If a theory is convincing enough, it can have a big impact on how one watches Superman movies going forward. Others are less compelling but might still stick with audiences due to how silly or out-there they are. Some of these theories also extend beyond the Man of Steel himself and focus more on other characters and their motives. Regardless, these ten theories are all more than interesting enough to warrant a read.

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10 Superman Didn't Reverse Time, He Traveled Through It

Superman: The Movie (1978)

This theory posits that when Superman flies around the Earth, he isn't actually reversing its rotation but instead traveling back in time. DC does have precedent for this type of thing, like The Flash running back in time to save his mom in the "Flashpoint" storyline. The theory goes on to say that the Earth spinning backward and the events happening in reverse are meant to be more of a visual metaphor for traveling back in time than a literal reversal of the Earth's rotation.

The nice thing about this theory is that it gets around the fact that the Earth's rotation suddenly reversing wouldn't also turn back time since the Earth's rotation is only used for measuring time, not actually the cause of time continuing. It also fits in with other ways DC Comics characters have time-traveled before, so it would seem like a good fit for the universe. This theory doesn't really change much about the events of the movie, but it does offer an alternative explanation for those who may have been put off by the unscientific nature of reversing Earth's rotation.

9 Christopher Reeve's Superman Shares A World With Michael Keaton's Batman

Christopher Reeve's Superman Quadrilogy

This theory comes not from the movies themselves but from the tie-in comics Superman '78 and Batman '89. Both comics take place in the universe of their respective movie universes, but some have pointed at hints in Superman '78 this Clark and Bruce occupy the same world. Superman '78 shows issues of the Daily Planet that discuss Bruce Wayne returning to Gotham and a mysterious bat person in the city. Batman is seemingly starting his career near the end of the Reeve Superman series. Batman came out only two years after Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, so the timeline fits.

Batman started after Bruce Wayne had already been fighting crime, which would explain the two-year gap between his reported appearance in Superman '78 and the film's premiere. This theory is plausible since DC has similarly done the same thing in the past with the Batman '66 comic taking place in the same universe as Linda Carter's Wonder Woman and George Reeves' Superman. If true, that would mean when rewatching old Christopher Reeve Superman movies, viewers can imagine that elsewhere Bruce Wayne is training to return to Gotham as Batman.

8 Aquaman Saved Clark Kent

Man of Steel (2013)

In Man of Steel, Clark Kent helps save men on a collapsing oil rig by holding it together long enough for them to escape to safety. Before he can leave, the rig collapses, and Superman is thrown into the ocean. As Clark sinks further into the water, he sees two whales swimming by. Fans hypothesized that the whales had been sent by Aquaman, which Jason Momoa later confirmed. It's worth noting that the theory isn't confirmed in the films.

Despite being intended as a standalone movie, there were hints that Man of Steel took place in the wider DC Universe. For instance, a satellite bearing the Wayne Enterprises logo appeared, implying that at least Batman existed in Man of Steel as well. When Man of Steel retroactively became the start of the DCEU, heroes like Aquaman were brought into the fold as well. Though it is technically possible that Aquaman saved Clark, it is more likely not what was originally intended and is instead a retcon.

7 Superman's Martha Line Was Intentional Manipulation

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

One of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice's most infamous moments is the Martha line that prevents Batman from killing Superman. The line has been pointed to as feeling clunky, as it is strange that Superman wouldn't say "my mom" instead. However, a fan theory suggests that Superman used this awkward phrasing intentionally. The theory suggests that Superman knows Batman's identity and is intentionally trying to exploit Batman's trauma. Though this theory is technically possible, it doesn't really hold up to scrutiny.

Batman V Superman doesn't do anything to suggest Superman knows that Batman is Bruce Wayne, so even if Snyder intended Superman to be manipulating Batman, the moment still would have come out of nowhere since it wasn't set up. Additionally, if Superman is intentionally manipulating Batman, the scene would still suggest that Batman only cares about Superman's mother because she shares a name with his. Superman saying "mom" should have been enough to humanize him to Batman and touch on Batman's personal trauma since his trauma is connected to the concept of losing parents, not just the literal name Martha.

6 Jor-El Wanted Superman To Breed Kryptonians On Earth

Man of Steel (2013)

Early in Man of Steel, it is revealed that Kryptonians stopped giving natural birth, something Superman's father Jor-El disagreed with. Kal-El, aka Superman, was the first naturally born Kryptonian in a long time, and some theorize Jor-El wished him to continue repopulating Kryptonians on Earth. As evidence, the theory points to Jor-El implanting Kryptonian DNA information in Superman's body and his line about him being a "bridge between two worlds." The theory also says that Jor-El's wish for Kryptonians to reproduce naturally again means he would have wanted Superman to create new Kryptonian hybrids by having children.

