History Film / Superman

Finally we got ''Superman Returns'' in 2006. It ignored III and IV and focused on Superman returning to Metropolis after several years, the world's reaction and Luthor's newest dastardly plot. It decided to take a much more "DoingItForTheArt"-type approach, [[TooGoodToLast which naturally means it was ignored]]. The fanbase was instantly divided and remains so to this day. The absolute love the filmmakers had for the character was evident, but the story was fraught with problems and ultimately very derivative of Donner's '78 film. Even the filmmakers realized that the pace was a little slow, and they had written themselves into a corner with some of the key plot points.

Talks of a sequel fizzled and the word is that plans for a [[ContinuityReboot reboot]] are underway, with ChristopherNolan as a producer. As of 5 October 2010, ZackSnyder is attached to direct.

* ShinyNewAustralia: In ''Superman 2'', Lex Luthor trades his knowledge of Superman's existence and powers for rulership of Australia (and later Cuba as well).

* AmbiguouslyJewish: PlayedForLaughs in ''Superman II''. When Superman saves a boy who was about to plummet into the Niagara Falls, a stereotypical [[AlterKocker old Brooklyn lady]] exclaims: "What a nice man! Of course he's Jewish!"

Talks of a sequel fizzled and the word is that plans for a [[ContinuityReboot reboot]] are underway, with ChristopherNolan [[strike: said to be involved in some capacity, likely]] as a producer [[strike: or "mentor" of some kind , but as of April 2010, there are no known plans for a new Superman movie happening soon]]. As of 5 October 2010, ZackSnyder is attached to direct.

Talks of a sequel fizzled and the word is that plans for a [[ContinuityReboot reboot]] are underway, with ChristopherNolan said to be involved in some capacity, likely as a producer or "mentor" of some kind , but as of April 2010, there are no known plans for a new Superman movie happening soon.

* SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfFunny: Just before the EnforcedMethodActing exchange below, Kitty angrily strides up to [[BadBoss Luthor]] (possibly [[BadassNormal the most dangerous mortal]] in TheDCU, and quite [[KillEmAll the]] [[CrossesTheLineTwice scary]] [[TakeOverTheWorld dude]] in these movies), who turns to face her just in time to take a surprise pimp-slap to the face.
-->"You've got me? Who's got you!?"

* SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments: The conversation between Superman and Jor-El after Superman's first night as a superhero in the extended cut of ''Superman: The Movie''. Numerous examples ''Superman Returns'', a rare 21st century film that is unapologetically sentimental and free of cynicism.
** The scene of young Clark telling Ma Kent he [[ButNowIMustGo has to leave Kansas]] while standing in the majestic waves of grain.

** The ''entire flying sequence'' with Lois' [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment spoken-word musical number]] in the first film. However, the [[SugarWiki/CrowningMusicOfAwesome music]] and the sheer sense of awe and wonder can make it a SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming for sufficiently sentimental viewers.

* OneSceneWonder: MarlonBrando as Jor-El, particularly in a scene in the Richard Donner cut of the second film that is an enormous SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming.

* TearJerker: Plenty in the original film, especially the 2001 Extended Cut, and ''Superman Returns'', although you'd be [[SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming smiling through most of them too]].

* SugarWiki/CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming: The conversation between Superman and Jor-El after Superman's first night as a superhero in the extended cut of ''Superman: The Movie''. Numerous examples ''Superman Returns'', a rare 21st century film that is unapologetically sentimental and free of cynicism.

* BatDeduction: In ''Superman'', LexLuthor not only correctly deduces that pieces of Krypton came to Earth, but that they would be harmful to Superman, with no explaination given.

* SpecialEffectsFailure: Plenty in the latter films of the initial series, but a disappointingly high number in ''Superman Returns'' as well, mainly due to [[ObviousCGI excessive overuse of CGI]], even during close ups of Superman's face, even while his body is stationary during flight.
** Really, this troper thought ''Returns'' showed very impressive special effects and a good use of CGI.

** Really, this troper thought ''Returns'' showed very impressive special effects and a good use of CGI. "Watching it right now" Yep, still looks good.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Fans got a taste of this when the Richard Donner cut of ''Supeman II'' was released (though it obviously wasn't as polished as it would have been had he been able to properly complete it).

