10 Superman Movie Quotes That Age Is Frail

Although Superman is undeniably one of the most iconic figures in pop culture, some of his movie quotes haven’t aged particularly well. As the man of tomorrow has always proven to be the quintessential superhero, it’s no surprise that he has been the figure at the center of the superhero genre since its cinematic inception. From the serials of Old Hollywood to the movies of the DCEU and beyond, Superman has become a major mainstay of cinema.

Throughout Superman’s big screen tenure, many different iterations of the character have appeared. With so many actors playing Superman in live-action, there have been many varied, iconic quotes over the years, though not all can boast the longevity of the character himself. In fact, there are many Superman quotes that have not stood the test of time, and for one reason or another have not aged well. Here are 10 Superman movie quotes that have aged poorly.

10

“What’s the matter, Kent? Too warm for ya?”

Superman III (1984)

The 1980s were truly a different time, and many things that escaped notice then are subject to ridicule now. Although 1984s Superman III is hardly considered the hero’s finest hour, it is not entirely without merit, and loosely touches on several key points about the titular character. Despite the symbolism of Clark Kent being forced to fight an arrogant and uninhibited Superman with potential, the Kryptonian uttered the line “What’s the matter Kent? Too warm for you?“To be alternate himself during their showdown is just too stupid in hindsight.

The weak aging line can partly be put down to social and linguistic evolution in the decades since Superman IIIs release, but the biggest factor is likely the development of the superhero genre. Superman’s extremely lame attempt to smack-talk his non-powered self after freezing his jacket is not only nonsensical, but it’s laughable. It also undermines the thematic potential of the scene, meaning it’s severely outdated.

9

“Stop! Don’t do it! The people!”

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace is not only considered the worst Superman movie with the worst Superman movie villain, but as one of the worst comic book movies ever made. Considering that it was not received well upon release, it may seem improbable that any quote from the movie could have aged particularly poorly due to the film’s already low grade. However, Christopher Reeve’s delivery of the line, “Stop! Don’t do it! The people!“Just seems to get worse with age.

As the entire film is poorly written and even more poorly executed, it took some time for the line to stand out as the laugh point it is. Comparisons between Reeve’s delivery of the quote in Superman IV Compared to an almost identical line in the 1980s Superman II Highlight exactly how The 1987 movie pales in comparison. Although nothing about Superman IV Is well old, the unenthusiastic line is especially notable.

8

“The bat is dead. Bury it. Consider this mercy.”

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

The figure of Batman v Superman brought the two titular heroes together in live-action on the big screen for a huge cinematic spectacle, but the movie is unfortunately quite divisive. Snyder’s vision for the DCEU continued by pitting two of DC’s most iconic characters against one another, with an early interaction between them standing out like a faint old quote. After establishing his physical superiority, Superman tells Batman: “The bat is dead. Bury it. Consider this mercy.“

This line, and its delivery, make Superman the threat that Batman believes he is. By portraying Superman as a potential danger to humanity, Batman v Superman Is able to show a fallibility to the hero that works to his advantage, though His dark depiction of Superman ultimately contributed to the downfall of the DCEU. The idea that Superman considers this interaction compassionate makes the franchise’s take on the hero seem needlessly cruel.

7

“We don’t have to depend on the kindness of monsters.”

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Heading in Batman v SupermanJesse Eisenberg has big shoes to fill as an actor playing Lex Luthor in live-action. His take on the villain was widely panned, as his frenetic energy made his Luthor seem more like a mad scientist than a calculated sociopath. One of his most important speeches outlines his plan to force Superman into submission, ending with the line “We do not have to depend on the kindness of monsters.“

What made the quote age so badly wasn’t just that it was mildly cringeworthy. Considering Eisenberg’s Luthor only has a very brief appearance in the DCEU, The line’s hint at his stance on metahumans is ultimately unfulfilled. When you look back over the movie, the quote stands out as a silly inclusion and a moment of wasted potential, meaning it has aged very poorly indeed.

6

“Are you bleeding?”

Justice League (2017)

2017s Justice League was a clear low point for the DCEU, which was one of the franchise’s biggest disappointments and most notable missteps. Among the many issues with the franchise’s big team-up spectacle, there are multiple lines that have aged badly. One of the more subtle examples comes shortly after Superman is resurrected, and he sets out to attack the members of the Justice League. Recognizing Batman, he blurts out the line: “are you bleeding“, repeating the words Batman said to him in their first meeting.