This aspect of the theory doesn't seem too far-fetched. After all, Jor-El knew his planet was dying, and he wanted a way to preserve Krypton's people and culture. His method also seems far more peaceful, as he isn't trying to terraform Earth the way Zod is, but instead simply creating the chance for humans and Kryptonians to live side-by-side. While this part of the theory holds up and gives an interesting new dimension to the Jor-El, the full theory does go a bit too far.

The initial theory posits that this makes Jor-El a villain by making the logical leap that Jor-El wants Kal-El to reproduce as much as possible. However, Jor-El never says to do this when he has the chance to. It also likens the idea of Clark having children to an "invasion," which is problematic on an allegorical level. If Clark and Lois were to have a kid like they do in the comics with the full knowledge that he would be half-Kryptonian, that isn't an alien invasion. Painting it that way reflects dangerous conspiracy rhetoric and makes the full theory uncomfortable.

5 Superman's Underwear Is Indestructible, That's Why It's On The Outside

Superman: The Movie (1978)

Superman's iconic red trunks have always struck some as odd. However, this fan theory suggests that they actually serve a purpose. In the comics, Martha Kent is said to have made Superman's costume out of his Kryptonian baby blanket. However, that would suggest his blanket was massive. Instead, this theory says she made the rest of the suit from normal fabric, and the trunks were fashioned out of the blanket. Because the fabric is from Krypton, that makes the trunks indestructible.

This theory would explain why Superman's trunks never get destroyed like the rest of his costume, though realistically, this is also to avoid showing nudity in a Superman movie or comic. If true, the theory would also explain why Superman is okay with wearing an objectively silly outfit. Not only is it functional, but it also holds sentimental value since it was his childhood blanket. This theory would be a good way to justify the continued inclusion of the trunks and make viewers see them in a new light.

4 Doomsday Wasn't The First Of His Kind

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

In Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, Lex Luthor creates the DCEU's version of Doomsday by mutating Zod's dead body. When he does so, the Kryptonian ship's computer warns Lex that the action is forbidden, going on to say, "it has been decreed by the council of Krypton that none will ever again give life to a deformity so hateful to sight and memory. The desecration without name." This implies that a Doomsday-like creature had been created before. One fan theory expands on this and makes it even darker.

The fact that Kryptonians could travel through space left some viewers wondering why they stayed on a doomed planet that also kept them from achieving their potential as superhumans. The theory suggests that Kryptonians had previously unleashed a Doomsday creature on one of their colony planets, which led to terrible destruction. After that, the Kryptonians decided to stay on Krypton for safety purposes. This would line up with the use of the word "desecration" to describe Doomsday and would also fill in what some see as a plot hole if true.

3 Superman Is A Plant, Which Is Why The Sun Gives Him Power

Any Movie

This Superman fan theory stretches across all Superman movies and other media, and it is a bit of a wild one. It suggests that Superman is actually a plant-like being, which is why he gets special powers from the sun. They say that his super strength and other powers are the results of photosynthesis, the process by which plants turn sunlight into energy. While this theory uses scientific language to try and bolster its claims, it doesn't really make a lot of sense.

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When trying to apply real science to a superhero story, one is forced to pick and choose what parts of science they want to adhere to in order to make that theory true. However, this type of theory crafting is inherently flawed because it requires ignoring all the scientific reasons that it wouldn't be true. For instance, some plant's leaves will shrivel and even burn if given too much direct sunlight. If Superman is a plant from Krypton, which gets far fewer UV rays from its dying sun, he would likely get too much sun on Earth and die.

2 Everyone Knows Clark Kent Is Superman

Every Clark Kent Appearance

One of the longest-running criticisms about Superman is that his "disguise" of wearing glasses isn't enough to hide who he is. However, one theory tries to say this isn't actually what's going on. It says that everyone actually knows Clark Kent is Superman, but at this point, nobody in his life wants to tell him they know so as not to embarrass him because of his low-effort disguise.

This is a more lighthearted theory and doesn't really take itself too seriously, but it is definitely fun to consider when rewatching Superman movies. Imagining that all the characters at the Daily Bugle are just playing along with Clark Kent's act isn't just funny but speaks to how much everyone appreciates Superman. If this theory were true, it would mean everyone is so grateful for what Superman does that they wouldn't want to make him feel bad.

1 Clark Kent Isn't An Artificial Personality; It's Who Superman Really Is

all Superman Movies

This theory is based on the idea that Clark Kent exaggerates his shy and awkward persona to throw people off the scent of his true identity. The theory says that this isn't really true and that Clark is just a shy and awkward guy. In this way of looking at Clark Kent, Superman is the real act that he's putting on, acting more confident when being a superhero than he really is.

This theory would kind of track with how Superman was raised. He wasn't brought up being told he was a superhero, but just a normal kid. It's possible that he was just a shy kid who happened to have superpowers. Thinking of Superman this way almost makes the hero more endearing. He isn't a super confident guy, simply putting on a persona that he sees as unintimidating. Instead, he's a mostly normal person who does what's right because he can.