* WhooshingCredits

-> '''You'll believe a man can fly.'''

-> '''You'll believe a man can fly'''

* EyeScream: He takes a bullet to the eye in Superman Returns. Doesn't phase him.

--> '''You'll believe a man can fly'''

Produced (concurrently with its first sequel) in the late 1970s and released in '78, ''Superman'' almost wasn't even made, due to fears that it would just be two hours of Batman-style campiness. However, the script written by Mario Puzo--yes, ''that'' [[TheGodfather Mario Puzo]]--made it through, Richard Donner was hired as the director, and history was made.

Noteworthy is the fact that Superman had a completely star-studded cast, ''except'' for the two main characters (Superman and Lois Lane). Casting the title character was a real hunt, but they hit the jackpot with Christopher Reeve, quite likely the best actor ever to play the role. Just see the scene where he transitions between the character's identities on camera in Lois' apartment if you need convincing.

After [[strike:one of]] the [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome most iconic superhero themes]] ''ever'', it starts out on Krypton, with the scientist Jor-El played by MarlonBrando (yes, that [[TheGodfather Marlon Brando]]) sentencing [[ChekhovsGunman the sequel's villains]] to eternity in the [[SealedEvilInACan Phantom Zone]]. After that, we get the whole spiel of Krypton's explosion, baby Kal-El's trip through space, his adoptive name as Clark Kent and eventually, the first appearance of Superman. From there, he becomes a mild-mannered reporter for the ''Daily Planet'' as Clark, rescues Lois Lane (among others) as Superman, and finally has to stop a plot by the self-proclaimed "greatest criminal mind of our time", Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman), to destroy the West Coast.

Then, ''Superman II'' came out in 1980 (1981 in the U.S.). It continued Superman's adventures with his encounter with General Zod when he and his two allies are accidentally freed from the Phantom Zone. As well, the hero and Lois's increasingly romantic relationship is explored further. During this film's production, the executives decided to can Richard Donner for using too much money for the budget. Richard Lester -- who admitted to never having read a comic book (''Superman'' or otherwise) in his life -- was then hired as the director. While the result was still satisfying, most of the cast and crew were angry about this decision. Thus, most of them left when ''Superman III'' was being made.

In 1983's ''Superman III'', we met Superman's old friend Lana Lang (whose actor, Annette O'Toole, went on to play Ma Kent in {{Smallville}}). There was a plot involving Richard Pryor as a bumbling-but-brilliant computer programmer who falls in with the forces of evil, and their plotting results in Superman turning evil ''and'' a supercomputer that could be used to conquer the world. Of course, this film was derided for being too comedic, though a serious battle between Superman and Clark Kent (as the hero struggles against his new, darker nature) has its fans.

It took ''Superman IV'' four years to come out after that, with an unsuccessful spinoff (1984's ''{{Supergirl}}'') in between. And when it finally did, audiences weren't too happy about it. The plot was just an {{Anvilicious}} message against nuclear weapons. Hell, the main villain was called Nuclear Man. And while Gene Hackman and Margot Kidder returned to reprise their roles, a slashed budget meant lousy production values compared to the previous three films.

Interestingly, the Superman movie franchise was the only continuity where only one of Clark Kent's adoptive parents (his mother) is alive. In the GoldenAge and SilverAge comicbooks, both of the older Kents died, and in the PostCrisis materials, his father has only recently died.

* AdaptationDistillation
* AintTooProudToBeg - The president in the second film.

* AllMenArePerverts - Although it ''is'' in response to a direct challenge from Lois to identify the color of her underwear in the first movie, to prove he has X-ray vision.
* AllThereInTheManual: Although it is never made entirely clear in the film, the reason Zod rebelled was established in the DC continuity as being because of Jor-El's prediction that Krypton was doomed. Jor-El could not tolerate Zod's methods, and so foiled his plans. The reason the Counsel did not listen to Jor-El is because his arguments were exactly the same as Zod's motive for trying to overthrow them.
* AmbiguouslyJewish: PlayedForLaughs in ''Superman II''. When Superman saves a boy who was about to plummet into the Niagara Falls, a stereotypical [[AlterKocker old Brooklyn lady]] exclaims: "What a nice man! Of course he's Jewish!"

