History WesternAnimation / SupermanVsTheElite

The plot in both the original comic and the movie is based on Superman's effectiveness at being a superhero in [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks the much darker, cynical world of comics that grew in the 90's]], ultimately questioning if his old fashioned moral standards are still relevant against the more ruthless villains of the present day.

* AnAesop:
** Killing is bad, even if it's for the right reasons. Even if, ''[[BewareTheSuperman especially if]]'', they are in a position of power that makes such an act easy for them. You do ''not'' want people in power to think killing is okay. [[ItGetsEasier The more you kill, the easier and more desensitized you become to it,]] and the easier it becomes to stop viewing people as ''[[AMillionIsAStatistic people]]''.
** [[SillyRabbitCynicismIsForLosers Being an idealist and/or dreamer isn't stupid.]] It's ideas and dreams that inspire us to be the best version of ourselves. It's easy to give into cynicism when things look bad and bleak, but its times like that when you need to fight even harder against it.

* TheCameo: The Bottle City of Kandor (with some tiny specks which appear to be its residents flying vehicles flying around the city) appears for about ten seconds when The Elite visit the Fortress of Solitude to threaten Superman.

* AdaptationExpansion: The personalities and abilities of The Elite are more fleshed-out. Rather than being introduced as brutal anti-heroes to begin with, they're more slowly developed and revealed. It helps that the movie and the original comic share the same writer, Joe Kelly. The film also adds the character of Vera Black, Manchester's sister.