History Heartwarming / ManOfSteel

!!Meta
* When Superman looks up and gathers himself to destroy the world engine, watch closely. [[https://img.cinemablend.com/cb/5/1/e/4/f/b/51e4fb48dc39c76404b38377c6fc439d68b52baa5c8607f29c3395e75da79f9b.gif For a couple of seconds]], you can see Creator/HenryCavill's face bear a startling and, dare we say, heartening resemblance to Creator/ChristopherReeve, to the point that it sparked speculation that Reeve's face had actually been digitally superimposed, although Creator/ZackSnyder denied it, saying that "If so, it was the gods. Not me."
* The amount of people who have cited ''Film/ManOfSteel'' and its version of Superman as a huge help to them when they were going through similar hard moments in their lives, even helping them deal with suicidal feelings, is definitely this.

* Chrissy the waitress talking Clark out of fighting Ludlow, the customer who was harassing her. When she's being interviewed by Lois later on, she's one of the few who, judging by her expression, speaks fondly of him. Even lampshaded further by Lois's narration that some people find the mysterious "Joe" as a {{guardian angel}}.

---->'''Clark:''' [[PunctuatedPounding YOU THINK!!! YOU CAN THREATEN!!! MY MOTHER!?!?]]

-->'''Clark:''' And "Kal"? That's ''my'' name?
-->'''Jor-El:''' ''[nods]'' It is. "Kal-El."

WARNING: Spoilers are unmarked.
----
!!The Movie

[[caption-width-right:350:"Can't I just keep pretending I'm your son?"\\
"You ''are'' my son."]]

* When Superman looks up and gathers himself to destroy the world engine, watch closely. For a couple of seconds, you can see Creator/HenryCavill's face bear a startling and, dare we say, heartening resemblance to Creator/ChristopherReeve, to the point that it sparked speculation that Reeve's face had actually been digitally superimposed, although Creator/ZackSnyder denied it, saying that "If so, it was the gods. Not me."

* The birth of Kal-El, the first naturally-conceived Kryptonian in hundreds of years and his parents' utter joy.
* A small one to the fisherman who pushed Clark out the way before an extremely heavy metal cage almost fell on him. Sure, it wouldn't have hurt Clark, but it is an example of human decency. Also could be an example of GoodIsNotNice, because the guy scolded Clark to be more careful afterwards.

* Martha comforting Clark and helping him to [[SensoryOverload control his super-hearing]].
* After Clark learns he's an extraterrestrial (doubles as TearJerker):

-->'''Jonathan:''' You ''are'' my son. (''hugs him'')
* Chrissy the waitress talking Clark out of fighting Ludlow, the customer that was harassing her. When she's being interviewed by Lois later on, she's one of the few who, judging by her expression, speaks fondly of him. Even lampshaded further by Lois's narration that some people find the mysterious "Joe" as a guardian angel.
* Even before he becomes Superman, Clark wanders the earth doing good where he is needed, saving people. He's willing to help simply because he can... just like any one of us who can be {{Heroic Bystander}}s, if not superheroes.
* Jor-El's copy meeting Clark in the Fortress of Solitude. He may be an artificial copy of the original, but his expression makes it clear he is very happy to see his son again:
-->'''Jor-El''': To see you standing there having grown into an adult. (sigh) If only Lara could have witnessed this.

-->'''Clark''': And "Kal"? That's ''my'' name?
* Jor-El's speech to Clark as well. In an industry that is full of cynicism and forced "gritty" realism, Jor-El's message comes across as one of unwavering confidence in the human race and is framed as the mechanism in defining Superman as not [[TheAce the invincible superhero]], but [[TheParagon someone to invoke potential and inspire many to move further]].