* AwesomeAnachronisticApparel: [[ClarkKenting Clark Kent's]] suit and hat are very [[TheFifties fifties]], yet he manages to look dashing in them.
* BaldOfEvil: Played for laughs by Gene Hackman, who wears a series of unconvincing wigs until whipping off the last one to reveal his baldness during his final rant after Superman dumps him in prison at the end of the first film.
* BatDeduction - In ''Superman'', LexLuthor not only correctly deduces that pieces of Krypton came to Earth, but that they would be harmful to Superman, with no explaination given.
* BatmanGambit / NiceJobFixingItVillain - How Superman beat the villains in ''II''.
* BringIt: Verbalized by Spacey's Luthor when Lois Lane tells him other countries won't stand for him sinking the U.S. for his own man-made country.
* BroadStrokes: One of the key examples with ''Superman Returns'' in regards to prior Superman films.
* BrokenAesop: Too many in ''Superman Returns''.
* BusFullOfInnocents
* CanonDisContinuity - ''Returns'' clearly ignores ''III'' and ''IV''.
* ClarkKenting: Perhaps the MostTriumphantExample... of a [[SubvertedTrope subversion]] because Christopher Reeve made Superman's switch between identities incredibly convincing and less dependent on MST3KMantra than in the comics. It's especially apparent during the scene where he nearly reveals himself to Lois in her apartment, and shows off just what Superman would look like in Clark Kent's suit.
* ComesGreatResponsibility: Jor-El teaches this trope to Superman.
**Pa Kent: "Been showing off a bit, haven't you, son?" He follows it with a lecture that Clark is "[[ComesGreatResponsibility there for a reason]]." And then suffers a heart attack.
* ContinuityNod - ''Returns'' was full of this.
* CrowningMomentOfAwesome - In the first movie: Lois Lane in one hand, a helicopter in the other. That's the most famous. There are dozens.
* CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming - The conversation between Superman and Jor-El after Superman's first night as a superhero in the extended cut of ''Superman: The Movie''. Numerous examples ''Superman Returns'', a rare 21st century film that is unapologetically sentimental and free of cynicism.

* [[{{CrowningMusic/Film}} Crowning Music of Awesome]] - That opening fanfare.
** You can almost hear the words -- "Look, up in the sky, there he is! Look, up in the sky, Superman!"
* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Just before the EnforcedMethodActing exchange below, Kitty angrily strides up to [[BadBoss Luthor]] (possibly [[BadassNormal the most dangerous mortal]] in TheDCU, and quite [[KillEmAll the]] [[CrossesTheLineTwice scary]] [[TakeOverTheWorld dude]] in these movies), who turns to face her just in time to take a surprise pimp-slap to the face.
** "You've got me? Who's got you!?"
* CrystalSpiresAndTogas: Planet Krypton is portrayed this way, as [[ShoutOut a homage]] to pulp science fiction.
* CurseCutShort - Rather pointlessly and akwardly done with the word "shit" by a random cop in ''Superman Returns'', and in a [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment throwaway scene]] to boot.
* DeathByOriginStory: Jor-El and all of Krypton.
* DeletedScene - Included in TV airings before the DVD release included them all.
* DePower - In the second movie.
* DoctorGirlfriend - Miss Teschmacher and Kitty.
* DoingItForTheArt - Richard Donner made "verisimilitude" his mission for the movies. He wanted it to feel real, which was no easy feat.
* EarthShatteringKaboom: The destruction of Krypton.
* {{Egopolis}} - Lex does this a lot in the first movie.
* EnemyRisingBehind: In the 1978 movie when Superman is standing on the deck of a ship.
* EnforcedMethodActing: Kitty's out-of-control car catches Superman's attention for a damn good reason:

