Superman II – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Superman II

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1980

62%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Superman trades his cape for a chance at love, then has to win it back when three supervillains show up—charming but slow by modern standards.

6.8/10

88%

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Superman II

movie

PG, 1980

62%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Superman trades his cape for a chance at love, then has to win it back when three supervillains show up—charming but slow by modern standards.

6.8

88%

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6.8/10

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Screenwise Verdict

Superman II is a solid, earnest superhero movie with a genuinely good performance from Christopher Reeve and a meaningful question at its heart: what does it cost to be a hero?

But let's be real—it's 45 years old, and it shows. The pacing is slow, the middle sags, and the special effects look like someone dangling action figures on fishing line. Kids raised on the MCU's rapid-fire editing and Pixar's emotional precision may struggle to stay engaged. The memory-erasing kiss ending is also baffling and kind of troubling, even if it was meant to be romantic.

If you have a kid who loves superhero lore and can handle older movies, this is a worthy watch—especially to see where the genre started. But if your 9-year-old bounces off anything pre-2010, don't force it. There are better uses of two hours.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media says 8+, which is about right—the action is safe, the romance is chaste, and the themes are accessible. But realistically, kids under 10 who aren't already superhero-obsessed will find it slow. Best for 8–12 year olds with patience for older films, or nostalgic parents watching with tweens.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Classic hero-sacrifices-all story with genuine emotional stakes. Superman gives up his powers for love, models selflessness and responsibility when he realizes Earth needs him. The romance is sweet and old-fashioned (no bedroom scenes, just longing looks). Villains are campy rather than dark. Some violence but it's punching through buildings, not graphic.

Imaginative

Three Kryptonian criminals with superpowers taking over Earth is a solid high-concept premise. The Fortress of Solitude sequences and the sacrifice-your-powers chamber offer visual wonder. But it's ultimately a straightforward good-vs-evil showdown without the layered world-building or creative problem-solving of modern superhero films. The imagination is there, just dated in execution.

Safe

Bloodless superhero action—lots of throwing people through walls and heat vision, but no gore or real injury shown. One brief scene where Superman and Lois sleep together (after he gives up powers) but it's entirely off-screen and implied. The villains threaten people but in a theatrical, non-traumatic way. Common Sense Media rates it 8+, which tracks. No jump scares, no disturbing imagery.

Enriching

The core dilemma—can you be both human and a hero?—is genuinely thought-provoking. Superman choosing between personal happiness and duty offers real ethical weight. But the film doesn't dig too deep; it resolves things with punching and a deus ex machina memory-erasing kiss. Entertaining but not particularly layered or challenging. Kids will enjoy it, not necessarily grow from it.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Christopher Reeve is genuinely great—his Clark Kent is bumbling and sweet, his Superman noble without being boring
The central question (can a hero have a normal life?) is timeless and worth discussing
Terence Stamp's General Zod is deliciously theatrical: 'Kneel before Zod!' became a meme for a reason
Bloodless action means even younger superhero fans can watch without nightmares
Strong critical scores (89% RT, 83 Metacritic) suggest it holds up better than most '80s blockbusters

⚠

What to Watch For

The pacing is glacial—modern kids used to Marvel quips and tight editing may zone out during the talky middle section
Superman erases Lois's memory with a kiss at the end, which is...ethically weird and will probably prompt questions
The special effects are charming in a retro way, but some kids will just see them as cheap and laugh
Villains are campy, not scary—if your kid likes menacing Thanos-level threats, these three won't register

Conversation Starters

"If you had superpowers but giving them up meant you could have a normal life with someone you love, what would you choose?"
"Was it okay for Superman to erase Lois's memory? What would you have done instead?"
"Why do you think the villains wanted everyone to kneel? What does power mean to them vs. Superman?"
"Do you think superheroes can have regular relationships, or does the job make it impossible?"

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