Relax—Superman’s 122-Minute Runtime Isn’t Kryptonite
Here we go again. Another day, another Internet panic attack because a blockbuster dares to clock in at just over two hours. Superman’s new runtime? A “whopping” 122 minutes (that’s 2 hours and 2 minutes for the math-a-phobes).
Breathe. Stretch. Let’s get some perspective.
A Quick Flight Through Past Capes & Clocks
Film Runtime
Superman: The Movie (1978)143 min
Superman II (1980)127 min
Superman III (1983)125 min
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)90 min
Superman Returns (2006)154 min
Man of Steel (2013)143 min
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)152 min
See that?
We’ve spanned everything from a brisk 90 minutes to a bladder-testing 154.
Runtime alone didn’t crown the best cape—or send the worst one to the Phantom Zone.
Length ≠ Quality. Period.
A long movie can still be a slog (lookin’ at you, Act Three of any bloated blockbuster).
A tight 90-minute flick can fly faster than a speeding bullet if the script, pacing, and performances are on point.
The real super-power? Editing. Cut the fat, keep the flavor.
Enter James Gunn, Master of Pace
A glimpse at James Gunn’s track record:
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 – 122 min
The Suicide Squad – 132 min
Guardians Vol. 3 – 149 min
Different lengths, same verdict: critics and audiences ate them up like Groot snacks. No one stumbled out of the theater whining, “If only it had been seven minutes longer!”
Why? Gunn writes lean scripts, peppers every act with character beats, and slices dead weight like he’s wielding a cosmic chainsaw.
If he says Superman needs 122 minutes, that’s because 122 minutes is exactly how long the story deserves… no more, no less.
The Takeaway (Before the Credits Roll)
Quit timing movies like Olympic events. Judge what’s on screen, not how long it’s on screen. If the script soars, the actors sell it, and the edit keeps you glued to that seat, you’ll forget the runtime faster than Clark Kent swaps glasses for spandex.
So, next time someone gasps, “Only two hours?!” just smile and channel your inner Lois Lane: “Size doesn’t matter………. story does.”
