Summary

Supermanhas a theatrical feature moving-picture show history live on back to 1978 , and over the decades since , audiences have some up with several interesting possibility pasture from the potential to the totally bizarre . Some go back to some of the older films starringChristopher Reeve as Superman , while others focalise on more contemporary portrayals of the character , like Henry Cavill ’s versionfrom theDCEU . From the past to the present tense , superheroes have been consistent in their ability to get audiences thinking and theorizing .

If a possibility is convincing enough , it can have a big impact on how one look on Superman movies go away forrard . Others are less compelling but might still stick with audiences due to how silly or out - there they are . Some of these hypothesis also widen beyond the Man of Steel himself and pore more on other reference and their motif . Regardless , these ten hypothesis are all more than interesting enough to warrant a read .

Superman is the first entering in James Gunn ’s much anticipated unexampled DCU , and here is everything we know from dramatis personae to story and press release escort .

Superman 2025 and Krypto

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

Superman: The Movie (1978)

This theory posits that when Superman fly around the Earth , he is n’t actually reversing its rotation but instead travel back in time . DC does have case law for this eccentric of affair , like The Flash running back in time to salve his mum in the " Flashpoint " storyline . The hypothesis goes on to say thatthe Earth spinning backward and the case happening in reverse are meant to be more of a visual metaphorfor traveling back in time than a actual reversal of the Earth ’s rotation .

The nice affair about this theory is that it get around the fact that theEarth ’s revolution of a sudden reversing would n’t also change by reversal back timesince the Earth ’s rotation is only used for measuring time , not actually the effort of time continuing . It also fits in with other ways DC Comics characters have fourth dimension - traveled before , so it would seem like a good fit for the universe . This theory does n’t really change much about the upshot of the movie , but it does offer an alternative account for those who may have been put off by the unscientific nature of revoke Earth ’s rotary motion .

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

Christopher Reeve’s Superman Quadrilogy

This possibility comes not from the movies themselves but from the affiliation - in comicsSuperman ' 78andBatman ' 89 . Both comics take shoes in the universe of their several picture universes , but some have pointed athints inSuperman ' 78this Clark and Bruce fill the same Earth . Superman ' 78shows issues of the Daily Planet that discuss Bruce Wayne returning to Gotham and a cryptic at-bat mortal in the urban center . Batman is ostensibly begin his career near the terminal of the ReeveSupermanseries . Batmancame out only two years afterSuperman IV : The Quest for Peace , so the timeline fits .

Batmanstarted after Bruce Wayne had already been fighting crime , which would explain the two - year gap between his reported appearing inSuperman ' 78and the picture show ’s premiere . This hypothesis is plausible sinceDC has likewise done the same thing in the past with theBatman ' 66comictaking home in the same universe as Linda Carter ’s Wonder Woman and George Reeves ' Superman . If true , that would signify when rewatching old Christopher ReeveSupermanmovies , viewers can imagine that elsewhere Bruce Wayne is training to return to Gotham as Batman .

8Aquaman Saved Clark Kent

Man of Steel (2013)

InMan of Steel , Clark Kent serve save men on a tumble oil equipage by hold it together long enough for them to hightail it to safety . Before he can get out , the fishing rig collapses , and Superman is thrown into the sea . As Clark sinks further into the pee , he check two whales swim by . Fans hypothesize that the whales had beensent by Aquaman , which Jason Momoa later confirmed . It ’s worth take note that the theory is n’t confirmed in the film .

Despite being intended as a standalone movie , there were hints thatMan of Steeltook place in the encompassing DC Universe . For example , a satellite bearing the Wayne Enterprises logotype appear , implying that at least Batman live inMan of Steelas well . WhenMan of Steelretroactively became the get-go of the DCEU , Italian sandwich like Aquaman were brought into the faithful as well . Though it is technically potential that Aquaman saved Clark , it is more probable not what was earlier intended and is instead a retcon .

7Superman’s Martha Line Was Intentional Manipulation

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

One ofBatman V Superman : Dawn of Justice ’s most notorious moment is the Martha line that preclude Batman from kill Superman . The railway line has been pointed to as feeling ungainly , as it is strange that Superman would n’t say " my mom " rather . However , a devotee theory paint a picture thatSuperman used this awkward phrasing by choice . The possibility suggests thatSuperman knows Batman ’s identity and is by choice sample to work Batman ’s psychic trauma . Though this theory is technically potential , it does n’t really hold up to scrutiny .

Batman V Supermandoesn’t do anything to suggest Superman knows that Batman is Bruce Wayne , so even if Snyder intended Superman to be manipulate Batman , the minute still would have add up out of nowhere since it was n’t set up . Additionally , if Superman is deliberately rig Batman , the conniption would still evoke that Batman only care about Superman ’s mother because she shares a name with his . Superman pronounce " mom " should have been enough to humanize him to Batman and touch on Batman ’s personal hurt since his trauma is connected to the conception of losing parents , not just the literal name Martha .

6Jor-El Wanted Superman To Breed Kryptonians On Earth

Early inMan of Steel , it is revealed that Kryptonians stopped giving lifelike giving birth , something Superman ’s father Jor - El disagreed with . Kal - El , aka Superman , was the first by nature born Kryptonian in a foresighted clip , and some theorize Jor - El wished him to carry on repopulating Kryptonians on Earth . As grounds , the hypothesis points to Jor - El implanting Kryptonian DNA information in Superman ’s body and his line about him being a " bridgework between two worlds . " The hypothesis also says that Jor - El ’s wish for Kryptonians to reproduce naturally again think of he would have wanted Superman to create new Kryptonian hybrids by sustain children .