-->'''Lex Luthor''': Well, of course I did. [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar A man can always tell when]] [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean a woman is pretending]]... [[LivingLieDetector especially]] [[TheAce Superman]].
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes
* EverythingIsOnline: One of the most [[TVTropesDrinkingGame egregious]] examples in the third movie.
* EvilTwin - One of the few parts of the third film actually considered good is Clark separating from the evil Superman to fight him.
* ExecutiveMeddling - Lots of it.
* EyeScream - He takes a bullet to the eye in Superman Returns. Doesn't phase him.
* {{Fanfare}} - If you haven't heard it, go to YouTube ''now''.
* FightOffTheKryptonite
* FingerWag - In ''II'', Superman issues one of these after Lex tried to double-double cross him.
*FridgeBrilliance - Consider the scene where Clark first shows up at the Daily Planet and Lois takes note of his strange, folksy mannerisms. The easy assumption is that Clark (or at least the surface personality constructed for the secret identity) is just that wholesome and old fashioned. But consider that he has spent the last twelve years completely isolated in the Fortress of Solitude. It's possible that it isn't just a front -- Clark Kent seems old fashioned because he's literally more than a decade behind the times.
* FridgeLogic - In the restored ''Superman II'', Lois tricks Supes into dropping the mask by firing a blank at him. Wouldn't he at least have felt a bullet tap him?
** Might have been too shocked by Lois's [[RefugeInAudacity outrageous act]] to try to notice.
** When an apologetic Superman takes Lois for a high-altitude "joyride" in ''Returns'', she should (at least) be quite uncomfortably chilly, but he's got it covered:

