--- title: "Man of Steel" year: 2013 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/man-of-steel" fi1m_id: "man-of-steel" imdb_id: "tt0770828" tmdb_id: 49521 wikidata_id: "Q622769" fi1m_score: 60 critics_score: 59 critics_reviews: 25 published: "2026-10-05T12:53:27.026930+00:00" updated: "2026-10-05T12:53:27.504687+00:00" region: "DK" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Man of Steel (2013) Directed by Zack Snyder · 2h 23m · Medierådet 11 · Action, Adventure, Science Fiction ## Identity Man of Steel - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/man-of-steel - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** man-of-steel - **IMDb ID:** tt0770828 - **TMDB ID:** 49521 - **Wikidata ID:** Q622769 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0770828/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/49521, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q622769 **Fi1m score: 60** · Critics 59 from 25 reviews *In a sentence:* A Superman who looks sorry about every building he goes through, and there are a great many buildings > Zack Snyder’s Superman is grave, handsome and far too loud. The Krypton prologue and Kevin Costner’s Kansas scenes are the real thing; the final hour flattens a city and most of our goodwill with it. ## Synopsis Krypton is dying. The scientist Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and his wife Lara (Ayelet Zurer) launch their newborn son towards Earth while General Zod (Michael Shannon) mounts a coup, fails, and is sentenced to exile. Thirty-three years later Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) drifts through odd jobs on a fishing boat, a burning oil rig and a roadside bar in the north, saving people and moving on before anyone can ask questions, while flashbacks return him to the Kansas farm of Jonathan and Martha Kent (Kevin Costner, Diane Lane), who taught him to hide what he can do. Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane (Amy Adams) travels to the Arctic to investigate an object found under the ice. Clark is there too, and inside it he finds the first word of where he came from. ## Review Zack Snyder has set out to make a Superman film nobody could call light. Christopher Nolan produces and shares the story credit with the screenwriter David S. Goyer, and the plan is plain: treat the arrival of a man from another planet as something that would frighten us, and treat the man as someone taught from childhood to hide. For an hour it works, often better than we expected. Then the fighting starts, and by the end of the 143 minutes we had been worn down to indifference by a film that had earlier made us care. Alex McDowell’s Krypton is the best thing in it, a world of sediment and bone, with ships that look grown rather than built and consoles on which beads of liquid metal rise and arrange themselves into moving pictures. Russell Crowe’s Jor-El rides a four-winged animal through a civil war. Ayelet Zurer, as Lara, has a few minutes and spends them on the right thing, a mother’s face as the capsule goes up. Michael Shannon’s General Zod arrives already at full volume, and on Krypton, with the ground coming apart, the volume is earned. David Brenner cuts Clark’s childhood into his drifting adult years as memory, so that a burning oil rig is interrupted by Kansas. Young Clark locks himself in a school cupboard because he can hear every heartbeat in the building, and Diane Lane’s Martha sits on the other side of the door and tells him to make the world small. That scene moved us more than we thought a film of this size would manage; the boy is frightened of his own ears. Kevin Costner’s Jonathan, asked whether the son who has just lifted a school bus out of a river should have let the children drown, says ‘maybe’, and it is the one honest moral question the film asks. Costner plays the whole part at that pitch, a decent man not sure he is right. Henry Cavill has the build and, more usefully, the stillness. He says little, quietly, and is good at looking like a man who does not know what he is for. Amy Adams’s Lois Lane is a working reporter for the first hour, following footprints across the ice and tracking a stranger through small-town rumour, with a brisk, amused competence. Then the plot needs her in a particular place and she is put there, several times. Laurence Fishburne’s Perry White has a desk. The last hour is the trouble. Zod’s people come down in Smallville and the fight goes through a petrol station and the main street, then moves to Metropolis, where buildings come down for the better part of half an hour. Amir Mokri shoots it handheld, with snap zooms and flare, as if a news crew were chasing gods; impressive for ten minutes, exhausting after twenty. Hans Zimmer’s score has a bank of drummers and a rising piano figure that is the warmest thing in the film; in the fights the drums become one