This view of the theory does n’t seem too far - fetched . After all , Jor - El knew his planet was dying , and he wanted a way to keep up Krypton ’s people and culture . His method also seems far more peaceful , as he is n’t attempt to terraform Earth the way Zod is , but instead simply creating the hazard for world and Kryptonians to live side - by - side . While this part of the hypothesis holds up and gives an interesting young proportion to the Jor - El , the full theory does go a bit too far .

The initial hypothesis posit thatthis makes Jor - El a villainby make 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 liken the thought of Clark having children to an " intrusion , " which is elusive on an allegorical degree . If Clark and Lois were to have a nestling like they do in the comics with the full knowledge that he would be half - Kryptonian , that is n’t an alien invasion . Painting it that means reflects severe conspiracy rhetoric and makes the full possibility uncomfortable .

superman played by christopher reeve henry cavill tyler hoechlin

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

Superman ’s iconic red trunks have always struck some as odd . However , this fan theory suggests that they actually serve a intention . In the comics , Martha Kent is sound out to have made Superman ’s costume out of his Kryptonian baby blanket . However , that would suggest his cover was massive . alternatively , this theory says she made the rest of the suit from normal fabric , and the trunk were fashioned out of the mantle . Because the fabric isfrom Krypton , that hold the trunks perdurable .

This theory would explicate whySuperman ’s trunks never get destroy like the rest of his costume , though realistically , this is also to avoid testify nudity in a Superman movie or comic . If dead on target , the theory would also explain why Superman is okay with wearing an objectively dizzy turnout . Not only is it functional , but it also defend sentimental value since it was his puerility blanket . This theory would be a effective fashion to vindicate the continued inclusion of the trunks and make viewers see them in a Modern lightness .

4Doomsday Wasn’t The First Of His Kind

InBatman 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 monish Lex that the action is disallow , operate on to say , " it has been decreed by the council of Krypton that none will ever again give life to a misshapenness so hateful to flock and memory . The desecration without name . " This implies that a Doomsday - similar fauna had been produce before . One fan possibility lucubrate on this and make it even darker .

The fact that Kryptonians could travel through quad left some viewer wondering why they stayed on a doomed satellite that also kept them from achieving their potential as superhumans . The theory suggest that Kryptonians had previously unleashed a Doomsday animal on one of their colony planets , which led to terrible death . After that , the Kryptonians determine to remain on Krypton for safety aim . This would draw up with the use of the word " desecration " to describe Doomsday and would also fill in what some see as a plot hole if unfeigned .

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

Any Movie

This Superman fan theory stretches across all Superman picture show and other media , and it is a spot of a wild one . It suggests thatSuperman is actually a works - alike being , which is why he gets exceptional powers from the sun . They say that his topnotch strength and other power are the results of photosynthesis , the unconscious process by which plants wrench sunlight into energy . While this hypothesis uses scientific oral communication to try and bolster its claim , it does n’t really make a lot of sense .

The first major superhero to be created , Superman is one of papa culture ’s biggest picture , and here are all the actor who ’ve dally him in live - action .

When taste to apply real skill to a superhero storey , one is force to pluck and choose what share of scientific discipline they want to cohere to so as to make that theory true . However , this type of hypothesis craft is inherently flawed because it requires ignoring all the scientific reason that it would n’t be true . For instance , some industrial plant ’s leaves will shrink and even burn if given too much direct sunlight . If Superman is a plant from Krypton , which gets far fewer ultraviolet radiation rays from its dying sun , he would probably get too much Dominicus on Earth and die out .

Charlie Cox’s Daredevil listening with his powers in Daredevil: Born Again

2Everyone Knows Clark Kent Is Superman

Every Clark Kent Appearance

One of the longest - go critique about Superman is thathis " disguise " of wearing trash is n’t enough to hide who he is . However , one theory tries to say this is n’t actually what ’s choke on . It says that everyone actually knows Clark Kent is Superman , but at this point , nobody in his aliveness wants to tell him they know so as not to blockade him because of his down - effort disguise .

This is a more lighthearted hypothesis and does n’t really take itself too seriously , but it is definitely fun to consider when rewatching Superman movies . suppose that all the characters at the Daily Bugle are just playing along with Clark Kent ’s routine is n’t just comic but speak to how much everyone apprize Superman . If this theory were true , it would intend everyone is so thankful for what Superman does that they would n’t want to make him experience sorry .

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

all Superman Movies

This theory is ground on the idea that Clark Kent hyperbolize his shy and inept persona to confound people off the fragrance of his dead on target identity . The theory says that this is n’t really truthful and that Clark is just a shy and ill-chosen guy . In this path of front at Clark Kent , Superman is the real routine that he ’s putting on , acting more confident when being a superhero than he really is .

This hypothesis would kind of caterpillar track with how Superman was raised . He was n’t brought up being tell apart he was a superhero , but just a normal shaver . It ’s potential that he was just a timid kid who happened to have superpowers . recollect ofSupermanthis way almost do the submarine sandwich more endearing . He is n’t a super confident hombre , simply putting on a persona that he sees as unintimidating . rather , he ’s a mostly normal individual who does what ’s right because he can .

All of Superman ’s feature cinema can be stream on Max

A split image of Henry Cavill and Christopher Reeve as Superman in their respective DC movies

A split image of Christopher Reeve as Superman and Michael Keaton’s Batman

A blended image depicting batman and superman’s faces during their fight in batman v Superman

Superman next to a hologram of his father in Man of Steel

Christopher Reeve as Superman floating in the sky with the Metropolis cityscape behind him.

Doomsday from Batman V Superman emerging from rubble.

Superman basking in the sun’s rays in Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent in Superman II (1980)

Superman

DC Extended Universe