--> '''Lois:''' You know they say it's all downhill after the first kiss?\\
'''Supes:''' [[{{Adorkable}} Uh...]] I'm... pretty sure that only counts if you're kissing a human.
** Heck, the entire treatment of their romance's origins makes it come out of a very Heartwarming place. Clark's first meeting with Lois involved him saving her life. She then looks for him partly out of a desire to find a hero to inspire the world and pieces things together through an understanding of his sense of honor and character. Then she comes to understand his desire for secrecy and preserves his anonymity. When Supes confronts Zod, Lois is sure to stand by his side and help him [[spoiler:and Jor-El]] save the world.
--->'''Clark:''' ''(on someone finding out his identity eventually)'' Then I'll just disappear again.\\
'''Lois:''' ''(with a gentle smile)'' The only way you could disappear for good is to stop helping people altogether, and I sense that's not an option for you.
** After Clark tells her how [[spoiler:Jonathan]] died, we cut to Lois's reaction... and she's near tears. In the very next scene, we see that it's moved her to understand and respect Clark's reasons for secrecy.
** After Superman saves her from the pod and begins to fly off, what does Lois cry out? "Clark!" She doesn't see him as someone separate and alien, to be put on a pedestal. She sees him as a ''person'' whom she can feel close to enough to call by his human name.
** This:
---> '''Superman''': Thank you.\\
'''Lois''': ...For what?\\
'''Superman''': For believing in me.\\
'''Lois''': ...It didn't make much difference, in the end.\\
'''Superman''': It did to ''me''.

** It's so sweet to see her reaction when he comes home for the first time in God knows how long. And he's happy to see her too, as he eagerly runs up the path to give her a nice big hug! [[spoiler:It's especially endearing when we soon learn that Jonathan passed away in '97 and that Clark went on a self-imposed [[WalkingTheEarth quest]], thinking he failed his father.]] In another story, that kind of event would lead to alienation. But not Clark and Martha; a strong family is one that sticks together, no matter what.
** In the same scene, the Kent family's dog is so happy to see Clark again that it doesn't want to wait for him to reach the house and instead, runs up to him on the path.

---->'''Clark''': [[PunctuatedPounding YOU THINK!!! YOU CAN THREATEN!!! MY MOTHER!?!?]]
* Pete Ross, who originally mocked Clark as a teen, helps him back on his feet later after being harassed by bullies.
** In the first flashback in which we see him, Pete is a bully who's teasing Clark on the school bus before it veers off and crashes into the river. He is then saved by him, and his mother declares it a miracle. In a second flashback, we see a teenage Clark get bullied by other kids, and Pete doesn't join in. He then walks up to Clark and helps him out. Clark hasn't even become Superman yet, and he's inspiring people to become better than they are.
** When citizens who know Clark's true identity are implored by the government and media to turn him in to appease Zod, Pete keeps his mouth shut. In fact, it's rather suspicious that '''no one''' in Smallville sells out Clark, considering an entire school bus was saved by him when he was a teenager and a reporter just came around asking about the event...
* When Faora orders General Swanick to send Lois onto the Kryptonian ship with Superman, he refuses because that hadn't been part of the deal. It establishes both the moral ambiguity of the Kryptonians, and that Swanick's antagonizing of Clark isn't necessarily personal; he's just following protocol.
** Also the fact that Colonel Hardy--who, up until then, has had a...tense working relationship with Lois--is the one who steps in front of her and tells Faora to shove it, referring to Lois as "one of our own." This is the first indication we get that, for all his snide attitude around Lois beforehand, he's really a JerkWithAHeartOfGold. (The fact that the comics have long established Lois as a MilitaryBrat may give a subtext to it.)

* The Kryptonian BigGuy Nam-Ek gets one too. After Faora is knocked out by a missile, he takes out the aircraft, then gently picks her up in a BridalCarry and carries her out of the battlefield, which is immediately followed by one their aircrafts destroying the rest of the human ones. FantasticRacism filled aliens or not, Zod's soldiers are TrueCompanions to each other.
* "This man is not our enemy." Said by Colonel Hardy after Superman tackled Faora, thus saving his life, just moments earlier.

* Clark spends much of the film feeling outcast because of his alien heritage and feeling isolated from humanity. In the final battle, he has the choice between re-creating his lost homeworld or defending his adopted one, and he chooses Earth. This is solidified by the fact that he completely destroys any connection to Krypton by [[spoiler:killing Zod]].

* Lois comforting Superman [[spoiler:after he had just killed Zod and was [[HeroicBSOD faced with]] [[TheseHandsHaveKilled what he had just done]]]].

