Superman Returns (2006)
- Bryan Singer originally wanted a completely different ending for the film, but test audiences preferred the one we see today.
- Many of the practical effects used in the climax were achieved without any CGI.
- Eagle-eyed viewers have noticed a hidden easter egg referencing Bryan Singer's previous film in the background of the opening scene.
Superman Returns is a 2006 American superhero film directed by Bryan Singer, conceived as a direct sequel to Richard Donner's Superman II, ignoring the third and fourth films. Brandon Routh stars as Superman, who returns to Earth after a five-year absence spent searching for the remnants of Krypton, only to find that Lois Lane, played by Kate Bosworth, has moved on โ she has a son, a fiancee, and a Pulitzer Prize for an editorial titled "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman." Meanwhile, Lex Luthor, played by Kevin Spacey, plans to create a new continent using stolen Kryptonian crystals. Bryan Singer treated the material with reverence bordering on religious devotion โ Superman's return was explicitly framed as a Christ-like second coming, and the visual aesthetic faithfully honored the Donner films' classical approach.
Brandon Routh's physical resemblance to Christopher Reeve was striking, and his performance captured the character's gentle, otherworldly quality. Superman Returns earned $391 million worldwide on a $204 million budget.