more thing hitting us. Somewhere around the fourth office block we noticed we had stopped feeling anything, and then we were angry about it, because the first hour had been so careful about one boy and the second so careless about a city. Shannon has one setting, and after Krypton it is the wrong one. Antje Traue’s Faora-Ul is the better enemy, a soldier who fights with economy and seems to enjoy it. Michael Wilkinson and James Acheson have remade the suit as something woven and dark, with the red trunks gone, and it looks better the longer it is worn. Richard Donner’s [*Superman*](https://film.one/film/superman) (1978) had its hero catch a falling helicopter and a crowd cheer, and it understood why the cheer mattered. Here Superman catches almost nobody for the length of the Metropolis fight, and the film does not notice. The final minutes make a decision about who this Superman is that we will not describe. See the first hour with the lights down and the sound up; what follows is a long, loud demonstration of what the money bought. It runs 143 minutes and carries a 12A, which seems generous for a film in which a city comes down. *Fi1m score 60, published 5 October 2026.* ## What the critics say The reviews split almost evenly between praise, reservation and dislike, and the consensus settles on a film that is ambitious and large but hard to warm to. Where critics agree is on the scale: most find the Krypton sequences and the sheer size of the spectacle impressive, whatever they make of the rest. Henry Cavill draws steady approval for a confident, physical Superman, and several reviews single out the quieter scenes with Kevin Costner as the moments that land. Michael Shannon’s General Zod is praised more than once for his menace. The reservations cluster on tone and length. Most critics find the film grim and short on humour, and even admirers say the fighting runs too long and becomes numbing. A few note that the female characters are thinly written. The spread is wide: /Film calls it phenomenal, Vulture finds it noisy and nearly pleasure-free, and The AV Club dissents on Cavill, finding him posing rather than acting. ## Straight answers **Is Man of Steel worth watching?** *Man of Steel* is worth watching for its first hour, and we scored it 60. Alex McDowell’s Krypton and Kevin Costner’s Kansas scenes are the real thing, and Henry Cavill has the stillness the part needs. The final hour flattens Metropolis for the better part of thirty minutes, and we had stopped feeling anything long before it ended. **How long is Man of Steel, and what is it rated?** *Man of Steel* runs 2h 23m and is rated 11 by the Medierådet in Denmark. It is an action and adventure film. **Where can I watch Man of Steel in Denmark?** *Man of Steel* is streaming on Netflix in Denmark, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV from kr 39.00. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How does Man of Steel compare to Starman?** *Man of Steel* and [*Starman*](https://film.one/film/starman) both bring a visitor from space to Earth, but they could hardly be less alike in scale or temper. Carpenter’s film is small, gentle and moving, and lets its alien learn the planet from one grieving woman; Snyder’s is grave and loud, careful about a boy for an hour and careless about a city after that. *Starman* is the better film, and the one we would recommend first. **What should I watch after Man of Steel?** After *Man of Steel*, try [*Starman*](https://film.one/film/starman) (1984, Fi1m 77): John Carpenter’s visitor from space learns Earth from a grieving widow; gentle, odd and moving. Then [*The Iron Giant*](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant) (1999, Fi1m 88): A weapon from the sky decides what it wants to be; everything this film reaches for, in 86 minutes; and [*Unbreakable*](https://film.one/film/unbreakable) (2000, Fi1m 81): Shyamalan’s quiet origin story, in which a man discovers his powers and is frightened by them. ### Reviews we read (25) - **Time Out**, Dave Calhoun (4/5): The critic’s opening verdict dismisses claims that comic-book films are ‘real’ and ‘psychological’ as clichéd and tiresome. The available text singles out those claims as the complaint, but does not reveal the review’s overall verdict. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/man-of-steel) - **Total Film**, Matthew Leyland (4/5): The review calls the film a bracing, accomplished reboot that could launch something special, though it lacks warmth and charm. It praises the striking visual design while criticizing the repetitive exposition and overlong action. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/man-of-steel-review/) - **IndieWire**, Charlie Schmidlin (B): The critic finds the film bold and heartfelt, though its action excesses and underwritten female characters weaken it. They praise Henry Cavill’s compelling portrayal of Clark Kent’s journey into Superman. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-man-of-steel-directed-by-zack-snyder-starring-henry-cavill-amy-adams-michael-shannon-97130/) - **Empire**, Dan Jolin (75/100, inferred): Jolin finds the film overly serious and lacking warmth, but ultimately a spectacular, operatic Superman origin story. He particularly praises the scale and ambition of its sci-fi spectacle. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/man-steel-review/) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Todd McCarthy (75/100, inferred): McCarthy finds the film an overwhelmingly forceful, entertaining spectacle, despite its relentless action and an over-the-top ending. He praises the spirited rapport between Henry Cavill and Amy Adams, as well as the intimate quality of some flying shots. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/man-steel-film-review-565025/) - **Screen Daily**, Tim Grierson (64/100, inferred): The page identifies this as Tim Grierson’s review, but the review text is hidden behind a registration wall. Its verdict and specific points of praise or criticism cannot be established from the accessible text. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/man-of-steel/5057154.article) - **The AV Club**, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky (C+): The critic finds the film visually fascinating but argues it leaves Superman without depth or agency. He singles out its striking imagery while criticizing Henry Cavill’s performance as posing rather than acting. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/man-of-steel-1798177062) - **RogerEbert.com**, Matt Zoller Seitz (2.5/4): Seitz gives the film a mixed verdict. He criticizes its grim tone and overlong action sequences. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/man-of-steel-2013) - **Little White Lies**, Jonathan Crocker (5/3/3): Crocker finds the film overblown and emotionally underdeveloped despite its ambition. He praises the cast’s restrained performances, especially Kevin Costner’s quiet, powerful moments. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/man-of-steel) - **Radio Times**, Jeremy Aspinall (3/5): Aspinall gives the reboot a lukewarm three-star assessment. He contrasts Snyder’s approach with the earlier Superman films, but the available review text cuts off before identifying a specific strength or weakness. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-c4vq10/man-of-steel/) - **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (60/100, inferred): Bradshaw finds the film a grand, meaty superhero adventure that broadly succeeds, though it runs too long. He praises Michael Shannon’s menacing General Zod but misses the original Superman’s gentle, everyday pleasures. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jun/13/man-of-steel-review) - **Variety**, Scott Foundas (52/100, inferred): Foundas finds the film’s humorless, relentlessly noisy approach undermines its ambitious Superman reinvention. He praises Kevin Costner’s touching performance but objects to the overwhelming action and visual bombast. [Read](https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-man-of-steel-1200493929/) - **Evening Standard**, The Standard (40/100, inferred): The critic finds the reboot respectful and spectacular, but says its prolonged fights eventually become numbing. Henry Cavill is singled out as a fetching, convincing star despite some wooden stiffness. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/man-of-steel-film-review-8658523.html) - **Slant Magazine**, Chris Cabin (1.5/4): The review finds the film dull, bombastic, and burdened by faux-patriotism. It praises the action sequences as thrilling, while criticizing the film’s manipulative nationalism and destruction-heavy approach. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/man-of-steel/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (35/100, inferred): Turan finds the film ambitious but only partially satisfying, with its drama unable to match its scope. He praises Henry Cavill’s casting and the broad science-fiction conception, but says the relentless action becomes numbing. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-man-of-steel-20130613-story.html) - **The New Yorker** (20/100, inferred): The critic finds the film portentous and overblown. They single out its endless declamation and violence as major faults. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/man-of-steel-2) - **Vulture**, David Edelstein (10/100, inferred): Edelstein finds the film noisy, cluttered, and largely pleasure-free. He singles out Amy Adams’s spirited Lois Lane and the grounded scenes with Kevin Costner and Diane Lane as its most affecting elements. