Superman: Unbound
Superman confronts the cyborg Brainiac in a fast-moving animated battle over the value of living worlds, Kryptonian heritage, and his future with Lois Lane.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- propulsive
- earnest
- hopeful
- superhero movie night
- animated action night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film effective as a compact animated superhero adventure, praising its animation and action while noting that it lacks the grandeur of stronger DC animated epics.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Brainiac bottles Kandor and other planetary capitals as part of an obsessive program of collection and information gathering.
Superman counters Brainiac's detached logic by affirming the value of Earth, its people, and his relationship with Lois.
Superman travels across the galaxy, encounters destroyed worlds, and confronts Brainiac aboard a massive extraterrestrial vessel.
Brainiac's artificial, ordered systems are challenged when Superman forces him to confront the disorder and vitality of life outside his collections.
Films like Superman: Unbound, and why
Justice League: Doom
animated superhero action, alien invasion stakes, and a morally driven Superman confronting a cosmic threat
Superman: Doomsday
dc animated science fiction adventure featuring Superman, large-scale battles, and emotionally grounded heroism
Justice League: War
high-concept animated superhero spectacle centered on an extraterrestrial enemy and the protection of a city
The Dark Knight Returns: Part One
comic-book animation, interstellar danger, and a powerful antagonist whose threat challenges the hero's identity
Movie Details
- Director
- James Tucker
- Release Date
- 2013-04-23
- Runtime
- 75 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (478)
Cast
- Matt Bomer
- John Noble
- Stana Katic
- Molly C. Quinn
- Diedrich Bader
- Jason Beghe
- Frances Conroy
- Melissa Disney
- Alexander Gould
- Sirena Irwin
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Superman: Unbound about?
- Superman confronts the cyborg Brainiac in a fast-moving animated battle over the value of living worlds, Kryptonian heritage, and his future with Lois Lane.
- What is Superman: Unbound like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Superman: Unbound as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Superman: Unbound violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Superman: Unbound as moderate.
- What did critics think of Superman: Unbound?
- Critics broadly found the film effective as a compact animated superhero adventure, praising its animation and action while noting that it lacks the grandeur of stronger DC animated epics.
- Which films are like Superman: Unbound?
- Films with a similar feel include Justice League: Doom, Superman: Doomsday, Justice League: War, and The Dark Knight Returns: Part One.
- How long is Superman: Unbound?
- Superman: Unbound runs 75 minutes.
- Where can I watch Superman: Unbound?
- In United States, Superman: Unbound is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
In Ember's collections
Movies like Superman: Unbound
- Justice League: Gods and Monsters2015
- Legion of Super-Heroes2023
- Superman vs. The Elite2012
- LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League - Cosmic Clash2016
- Superman: The Last Son of Krypton1996
- Superman: Brainiac Attacks2006
- Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part Three2024
- Reign of the Supermen2019
- The Death and Return of Superman2019
- Injustice2021