** And the look on Pa Kent's face [[spoiler:as he watches Clark playing superhero with Shelby]]. It's a mix of TearJerker and Heartwarming, as [[spoiler:even though he never managed to see Clark don the suit and become Superman, he did see that potential emanating from his son, and he truly believes it will happen]]. That whole scene was just made of adorable and bittersweet.
* The ending scene. Zod has been defeated, the world trusts Superman, and Metropolis is on its way to recovery. We see Clark entering the elevator of the ''Daily Planet'' and donning a familiar set of spectacles, and the final exchange between Clark and Lois that lets us know that she knows his secret, capped off with this heartwarming DoubleEntendre from Lois:
-->'''Lois''': Welcome to the ''Planet''.

* When Lois approaches Perry White about how he killed her story on a mysterious superhuman, he calmly explains to her that he believes every word she wrote -- but that nobody else would, and it'd ruin her career.

* When Superman looks up and gathers himself to destroy the world engine, watch close. For a couple of seconds, you can see Creator/HenryCavill's face bear a startling, and dare we say, heartening, resemblance to Creator/ChristopherReeve, to the point that it sparked speculation that Reeve's face had actually been digitally superimposed, although Creator/ZackSnyder denied it, saying that "If so, it was the gods. Not me."

!!The Movie
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/videolab_man_of_steel_video_05.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''In time, they will join you in the sun, Kal.'']]

--> '''Lois:''' You know they say it's all downhill after the first kiss?
--> '''Supes:''' [[{{Adorkable}} Uh...]] I'm... pretty sure that only counts if you're kissing a human.

---> '''Clark:''' ''(on someone finding out his identity eventually)'' Then I'll just disappear again.
---> '''Lois:''' ''(with a gentle smile)'' The only way you could disappear for good is to stop helping people altogether, and I sense that's not an option for you.

---> '''Superman''': Thank you.
---> '''Lois''': ...For what?
---> '''Superman''': For believing in me.
---> '''Lois''': ...It didn't make much difference, in the end.
---> '''Superman''': It did to ''me''.

* The birth of Kal-El, the first naturally-conceived Kryptonian in hundreds of years.

* Martha comforting Young!Clark and helping him to [[SensoryOverload control his super-hearing]].

* Chrissy the waitress talking Clark out of fighting Ludlow, the customer that was harassing her. When she's being interviewed by Lois later on, she's one of the few who, judging by her expression, speak fondly of him. Even lampshaded further by Lois's narration that some people find the mysterious "Joe" as a guardian angel.
* Even before he becomes Superman, Clark wanders the earth doing good where he is needed, saving people. He's willing to help simply because he can...just like anyone of us who can be {{Heroic Bystander}}s, if not superheroes.
* The Jor-El's hologram meets his son for the first time in 33 years. He maybe a hologram of the original but he is expression says it all; he is very happy to see his son again:
-->'''Jor-El''': To see you standing there having grown into an adult(sigh) if only Lara could have witnessed this.

-->'''Clark''': And "Kal?" That's ''my'' name?
* Jor-El's speech to Clark after the latter meets the former's hologram. In an industry that is full of cynicism and forced realism, Jor-El's message comes across as one of unwavering confidence in the human race and is framed as the mechanism in defining Superman as not [[TheAce the invincible superhero]], but [[TheParagon someone to invoke potential and inspire many to move further]].

--> '''Supes:''' [[{{Adorkable}} Uh...I'm]]...pretty sure that only counts if you're kissing a human.

** After Clark tells her how [[spoiler:Jonathan]] died, we cut to Lois's reaction...and she's near tears. In the very next scene, we see that it's moved her to understand and respect Clark's reasons for secrecy.

!!The Movie

* Jonathan Kent and Jor-El's separate monologues from the teaser trailer. Two fathers both giving words of inspiration to their son.
* Martha Kent comforting Young!Clark and helping him to [[SensoryOverload control his super-hearing]].

-->'''Jonathan:''' You ''are'' my son.
* Even before he becomes Superman, Clark wanders the earth doing good where he is needed, saving people. He's willing to help simply because he can...just like anyone of us who can be {{Heroic Bystander}}s if not superheroes.

