5 Weirdest Moments in Superman Movies, Ranked

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Superman’s journey in movies has been uneven. The first film directed by Richard Donner is still considered the best, portraying a genuinely good hero in a world often focused on self-interest. Things became complicated with the second movie, which ended up with two very different versions. The following sequels weren’t very successful, leading the film Superman Returns to essentially ignore them. Later, the DC Extended Universe tried a fresh start, but it didn’t quite capture what makes Superman special, prioritizing shocking moments over emotional depth.

James Gunn is bringing a fresh perspective to DC’s Superman, and the future looks bright for the character. However, that doesn’t stop him from facing some truly strange challenges! Here’s a ranking of the five weirdest moments from Superman movies.

5) Saving Baby Joey (Superman)

One of the strangest scenes on this list happens in the original Superman movie. While trapped in a miniature world created by Lex Luthor, Superman teams up with Metamorpho, another hero Luthor is controlling. They decide to escape together, but first, they have to rescue Metamorpho’s young son, Baby Joey.

The escape plan is incredibly ambitious, and things get even more over-the-top when the heroes are swept into a black hole via a river of anti-protons. It’s a truly outlandish scene, straight out of a comic book – and that’s both exciting and a little chaotic.

4) The Amnesia Kiss (Superman II)

Superman often chooses to live a secret life to protect the people he cares about. However, it’s not always easy, especially with Lois Lane constantly investigating. In the movie Superman II, after Lois discovers his secret identity, Superman kisses her, and she conveniently forgets everything she found out.

Okay, so this “amnesia kiss” thing everyone’s talking about? It’s really dividing fans, and honestly, I get why. It’s not something this character usually does in the comics, which is already a little weird. But even if you ignore the source material, it’s just…strange. Like, she’s going to remember everything eventually, right? So it feels like a really roundabout way to create drama.

3) Superman’s Bad Behavior (Superman III)

It’s common for superheroes to battle evil counterparts of themselves – it’s almost a tradition in the genre. The movie Superman III really explores this idea with the introduction of an ‘Evil Superman,’ created when Superman is exposed to red kryptonite. This villain embodies all of the hero’s negative qualities and desires, representing his struggle against giving in to temptation.

It makes sense for an evil Superman to cause destruction, but his excessive drinking and womanizing feel more like something from a silly comedy than a superhero film. Thankfully, he reconnects with his partner by the end, because otherwise he’s just a terrible person.

2) The Tornado Incident (Man of Steel)

As we’ve discussed, Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel takes a different approach than earlier Superman movies. This is especially clear when it comes to how it portrays Superman’s parents. In the 2013 film, Pa Kent isn’t thrilled about his son’s powers and wants to keep them secret, worried about how others will react. This decision ultimately has negative consequences.

During a tornado in Kansas, Clark Kent and his father rush to help people find safety. Clark’s father bravely runs back into the storm to rescue the family dog, but doesn’t have time to return. Instead of letting Clark use his powers to save him and make it appear as though the tornado simply moved him, he asks Clark to stand down, accepting his fate.

1) “Save Martha!” (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice)

The sequel to Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, ignores previous criticisms and follows its own path. A major way it does this is by portraying Batman as a killer driven by revenge against Superman. The two heroes then engage in a massive fight where Batman initially gains the upper hand.

Right when Batman is about to deliver a fatal blow, Superman yells, “Save Martha!” revealing that Lex Luthor is holding Batman’s mother hostage. This unexpected phrase deeply affects Batman, as Martha was also the name of his deceased mother. While it’s interesting that the director highlighted this coincidence, making it the central emotional moment of the film feels strange.

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2025-11-30 03:12