and together, they wreak absolute havoc. Kryptonian villain squad goals.

Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) – Still kind of a goof, but at least he’s the most Lex Luthor-y version we had at the time. He’s sleazy, smart, and opportunistic, though his screentime feels disconnected from the main plot.



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❤️ Honoring Gene Hackman:

Before going any further — let’s take a moment to honor Gene Hackman. The legendary actor passed away earlier this year alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa. According to reports, Gene died of heart disease, with advanced Alzheimer’s contributing. Betsy passed days earlier from a rare illness. It’s a deeply tragic end for a man who gave cinema so many memorable performances — and while this version of Lex Luthor might not be everyone’s favorite, Hackman’s charisma always shined through. He brought a theatrical flair and a smirk to every scene. Rest in peace, legend.


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✅ Pros:

Zod is everything. An elegant villain who still manages to be terrifying.

The action scenes (especially Metropolis) are leagues better than the first film.

The emotional dilemma Superman faces is surprisingly complex.

Ursa is lowkey terrifying.

The Phantom Zone escape sequence is awesome.

Superman’s diner comeback? Chef’s kiss.



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❌ Cons:

Clark giving up his powers for love… only to get them back 15 minutes later? Felt a bit rushed.

The memory-erasing kiss at the end… I mean… really??

Lex Luthor’s side plot barely intersects with the main villain threat.

Superman once again falls for something dumb (Lois jumping into a river in the first, a fireplace stunt in this one).

Some of the logic is still held together by duct tape and hope.



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💭 Final Thoughts:

Superman II isn’t perfect — but man is it fun. It raises the stakes, gives us villains worth fearing, and actually pushes Superman into a few uncomfortable emotional corners. For the time period, it holds up shockingly well in terms of effects and character arcs (well, mostly). If Superman: The Movie was the origin tale, this one’s the war story — and the cape’s finally flying full force.


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⭐ Rating: 9/10

(A huge step up thanks to Zod, stakes, and a slightly more serious tone.)


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⚠️ Spoilers Ahead!

Stop now if you haven’t seen the movie and want to avoid major plot twists.


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🤯 Spoiler Breakdown:

Lois finally figures out Clark is Superman — and the way she finds out? She throws herself into a fire. That’s… a bold tactic, Cotton.

Clark gives up his powers to be with Lois. They sleep together in the Fortress of Solitude (yes, the romance is literal and awkwardly glowy).

Then he gets his butt kicked by a random trucker and realizes, “Oh no, I made a mistake.” Cue magic crystal plot reversal to get his powers back.

Zod and his gang conquer the White House (and the President kneels!), while Lex Luthor plays double agent, trying to make a deal with whoever wins.

Superman returns for the final showdown at the Fortress and tricks the villains into losing their powers. Zod gets dropped down an abyss (RIP neck snap memes).

✨ Why Lex Helping Superman (Briefly) Actually Kinda Slaps ✨

Okay, say what you want about Lex Luthor—he’s petty, greedy, and obsessed with land (seriously, man, diversify your evil goals)—but even he knows when things are getting too chaotic. And in Superman II, that chaos takes the form of not one, not two, but three Kryptonian warlords trashing the planet like it’s their personal playground.

That’s where Lex steps in, like,
“Alright, Supes, I still hate you… but I’d rather have you in charge than General Zod and his Discount Doom Squad.”

It’s honestly such a great character moment. Not because Lex turns good (lol, no), but because it shows he’s not stupid. Lex may be selfish, but he’s also a pragmatist. He doesn’t want a world he can’t exploit—and if Zod’s ruling, then Lex is out of the picture too.

So when he sides with Superman at the Fortress of Solitude, it’s not out of kindness—it’s survival. It’s a truce based on mutual self-interest. It’s:
🤝 “I still wanna ruin your life, but let’s not get vaporized together.”

That temporary alliance adds depth to their rivalry. It proves Lex isn’t cartoonishly evil—he’s logical. And sometimes, logic means teaming up with your worst enemy to stop an even bigger one.

…Even if you immediately try to betray him again five minutes later. Classic Luthor.



The ending? Superman gaslights Lois with a super-kiss that erases her memory. Because apparently Kryptonian powers include “plot reset.”


And yes — the truck stop revenge moment where Superman comes back to beat up the guy who humiliated him earlier? Petty… but so satisfying.