** When citizens who know Clark's true identity are implored by the government and media to turn him in to appease Zod, Pete keeps his mouth shut. In fact, it's rather suspicious that '''no one''' in Smallville sells out Clark, considering an entire school bus was saved by him and a reporter just came around asking about the event...
* "Welcome to the Planet." A heartwarming DoubleEntendre from Lois Lane.
* That one final flashback that shows Clark's childhood wasn't completely miserable.
** And the look on Pa Kent's face [[spoiler:as he watches young Clark playing superhero with Shelby]]. It's a mix of TearJerker and Heartwarming, as [[spoiler:even though he never managed to see Clark don the suit and become a superhero, he did see that potential emanating from his son, and he truly believes it will happen]]. That whole scene was just made of adorable and bittersweet.
* [[spoiler:"This man is not our enemy."]]
** Moreso when you realize it's the first time they've referred to Clark as a man rather than "the alien."

* Lois comforting Superman [[spoiler:after the latter had just killed Zod and was [[HeroicBSOD faced with]] [[TheseHandsHaveKilled what he had just done]]]].
* Jor-El's speech to Clark after he meets his hologram. In an industry that is full of cynicism and forced realism, Jor-El's message comes across as one of unwavering confidence in the human race and is framed as the mechanism in defining Superman as not the invincible superhero, but someone to invoke potential and inspire many to move further.
* The look of inner peace Clark has after donning the suit for the first time, and his glee at his first flight.
* Clark spends much of the film feeling outcast because of his alien heritage and feeling isolated from humanity. In the final battle, he has the choice between creating his homeworld again or defending his adopted one, and he chooses Earth. This is solidified by the fact that he completely destroys any connection to his homeworld by [[spoiler: killing Zod]].
* Steve Lombard, sleaze and all-round {{Jerkass}} in the comics, trying to free Jenny from the rubble and Perry refusing to abandon her when it looks like the end is near.
* Every interaction between Clark and his mother Martha. Full stop.
-->'''Martha:''' Nice suit, son.
** It's so sweet to see her reaction when he comes home for the first time in God knows how long. And he's happy to see her too, as he eagerly runs up the path to give her a nice big hug! [[spoiler:It's especially endearing when we soon learn that Jonathan Kent passed away in '97 and that Clark went on a self-imposed [[WalkingTheEarth quest]], thinking he failed his father.]] In another story, that kind of event would lead to alienation. But not Clark and Martha; a strong family is one that sticks together, no matter what.
** It's also sweet that the first thing Clark does after the fight with Faora is to check on his mother to see if she's okay.
** And when Zod hits Clark's BerserkButton with both hands. "[[PunctuatedPounding YOU THINK!!! YOU CAN THREATEN!!! MY MOTHER!?!?]]"
* The finale. Zod has been defeated, the world trusts Superman and Metropolis is on its way to recovery. In the final moments, we see Clark entering the elevator of the ''Daily Planet'' and donning a familiar set of spectacles. We see the final exchange between Clark and Lois that lets us know that they both know his secret.
* In the first flashback in which we see him, Pete Ross is a bully who's teasing Clark on the school bus before it veers off and crashes into the river. He is then saved by him, and his mother declares it a miracle. In a second flashback, we see a teenage Clark get bullied by other kids, and Pete doesn't join in. He then walks up to Clark and helps him out. Clark hasn't even become Superman yet, and he's inspiring people to become better than they are.
* Superman and Lois finally kissing after he catches her when she falls out of the military plane.
--> '''Lois:''' You know they say it's all downhill after the first kiss?
--> '''Supes:''' [[{{Adorkable}} Uh...I'm]]--pretty sure that only counts if you're kissing a human.
** Heck, the entire treatment of their romance's origins makes it come out of a very Heartwarming place. Clark's first meeting with Lois was in saving her life. She then looks for him partly out of a desire to find a hero to inspire the world--and pieces things together through an understanding of his sense of honor and character. Then she comes to understand his desire for secrecy, and preserves his anonymity. When Supes confronts Zod, Lois is sure to stand by his side and help him [[spoiler: and Jor-El]] save the world.
--> '''Clark:''' ''(On someone finding out his identity eventually)'' Then I'll just disappear again.
--> '''Lois:''' ''(With a gentle smile)'' The only way you could disappear for good is to stop helping people altogether, and I sense that's not an option for you.
