Drugi film o Supermanu se začne v Parizu, kjer teroristi zavzamejo Eifflov stolp in grozijo, da bodo sprožili jedrsko bombo. Superman seveda prileti na pomoč in bombo vrže daleč v vesolje, eksplozija pa osvobodi tri zlobneže, ki tako kot on prihajajo s planeta Kripton. Trojica pride na Zemljo, kjer začnejo z ustrahovanjem, pridruži pa se jim tudi Lex Luthor, ki je pobegnil iz zapora.
Picking up where "Superman: The Movie" left off, three criminals, General Zod (Terence Stamp), Ursa, (Sarah Douglas), and Non (Jack O'Halloran) from the planet Krypton are released from the Phantom Zone by a nuclear explosion in space. They descend upon Earth where they could finally rule. Superman, meanwhile, is in love with Lois Lane (Margot Kidder), who finds out who he really is. Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) escapes from prison and is determined to destroy Superman by joining forces with the three criminals.