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2013/06/movie-review-man-of-steel.html) - **/Film**, Germain Lussier (8.5 out of 10): The critic calls the film phenomenal and says it successfully reboots Superman. He especially praises the enormous, thrilling action and Henry Cavill’s confident performance. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/526505/man-of-steel-review-a-super-film-that-delivers-on-all-levels/) - **Digital Spy**, Simon Reynolds (4/5): The review finds the film exhilarating and a strong foundation for future Superman adventures, despite some flaws. It especially praises the energetic action and the physicality of Henry Cavill’s performance. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a488432/man-of-steel-review-henry-cavill-soars-in-new-superman-movie/) - **The Skinny**, Chris Fyvie (★★★★): The review praises Snyder’s reboot as an exhilarating blockbuster with unexpected depth and melancholy. It singles out the effective humanisation of Clark through his childhood and adoptive parents. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/man-of-steel) - **The Wrap** (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the film successful and provocative, though it does not quite soar. They praise Henry Cavill’s portrayal of Superman as powerful yet uncertain and bewildered. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/man-steel-review-grimmer-superman-might-not-soar-it-flies-96296/) - **Eye for Film**, Scott Macdonald (65/100, inferred): The critic finds it reasonable entertainment, with a strong origin story and impressive technical execution, but little humor or joy. They praise the performances and visual craft while criticizing the gender politics and the shift toward destructive action. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/man-of-steel-2013-film-review-by-scott-macdonald) - **Den of Geek**, Mike Cecchini (3/5): The critic finds the film entertaining but overburdened by spectacle and short on heart. Henry Cavill’s confident, charismatic Superman is singled out as a major strength. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/comics/man-of-steel-review/) - **Paste**, Michael Burgin (5.8/10): Burgin finds the film a poorly told, frustrating start for the DC universe. He praises Snyder’s richly designed Krypton sequences but criticizes the sluggish pacing, destructive action, and heavy-handed allegory. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/man-of-steel) - **Consequence**, Michael Roffman (35/100, inferred): Roffman finds the film ambitious but ultimately frustrated by a chaotic, incoherent story. He praises the cast, particularly Michael Shannon’s unsettling General Zod, while faulting the screenplay for leaving characters and action without emotional investment. [Read](https://consequence.net/2013/06/film-review-man-of-steel/) ## Details - **Director:** Zack Snyder - **Director:** Zack Snyder - **Screenplay:** David S. Goyer - **Story:** Christopher Nolan, David S. Goyer - **Cinematography:** Amir Mokri - **Editor:** David Brenner - **Music:** Hans Zimmer - **Production design:** Alex McDowell - **Costume design:** James Acheson, Michael Wilkinson - **Producer:** Christopher Nolan, Charles Roven, Emma Thomas - **Cast:** Henry Cavill as Clark Kent / Kal-El; Amy Adams as Lois Lane; Michael Shannon as General Zod; Diane Lane as Martha Kent; Russell Crowe as Jor-El; Antje Traue as Faora-Ul; Harry Lennix as General Swanwick; Richard Schiff as Dr. Emil Hamilton - **Runtime:** 2h 23m - **Certificate (Medierådet):** 11 - **Release (Denmark):** 13 June 2013 - **Genres:** Action, Adventure, Science Fiction - **Budget:** $225 million - **Box office:** $668 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGrBV1C4hgo ## Where to watch in Denmark - Netflix: streaming - Amazon Prime Video: rent kr 39.00, uhd - Apple TV: rent kr 39.00, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy kr 99.00, uhd - Apple TV: buy kr 99.00, hd *Checked 2026-10-05.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - MTV Movie Award for Best Hero 2014: MTV Movie Award for Best Hero (won) ## If you liked this - *Superman* (1978): Richard Donner’s version, where the man catches things and the crowd is allowed to cheer. - *Starman* (1984), Fi1m 77: John Carpenter’s visitor from space learns Earth from a grieving widow; gentle, odd and moving. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/starman.md) - *The Iron Giant* (1999), Fi1m 88: A weapon from the sky decides what it wants to be; everything this film reaches for, in 86 minutes. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-iron-giant.md) - *Unbreakable* (2000), Fi1m 81: Shyamalan’s quiet origin story, in which a man discovers his powers and is frightened by them. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/unbreakable.md) - *Chronicle* (2012): Three teenagers get powers and one of them goes wrong; found footage, small budget, real stakes. --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/man-of-steel