The best Superman movie action scene just keeps getting better as the years pass, and after recently rewatching it, I believe it is still the Man of Steel’s finest action sequence in a live-action movie. Superman is getting ready for a major return to the big screen. David Corenswet’s Superman flies into theaters in July, serving as the first movie in the new DC Universe. I’m excited about this new live-action iteration of Superman. So far, I have enjoyed pretty much all of the actors that I have seen give life to Clark Kent.

Be it with Tom Welling’s Clark Kent in Smallville, Henry Cavill’s Superman in the DCEU, or any other live-action Superman actor, I have had a great time with the character’s many adventures. When it comes to the silver screen, I think Superman deserves better movies than he has had. Don’t get me wrong, I think Superman’s movie actors have all been great, but not all of their films were on par with their performances or potential. Thankfully, even if their movies were not always great, many impactful action scenes with Superman have graced theaters, and one rises above the rest.

Brandon Routh’s Plane Scene Is My Favorite Superman Movie Action Sequence

It Is Superman Returns’ Best Moment

Inspired by Christopher Reeve’s classic portrayal of Superman, Brandon Routh was pitch-perfect as the Man of Steel in 2006’s Superman Returns. Sadly, I did not find the movie to be nearly as exciting as his version of the character deserved it to be. While Routh ended up only leading one Superman movie, I’m convinced the actor managed to mark his name in the character’s history in a major way. Superman has had many impactful action scenes in live-action movies, but Superman Returns‘ plane rescue is the one I believe to be the best of them all.

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The sequence is pure Superman at its core. Routh’s Superman frenetically attempts to stop a plane that has been boosted by a rocket from falling into the middle of a baseball field. It has the kind of high-energy action feel that most come to expect from superhero movies while also not making a fight with a villain the main event. Instead, it is simply Superman trying his best to save the woman he loves, Lois Lane, and the rest of the plane’s passengers from dying. The CGI is great, the score creates a tense atmosphere, and Superman saves the day.

I’m Convinced Superman Returns’ Plane Rescue Beats All Other Superman Movie Action Scenes

The DC Hero Has Been Part Of Many Action Sequences

I know that Superman has been a part of many thrilling action scenes in different movies. Those include Batman fighting Superman in the DCEU, Christopher Reeve’s Man of Steel being divided into an evil Superman and Clark Kent, with the two fighting, and more. Among my favorites is the final battle between Henry Cavill’s Superman and Michael Shannon’s General Zod in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. Snyder has a great eye for action, and you can feel the impact of the punches traded between the characters. While the sequence is epic, it does not understand Superman like the plane scene.

Superman kills Zod to save civilians at the end of Man of Steel. With that decision, Snyder wanted to show that Kal-El was willing to go against his very being to keep Metropolis’ citizens safe. However, I think the Superman Returns plane sequence presents the same kind of thrilling action Man of Steel did, but in a brighter light that better fits who the character is. After all, Superman does not kill. The plane sequence highlights the character’s core essence, with his powers put on display with fast-paced action that always centers on saving people’s lives, not killing villains.

I Hope James Gunn’s Superman Movie Surpasses Brandon Routh’s Plane Scene

The DCU’s Superman Will Be Very Important To The Franchise

After the DCEU featured a Superman shrouded in darkness and cut Snyder’s plan of bringing him to the light before Clark Kent’s arc was complete, I need the DCU to do better. So far, I feel we are headed in the right direction. David Corenswet is a Superman fan and revealed that he wanted to bring a classic take on the character to life. Adding to that, James Gunn has a successful track record of delivering great action, intense emotion, and hilarious comedy with his superhero projects. The pieces are there for it to beat Superman Returns’ plane sequence.

Actor
Character

David Corenswet
Clark Kent/Superman

Rachel Brosnahan
Lois Lane

Nicholas Hoult
Lex Luthor

Skyler Gisondo
Jimmy Olsen

Terence Rosemore
Otis

Sara Sampaio
Eve Teschmacher

Nathan Fillion
Guy Gardner/Green Lantern

Edi Gathegi
Michael Holt/Mister Terrific

Isabela Merced
Hawkgirl

Anthony Carrigan
Rex Mason/Metamorpho

Maria Gabríela De Faría
Angela Spica/The Engineer

Frank Grillo
Rick Flag Sr.

James Gunn’s Superman movie features a formidable cast. There will be multiple DC heroes and villains in the film, with the Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Lex Luthor, The Engineer, Hawkgirl, and more joining David Corenswet’s Superman. With a kaiju revealed in the first Superman trailer and scenes showing how Corenswet’s Man of Steel cares and protects Metropolis’ citizens, the DCU has a good chance of delivering the best Superman movie action scene we have ever seen. That said, Superman Returns‘ plane save will always be epic, even if it is surpassed by the DCU, and it looks even better now.