Superman Returns

If you want science fiction that respects its own premise, Superman Returns is available in Australia on Netflix and HBO Max, and in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel and YouTube TV right now. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Brandon Routh's performance is the anchor the more ambitious scenes need. Put it on tonight on Netflix and see for yourself.

There is a reason Superman Returns keeps coming up in conversation. Superman Returns uses its genre premise as cover for asking bigger questions. Superman returns to discover his 5-year absence has allowed Lex Luthor to walk free, and that those he was closest to felt abandoned and have moved on. Luthor plots his ultimate revenge that could see millions killed and change the face of the planet forever, as well as ridding himself of the Man of Steel. Brandon Routh and Kate Bosworth lead a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. Superman Returns came out in 2006. The rules of Superman Returns's world are consistent enough that the big swings never feel like cheating. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Superman Returns is satisfying on multiple levels — something to watch and something to think about after. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Brandon Routh anchors it with a performance that makes the more abstract moments feel personal. If you have been burned by ambitious sci-fi before, this is the exception.