** After Clark tells her how Jonathan Kent died, we cut to Lois's reaction...and she's near tears. In the very next scene, we see that it's moved her to understand and respect Clark's reasons for secrecy.
** After Superman saves her from the pod, and begins to fly off, what does Lois cry out? "Clark!" She doesn't see him as someone separate and alien, to be put on a pedestal. She sees him as a ''person'', whom she can feel close to enough to call by his human name.
** This:
--> '''Superman''': Thank you.
--> '''Lois''': ...For what?
--> '''Superman''': For believing in me.
--> '''Lois''': ...It didn't make much difference, in the end.
--> '''Superman''': It did to ''me''.
* When Faora orders General Swanick to send Lois onto the Kryptonian ship with Clark, he refuses because that hadn't been part of the deal. It establishes both the moral ambiguity of the Kryptonians, and that Swanick's antagonizing of Clark isn't necessarily personal; he's just following protocol.
** Also the fact that Col. Hardy--who up until then has had a...tense working relationship with Lois--is the one who steps in front of her and tells Faora to shove it, referring to Lois as "one of our own". This is the first indication we get that for all his snide attitude around Lois beforehand, he's really a JerkWithAHeartOfGold. (The fact that the comics have long established Lois as a MilitaryBrat may give a subtext to it.)
* The smile on Clark's face when he finally learns his birth name.
-->And "Kal?" That's ''my'' name?
* A small one to the fisherman who pushed Clark out the way before an extremely heavy metal cage almost fell on him. Sure, it wouldn't have hurt Clark but it is an example of human decency. Also could be an example of GoodIsNotNice, because the guy scolded Clark to be more careful afterwards.
** Go watch Series/DeadliestCatch; that's ''exactly'' how fishermen react when one of their crewmates does something stupid and life-threatening.
** The captain also has his crew immediately secure the deck and take off when they get a distress call from the oil rig. The entire fishing boat scene is arguably one of the largest arguments Clark has in favor of humanity being worth protecting.
* The big joyful grin that Clark has as the film ends that lets us know that he has finally found his place in the world.
* The Waitress talking Clark out of fighting the customer that was harassing her. When she's being interviewed by Lois Lane later on, she's one of the few judging by her expression, that speak fondly of him. Even lamp-shaded further by Lois' narration that some people find the mysterious "Joe" as a guardian angel.
* The fact that Superman chose Earth over Krypton. The majority of the film had him pining for his home planet, but by the time he has to make a choice, he decides that Earth ''is'' his home planet.
* The Kryptonian BigGuy Nam-Ek gets one too. After Faora is knocked out by a missile, he takes out the aircraft, and then gently picks her up in a BridalCarry and carries her out of the battlefield, which is immediately followed by one their aircrafts destroying the rest of the human ones. FantasticRacism filled aliens or not, they are TrueCompanions to each other.
* When Superman looks up and gathers himself to destroy the world engine, watch close - for a couple of seconds, you can see Henry Cavill's face bear a startling, and dare we say, heartening, resemblance to Christopher Reeve, to the point that it sparked speculation that Reeve's face had actually been digitally superimposed, although Zack Snyder denied it, saying that "If so, it was the gods. Not me".
* The amount of people who have cited the film and it's version of Superman as a huge help to Them when They were going through similar hard moments on Their life, even helping Them deal with suicidal feelings is definitely this.

* While this movie is of a separate continuity from previous movies, it's obvious the filmmakers aren't ignoring the Man of Steel's cinematic legacy; when Superman looks up and gathers himself to destroy the world engine, watch close - for a couple of seconds, you can see Christopher Reeve's face edited into the shot.

--> '''Lois:''' ''(Gently)'' The only way you could disappear for good is to stop helping people altogether, and I sense that's not an option for you.

* The finale. Zod has been defeated, the world trusts Superman and Metropolis is on it's way to recovery. In the final moments, we see Clark entering the elevator of the ''Daily Planet'' and donning a familiar set of spectacles. We see the final exchange between Clark and Lois that lets us know that they both know his secret.

* The Kryptonian BigGuy Nam-Ek gets one too. After Faora is knocked out by a missile, he takes out the aircraft, and then gently picks her up in a BridalCarry and carries her out of the battlefield, which is immediately followed by one their aircrafts destroying the rest of the human ones. FantasticRacism filled aliens or not, they are TrueComrades to each other

* The birth of Kal-El.