This quote is very old for two reasons. First, it made sense when Batman said it, but it makes a lot more sense from Superman, especially with Cavill’s unhinged delivery. Second, it’s the third time in as many appearances that Superman has been misrepresented by the DCEU: after killing a villain and then attempting to beat a fellow hero into submission, The line cements the DCEU’s strange obsession with making its Superman as dark as possible.

5

“You think you can threaten my mother?”

Man of Steel (2013)

Man of Steel did more than just start the DCEU: it introduced DC’s most iconic hero to the big screen with a revised approach to his story. The film followed many of the same beats as other Superman origin stories, with Superman being revealed to the world after the arrival of General Zod, who plans to wipe out humanity to make a new home for his Kryptonian soldiers. After Zod brings the fight to Smallville, Superman launches into action, screaming “You think you can threaten my mother?“How they fight.

Watching it back, the quote was older. It adds an unexpected and dissonant comedic tone to the otherwise serious sceneWith Superman’s anger coming off as naive and childish. Superman’s reaction to Zod’s threats is unintentionally hilarious, and only got funnier over time.

4

“I just think he’s kind of hot.”

Man of Steel (2013)

like Man of Steel Marking the beginning of the DCEU’s movie timeline, it was vital in setting the tone for the entire franchise. Following a gritty and reasonably grounded approach to Superman’s origin story, Man of Steel Ended with the hero announcing his intention to operate without military or government supervision. As he flies away, a female soldier – Captain Carrie Ferris – is shown smiling, declaring that she “Just think[s] He is somewhat hot.“

It’s a disappointingly jarring moment, and one that comes off as an inappropriate response that only seems more so years later, with The perceived objectification of Superman is something that would likely cause controversy Are there included in such a way over a decade later. As such, it is clear that this quote has not aged well, especially considering that it adds nothing to the plot of the film in any way.

3

“I’m here to fight for truth, justice and the American way.”

Superman (1978)

Superman’s 1978 outing is widely considered one of the most influential modern superhero movies in existence, and as a whole it holds up remarkably well. However, as the movie touches on all the classic elements of its eponymous character, its use of its old-fashioned catchphrase has not aged gracefully. Although the film pokes fun at the line “I am here to fight for truth, justice and the American way,“It still doesn’t carry the weight it once did.

There are many well-documented reasons why Superman’s original catchphrase fell out of common use in the comics, and more recent Superman adaptations have avoided it entirely. for example, Superman & Lois Reworked the catchphrase to better suit a modern audience, taking into account the social sensibilities in his writing. The phrase was already seen as somewhat old-fashioned in 1978, meaning that it has aged in the decades since. Its release.

2

“Black Adam. We should talk.”

Black Adam (2022)

The short-lived nature of the franchise meant that many DCEU post-credits scenes went nowhere, but nothing compared to those of Black Adam. After introducing the powerful DC villain/anti-hero, the film’s post-credits scene saw the unexpected and triumphant return of Henry Cavill’s Superman. Appearing to the titular character, Superman’s line: “Black Adam. we need to talk“Hints at important impending developments between the two characters.

After five years of waiting for news about Cavill’s highly anticipated return of Superman, the cameo — and the quote attached to it — was a welcome confirmation of his continued role in the franchise. However, the excitement was short-lived, as The prompt cancellation of new DCEU projects and the announcement of the DCU reboot killed all hope of Cavill’s full return. Considering the long wait and the non-existent pay-off, it is safe to say that the line got old very weak very quickly.

1

“Watch Martha.”

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Batman v Superman was considered by many as a sequel that took itself incredibly seriously. Its bloated runtime and questionable characterization of multiple DC characters was something that divided audiences on countless points. However, one infamous moment that is almost universally considered a ridiculous inclusion comes during the showdown between the two titular heroes: the “Save Martha” line.

Superman choking his mother’s name as Batman slowly kills him quickly became a meme, and the level of ridicule attached to the line robbed it of the significance it was intended to carry. Although it’s supposed to be a humanizing moment for the hero and the only thing that facilitates the bond between Batman and Superman, it quickly earned a reputation as a terribly-written plot point. As the line’s reputation has seen it become synonymous with all of the film’s weaker moments, it’s safe to say that it’s the Superman Movie quote that old the worst.

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