Superman II (The Richard Donner Cut)

2006 • 122 minutes
4.4
396 reviews
86%
Tomatometer
PG
Rating
Eligible
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About this movie

It's the version you've never seen. Finally released as visionary director Richard Donner originally conceived and intended, Superman II: The Richard Donner Director's Cut is a reedited rendering of the legendary superhero film that closely follows the original script and restores the lost footage originally shot by Donner in 1977 before he was taken off the project. Among the fascinating new elements in the director's cut are the original opening and ending, alternate takes and camera angles and deleted scenes featuring Marlon Brando. In the blockbuster sequel, Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, and Margot Kidder return as Superman confronts three supercriminals with abilities equal to his. The Kryptonian threesome arrives just as Superman is preparing to exchange his powers for a romantic relationship with Lois Lane.
Rating
PG

Ratings and reviews

4.4
396 reviews
Kevin Parrish
May 14, 2017
I grew up watching the first three movies in the theater, HBO, and VHS. The first movie was pure magic while the second was an awesome action-packed sequel. But this version of Superman 2 is so much better than the original... Until the end. Spinning the world backwards to reverse time was an insanely stupid idea in the first movie and it's repeated in this Richard Donner cut. This alternate ending is followed by the second restaurant scene that doesn't even belong in the new/reversed timeline Superman spins into place.
Shane Hickenbottom
September 4, 2020
I really thought this version was better than the Lester cut. Granted it's unfinished and some scenes are spliced together. Because they were never really filmed. BUT for all the flaws the films strength is in the fact that it is a more serious toned attempt and a good approimation of what Donner would have done. The film's biggest strength though is that it cuts out the screwball slapstick comedy that Lester put into it. Especially in the fight scene over Metropolis near the end and Superman.
Benjamin Pavsner
August 31, 2014
I thought Donner's story (as a continuation of 1) was WAY better than what we got in theaters. I say WB should do a director's cut of the first movie (there are subtle differences) and make both movies a package.