Henry Cavill’s Superman has often been described as a dark and gritty version of the character, but there are many lighter moments with his Man of Steel. Henry Cavill first debuted as Superman in Zack Snyder’s 2013 film, Man of Steel, and would go on to reprise the role in its 2016 follow-up, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. After the eventual release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League in 2021, many were eager to see Cavill continue as Superman following his cameo in Black Adam. But James Gunn’s DC Universe would ultimately head in a different direction with a different Man of Steel in Superman: Legacy.
Cavill’s Superman performances and the overall tone of Zack Snyder’s approach to the character are polarizing, with many detractors finding Cavill’s Superman to be lacking in Kal-El’s well-known hopeful personality. However, Cavill’s Superman of Zack Snyder’s DCEU not only overcomes many dark circumstances and harrowing challenges, but also has plenty of lighter moments that show him as both an inspirational and aspirational hero. Here are five of the most inspiring moments with Henry Cavill’s Superman.
The Man Of Steel Interrogation
After General Zod (Michael Shannon) issues his ultimatum to the world to hand over Kal-El, Superman voluntarily turns himself over. Man of Steel’s interrogation scene reveals the hope that he is embodying and trying to inspire in others by doing so. To be sure, Superman makes clear that he cannot be detained like other prisoners when he nonchalantly breaks his handcuffs, but his words say it all – “You’re scared of me because you can’t control me. You don’t, and you never will, but that doesn’t mean I’m your enemy.”
Superman is between a rock and a hard place in Man of Steel – he knows Michael Shannon’s unyielding version of General Zod is up to no good, but he cannot be sure that humanity will accept him if he reveals himself and voluntarily allows himself to be handed over. The stakes couldn’t be higher, but Superman still wants to stave off a worldwide panic as much as he can in giving every assurance that he is on Earth’s side. With General Calvin Swanwick (Harry Lennix) also secretly being Martian Manhunter, Superman also inspires hope among his fellow aliens with his surrender, as well.
Clark’s Reunion With Lois and Martha
Following Superman resurrection in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, he returns to the foreclosed Kent farm with Lois Lane (Amy Adams). Martha Kent (Diane Lane) also arrives for an emotional reunion, and it is one of the most heartwarming scenes in the movie (and one of the Snyder Cut’s many big differences from the theatrical version of Justice League). Moreover what Clark himself says to Lois and Martha here is what really captures the hope that is central to Superman. Clark tells Lois “I have a second chance Lo, and I am not going to waste it.”
Following up this statement, Clark tells Lois and Martha “They wanted me back for a reason. I need to find out why.” Having returned from death, Superman makes his fiancée and his adoptive mother overjoyed to see him alive again, but he’s also still thinking like Superman. The world is in trouble, and the Justice League needs help, which looks like a job for Superman.
Superman Is “Not Impressed”
Superman dies in Batman v Superman battling Doomsday, and his resurrection is given a lot of build up in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, finally culminating in Superman’s arrival in the final showdown with Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds). Quipping “Not impressed” against Steppenwolf’s axe strike, this one moment is Superman in a nutshell. Unyielding to Steppenwolf’s axe hitting his shoulder with a metallic clang, you get Superman’s invulnerability. With the Man of Steel freezing Steppenwolf’s axe with his arctic breath and kicking him a hundred feet away, you get his immense superhuman strength.
To top it all off, Superman’s grin brings his innate confidence and joy into the fight to save the world. It also has thematic importance to Superman’s story in Snyder’s Justice League arc, the Man of Steel having not only overcome his self-doubt and the world’s initial skepticism of his motives, but returned from death after convincing Batman (Ben Affleck) that he is a friend. Superman’s big one-liner in Zack Snyder’s Justice League might be “Not impressed,” but the impressive factor of it is undeniable.
Superman Helping Batman Up
Following the Justice League’s defeat of Steppenwolf in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the heroes stand victoriously atop a nuclear cooling tower with the sun rising behind them. While in itself a grandiose group shot of the Justice League finally formed, the moment leading into it of Superman lifting Batman to the top is a deeply personal component of his story. Ben Affleck’s Batman, having fought many villains in the 20 years preceding Batman v Superman, was once determined to preemptively destroy Superman to protect mankind, with the Man of Steel also once seeing Batman as an enemy.
Batman has since completely returned from the abyss he was in to help resurrect Superman, but the seemingly small moment of Superman helping Batman up says a lot. They’ve grown beyond the animosity that they met each other under, and now see each other as allies and as equals as they grin and nod to each other. Even small acts of kindness or friendship can mean a lot, and Superman lifting up Batman to stand side-by-side with the Justice League is exactly that.
Man of Steel’s First Flight
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Cavill’s best moment as Superman remains his first scene donning Superman’s suit and cape in Man of Steel, and like Batman v Superman, is true to Superman himself and his hopeful nature. His red cape majestically flowing behind him, Kal-El makes his first attempt at flight, struggling a bit at first before finally soaring into the sky. The guidance of his father Jor-El (Russell Crowe) adds as much weight and gravity to Superman’s first flight scene as Hans Zimmer’s thunderously powerful score, while Cavill himself seals the scene with Clark’s exhilaration at flying.
Having been living like a vagabond and saving lives where he can, Clark has done everything he can to hide his powers from the world for fear of how humanity might respond to an alien living among them. While he keeps that practice up for a bit longer in the film, Clark’s first flight opens his eyes to the possibilities of his powers, and what both Jor-El and Man of Steel‘s controversial Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner) believe he can accomplish. Ultimately, like his comic book counterpart, Henry Cavill’s Superman exemplifies bringing hope into a dark world through his lighter Snyderverse moments.
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