* GenreTurningPoint: While not the first superhero film, the original ''Superman'' opened a whole new era for this genre (which either carries on to this day or ended with a similarly influential TheDarkKnightSaga).
* HighHeelFaceTurn - Miss Teschmacher in the original ''Superman'', Kitty Kowalski in ''Returns''.
** A case could be made that the reason the 2nd missile was headed for Hackensack was because Luthor had originally intended for ''only'' one missile to go off course, but Otis screwed up entering the coordinates into the first missile and so Luthor had to reprogram a second one. If Miss Tessmacher hadn't rescued Superman and the missile had killed her mother, it would have been Otis's fault!
* HighOctaneNightmareFuel - During the FinalBattle of ''Superman III'', the rogue supercomputer [[CombatTentacles shoots out cables and wires]], drags [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Ross Webster's]] sister into its circuitry and spits her out as a horrific HollywoodCyborg to join the attack on Superman. Then it tries to do the same to Big Blue himself. Thank Rao for HollywoodAcid.
* HoYay - Jimmy Olsen in ''Superman Returns'' seems to be just a wee bit too fond of Clark Kent.
* HumanAliens: {{Lampshaded}} by Jor-El when he talks about sending his son to Earth:
--> ''He will look like one of them''.
* TheJorEl: Guess who.
* KickTheDog - Luthor shoving a detective in front of a subway train.
* KneelBeforeZod - The TropeNamer.
* KryptoniteFactor - Also the TropeNamer.
* LargeHam - Lex Luthor. Right?
** '''WROOOOOOOOOOONG!!!'''
** ZOD IS THE LARGER HAM! ADMIT IT... [[KneelBeforeZod AND KNEEL]]!!
* LoadBearingHero
* LovesMyAlterEgo: The Lois Lane/Superman or Clark Kent dynamic is one of the best known examples of this.
**Inverted somewhat in ''Superman III'' where [[spoiler: Lana Lang is becoming romantically interested in Clark Kent, as opposed to Superman]]
* MamaBear: in ''Returns'', played straight when Lois [[spoiler:begs Luthor to at least allow Jason to leave the yacht.]] Just after that, an [[InvertedTrope inversion]]: [[spoiler:when Lois' captor notices her [[MessageInABottle transmission of an SOS fax]] (with the yacht's location) to the ''Daily Planet'' office, [[WouldHitAGirl he predicatably gets rough with her]]. That's when Jason ([[BerserkButton scared and shocked by such abuse]]) [[DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength reflexively]] [[PintsizedPowerhouse shoves the piano he'd been playing]] onto the unsuspecting guard.]]
* MemeticMutation: The aforementioned "KNEEL BEFORE ZOD!!!" and "WROOOOOOOOOONG!!!"
* MoneyDearBoy: Marlon Brando received an infamously huge salary for the first film. He wanted even more for the second one, which led to [[ExecutiveMeddling all his scenes being cut, and Richard Donner fired for supporting him]].
* MonumentalDamage: The Hoover Dam in the first film. In the sequel, General Zod and Co. destroy or damage other landmarks (like Washington Monument or the faces on Mt. Rushmore).
* MostlyNarmless: So much of films 1 and 2's lines read as corny and cliched, but Christopher Reeve and Terence Stamp make them so natural and right for their characters.
* {{Narm}}: Pretty much anything Nuclear Man does in ''IV''. Certain Lex moments in ''Returns''.
** The ''entire flying sequence'' with Lois' [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment spoken-word musical number]] in the first film. However, the [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome music]] and the sheer sense of awe and wonder can make it a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming for sufficiently sentimental viewers.
*** It was spoken-word because the filmmakers discovered too late that Margot Kidder couldn't sing. Perhaps dubbing in a professional singer's voice would have put them over budget or something.
* NewOldFlame
* NewPowersAsThePlotDemands - The initial cut of ''Superman II'' has some of the most [[TVTropesDrinkingGame egregious]] and parodied examples out there, but even giant cellophane S's and hypnotic kissing powers pale in comparison to ''Superman IV'''s use of what has been referred to as "Repair-o-vision", "Wall-Construction Vision", or "Masonry Vision"!
** Although this is pretty much how Superman went from the original puny thing into the demigod of the SilverAge.
* OneSceneWonder: MarlonBrando as Jor-El, particularly in a scene in the Richard Donner cut of the second film that is an enormous CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming.
* OnlyAModel - The model train set and city in ''Returns''
* PacmanFever - More literal than usual: In the third movie, the Luthor {{expy}} fights Supes with a supercomputer... that is apparently an Atari 2600, complete with sound effects lifted directly from that console's execrable version of PacMan.
* ThePaidForHarem - Luthor's perpetual moll in the first movie, Eve Teschmacher, and later Kitty Kowalski. Despite their dim wits, both have a good heart.
* TheParagon - "They only lack the light to show the way."
* {{Planetville}}: There seems to be only a single city on Krypton.
* PrettyInMink - Kitty wears some, and even Miss Teschmacher wears one in a deleted scene in the Ricard Donner cut of the second film. It's not the other trope, since it's established they are not actually evil.
* TheQueensLatin / TranslationConvention: Kryptonian characters have a refined English accent with a veneer of antiquity, which seems to be the equivalent of the Kryptonian tongue for the viewer's convenience.
* ReplacementScrappy - Kitty's just no Teschmacher for many viewers.
* [[RuleOfSeanConnery Rule Of Marlon Brando]]: His presence in the original Superman movie, the Richard Donner cut of the sequel and, posthumously, ''Superman Returns'' greatly adds to their awesomeness.
* RunningTheAsylum - ''Superman Returns''.
* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: Although the first movie basically [[GenreLaunch invented the modern superhero film]], looks impressive even after 30 years, it is often dismissed as a museum piece with little appeal to modern audiences. (YourMileageMayVary on that one. The visual effects may get outdated, but Christopher Reeve's acting and JohnWilliams' music score are timeless.)
* {{Sequelitis}} - Arguable for ''Superman Returns'' and definitely for ''III'' and ''IV''.
* ShinyNewAustralia: In ''Superman 2'', Lex Luthor trades his knowledge of Superman's existence and powers for rulership of Australia (and later Cuba as well).
* SoBadItsGood - ''Superman IV'' is arguably funnier than ''Superman III''; it has {{Narm}} in spades.
** Arguable? Unintentional Comedy > Failed Gags every time.
** The [[IncomingHam mere presence]] of GeneHackman can make anything a little better.
* SpandexLatexOrLeather
* SpecialEffectsFailure - Plenty in the latter films of the initial series, but a disappointingly high number in ''Superman Returns'' as well, mainly due to [[ObviousCGI excessive overuse of CGI]], even during close ups of Superman's face, even while his body is stationary during flight.
* StealthPun: A crew of bank robbers is about to make a helicopter escape, and at first their rooftop-mounted [[GatlingGood minigun]] is doing a [[MoreDakka fine job]] of keeping the cops on the street pinned down. Two security guards bust onto the roof (from a stairwell) but [[BoomHeadshot his vest stops]] [[AvertedTrope all of their panicked shots]]. Once [[NowItsMyTurn he trains his weapon onto them]], [[OhCrap they know they are obviously screwed...]] [[spoiler: until [[BulletTime we see]] [[ImmuneToBullets Superman]] zoom in from ''behind the gunman'' into the line of fire. "[[CatchPhrase Faster than a speeding bullet]]", indeed.]]
* {{Superdickery}} - The "Evil" Superman in the third film isn't really evil -- he's just [[JerkAss a dick]].
* {{Tearjerker}} - Plenty in the original film, especially the 2001 Extended Cut, and ''SupermanReturns'', although you'd be [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming smiling through most of them too.]]

