Why Superman Films Keep Fumbling Their Final Acts
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Superman, the iconic hero with near-limitless power, has a cinematic Achilles' heel that no amount of invulnerability can fix: consistently underwhelming endings. Despite decades of reboots and reinterpretations, from Christopher Reeve's classic portrayal to Henry Cavill's brooding modern take, every 'Man of Steel' film has struggled to stick the landing. The issue isn’t a lack of spectacle—Superman movies are rarely short on destruction or CGI-heavy clashes. Instead, critics argue that the endings often feel rushed, tonally inconsistent, or overly reliant on formulaic battles. For instance, 2013’s 'Man of Steel' drew backlash for its bleak finale, where Superman kills Zod amid Metropolis’s ruins, a moment that clashed with the character’s traditional moral code. Even 1978’s revered 'Superman: The Movie' resorted to a time-reversal cheat to undo Lois Lane’s death, undermining narrative stakes. Industry analysts suggest the problem may stem from the difficulty of crafting a satisfying climax for a hero whose powers border on godlike. 'Superman’s strength is also his narrative curse,' explains film scholar David Chen. 'Writers either contrive artificial weaknesses or default to city-leveling fights, leaving audiences emotionally unfulfilled.' Recent attempts, like 2022’s 'Black Adam,' teased Cavill’s Superman return to fanfare, but DC’s shifting plans left that arc unresolved. Meanwhile, James Gunn’s upcoming 'Superman: Legacy' offers hope for a fresh approach, with promises of a more character-driven story. Whether it can break the curse remains to be seen.
