Summary
- Superman's movie history has a selection of quotes that have aged poorly.
- Some quotes have aged poorly because of the movie they take place in and their continued perception.
- Other quotes have aged poorly because of evolving attitudes towards Superman, and societal expectations.
Though movies of the DCEU and beyond, Superman has become a major mainstay of cinema.
Over 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 haven’t 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.
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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 subjected to ridicule now. Though 1984’s Superman III is hardly regarded as the hero’s finest hour, it’s not entirely without merit, and touches loosely on a few key points about the titular character. Despite the symbolism of Clark Kent being forced to fight an arrogant and uninhibited Superman having potential, the Kryptonian uttering the line “What’s the matter Kent? Too warm for ya?” to his alternate self during their showdown is simply too silly in hindsight.
The line aging poorly can partly be put down to societal and linguistic evolution in the decades since Superman III’s release, but the biggest factor is likely the development of the superhero genre. Superman’s utterly lame attempt at smack-talking 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 aged badly.
9 “Stop! Don’t Do It! The People!”
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace is not just regarded as the worst Superman movie featuring the worst Superman movie villain, but as one of the worst comic book movies ever made. Considering it wasn’t received well upon release, it might seem improbable that any quotes from the movie could have aged particularly poorly due to the already low opinion of the film. However, Christopher Reeve’s delivery of the line, “Stop! Don’t do it! The people!” only seems to get worse with age.
As the entire film is poorly written and even more poorly executed, it’s taken some time for the line to stand out as the laughable point it is. Comparisons between Reeve’s delivery of the quote in Superman IV compared to a near-identical line in 1980’s Superman II highlight just how poorly the 1987 movie holds up in comparison. Though nothing about Superman IV has aged well, the unenthusiastic line is especially notable.
8 “The Bat Is Dead. Bury It. Consider This Mercy.”
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
The cast 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 was unfortunately rather 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 as a poorly-aged quote. After establishing his physical superiority, Superman tells Batman: “The Bat is dead. Bury it. Consider this mercy.”
The line, and its delivery, make Superman out to be every bit 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 its advantage, even though its dark depiction of Superman ultimately contributed to the DCEU’s downfall. The idea that Superman considers this interaction merciful makes the franchise’s take on the hero seem needlessly ruthless.
7 “We Don’t Have To Depend On The Kindness Of Monsters.”
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Heading into Batman v Superman, Jesse Eisenberg had 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 don’t have to depend on the kindness of monsters.”
What made the quote age so badly isn’t just that it was mildly cringe-inducing. Considering Eisenberg’s Luthor only made one more very brief appearance in the DCEU, the line’s hint at his stance on metahumans ultimately went unfulfilled. Looking back over the movie, the quote stands out as both a silly inclusion and a moment of wasted potential, meaning it has aged pretty poorly indeed.
6 “Do You Bleed?”
Justice League (2017)
2017’s Justice League was a clear low point for the DCEU, marking 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 about attacking the of the Justice League. Recognizing Batman, he growls out the line: “do you bleed?”, repeating the words Batman said to him at their first meeting.
The quote has aged badly for two reasons. Firstly, it made sense when Batman said it, but it’s far more nonsensical coming from Superman, particularly with Cavill’s unhinged delivery. Secondly, it outlines the third time in as many appearances that Superman was misrepresented by the DCEU: after murdering a villain and then attempting to beat a fellow hero into submission, the line cemented 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?” as they fight.
Watching it back, the quote has aged terribly. It adds an unexpected and dissonant comedic tone to the otherwise serious scene, with Superman’s anger coming off as both naive and childish. Superman’s reaction to Zod’s threats is unintentionally hilarious, and has only gotten funnier over time.
4 “I Just Think He’s Kind Of Hot.”
Man of Steel (2013)
As Man of Steel marked the beginning of the DCEU’s movie timeline, it was vital for setting the tone for the entire franchise. After 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 oversight. As he flies away, a female soldier – Captain Carrie Ferris – is shown smiling, explaining that she “just think[s] he’s kind of hot.”
It's a decidedly jarring moment, and one that comes off as an inappropriate response which only seems more so years later, with the perceived objectifying of Superman being something that would likely cause controversy were it included in such a way over a decade later. As such, it’s clear that the quote hasn’t aged particularly well, especially considering 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 of the classic elements of its eponymous character, its use of his old-fashioned catchphrase hasn’t aged as graciously. Though the film itself pokes fun at the line “I’m 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 former catchphrase ed out of common use in the comics, and more recent Superman adaptations have avoided it altogether. For example, Superman & Lois reworked the catchphrase to better fit a modern audience, taking into societal sensibilities in its writing. The phrase was already seen as a little old-fashioned in 1978, meaning that it has aged even more 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 none quite compared to that 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 hotly anticipated Superman return, 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 cancelation 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’s safe to say that the line aged very poorly very quickly.
1 “Save Martha.”
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Batman v Superman was considered by many to be 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 remains almost universally considered a ridiculous inclusion comes during the showdown between the two titular heroes: the “save Martha” line.
Superman choking out 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. Though it’s supposed to be a humanizing moment for the hero and the only thing that facilitates the alliance between Batman and Superman, it swiftly earned a reputation as a terribly-written plot point. As the line’s reputation saw it become synonymous with all the movie’s weaker moments, it’s safe to say that it’s the Superman movie quote that aged the worst.
- Created by
- Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson
- First Film
- Man of Steel
- First TV Show
- Peacemaker
- Cast
- Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Cara Delevingne, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Zachary Levi, Dwayne Johnson, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Djimon Hounsou, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett, Rosie Perez, Ella Jay Basco, Ali Wong, Ewan McGregor, Idris Elba, John Cena, Michael Keaton, George Clooney, Xolo Mariduena
- Movie(s)
- Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, Justice League, Aquaman, Shazam!, Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman 1984, Zack Snyder's Justice League, The Suicide Squad, Black Adam, Shazam! The Fury of the Gods, The Flash, Blue Beetle, Superman, The Brave and the Bold
- Character(s)
- Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Cyborg, Harley Quinn, The Joker, Shazam, Darkseid, Amanda Waller, Lex Luthor, Doomsday, Deadshot, Deathstroke, Black Canary, Black Adam
The DC Universe is one of the biggest comic book franchises and often competes with Marvel. DC Comics started as National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1935. Since then, the franchise has exploded with thousands of comic books, movies, TV shows, and video games. 2013 marked the beginning of the most recent iteration of the superheroes, with Zack Snyder introducing Henry Cavill as Superman. After several movies with mixed reviews, DC underwent a soft reboot under the helm of James Gunn and Peter Safran.