-->''All those things I can do. All those powers. And I couldn't even save him.''
* ThisIsReality: [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] with Jor-El's first words in the movie. He is actually speaking about the clues that prove Zod and his henchmen guilty of sedition, but the phrase can be easily interpreted as [[BreakingTheFourthWall talking to the audience]]:

* ThrowItIn - Presumably, Gene Hackman's "Come in, it's open!" in the first film after Superman breaks the door down was an ad-lib.
** Reportedly, Richard Pryor was encouraged to ad-lib a lot for ''Superman III'', but because he was a Superman fan he (unfortunately) stuck to the script.
* VictoryIsBoring: Zod and the other Kryptonians experienced this in ''Superman II''.

* VillainDecay: Really, compare the Lex Luthor of the comic books to the sniveling, real estate-obsessed loser from the films. It's no contest.
* VirtualGhost: Through the use of [[AppliedPhlebotinum crystal technology]], Jor-El and several other Kryptonians can communicate with Superman despite having been dead for thousands of years.
* VisualEffectsOfAwesome - Many. One of the most striking visuals even today is the scene in the first film where Superman rebuilds the ''San Andreas Fault''. ''Superman Returns'' has the whole sequence with the 777 jetliner rescue.
* WhatAnIdiot - After Superman first makes his presence known in Metropolis by stopping many crimes in a single night, Lois deliberately asks about ''and prints for all to read'' one of his non-KryptoniteFactor weaknesses --his inability to see through lead.
* [[SpaceDoesNotWorkThatWay Weather Satellites Do Not Work That Way]] - They ''report'' on the weather, CorruptCorporateExecutive Ross Webster, they don't control it!
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Fans got a taste of this when the Richard Donner cut of ''Supeman II'' was released (though it obviously wasn't as polished as it would have been had he been able to properly complete it).
** And ''Superman III'' was originally supposed to feature Brainiac.
* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic: Lots of [[EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory Christ symbolism]], especially in ''Superman Returns''.
-->''Live as one of them, Kal-El, to discover [[ComesGreatResponsibility where your strength and your power are needed]]. Always hold in your heart the pride of your special heritage. They [[HumansAreSpecial can be a great people]], Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack [[TheParagon the light to show the way]]. For this reason above all, [[RousseauWasRight their capacity for good]], I have sent them you... my only son.''
** Not to mention the MosesInTheBullrushes symbolism of his birth and ejection into [[SpaceIsAnOcean Space]].
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Miss Teschmacher just disappears after the visit to the Fortress of Solitude in ''Superman II''. And, if you are watching the original cut, where is Jor-El?
* WeCanRuleTogether: General Zod offers Jor-El to join him in his rebellion. Doesn't work.
* WeaksauceWeakness: Of course people will argue the KryptoniteFactor, but at least they are [[{{Unobtainium}} supposed to be rare]]. Nuclear Man, though, loses his strength ''in the shade''.
* WhooshingCredits
* YouFailPhysicsForever - ''Superman IV'' would make a physicist hang himself; said physicist would never survive seeing a human woman breathing ''perfectly fine '''in space.'''''
** Maybe she was [[BatmanCanBreatheInSpace Batman]] in disguise.

* WallBanger: Superman having an illegitimate son whom he knowingly neglects.
** After Superman first makes his presence known in Metropolis by stopping many crimes in a single night, Lois deliberately asks about ''and prints for all to read'' one of his non-KryptoniteFactor weaknesses --his inability to see through lead.

----
<<|{{Film}}|>>

-->-- Tagline for the first Superman movie