History YMMV / ManOfSteel

** [[spoiler:Superman killing Zod]] at the end of the climactic battle between them still continues to bring about debates that go right into FlameWar territory even years after this movie's release. Detractors of that event call it a betrayal of all the character stands for while fans fervently defend it on the grounds that there was literally no other way for him to [[spoiler:stop Zod's rampage]] and that Clark has done similar things both in the comics and other media to stop villains, including Zod.

** Zod and Faora. The former gets this because of his [[WellIntentionedExtremist sympathetic motivations]] and [[LargeHam entertaining performance]], while the latter because EvilIsSexy and the fact she is a full blown badass.

* EvilIsSexy: Faora's earned herself quite the brigade of fans of both genders.

* WTHCastingAgency:
** Some thought the then-38-year-old Creator/AmyAdams was [[http://splashpage.mtv.com/2011/03/29/superman-amy-adams-lois-lane-2/ too old to play Lois Lane]], also being nine years older than Cavill. In response, comics writer Creator/MarkMillar has argued that an older actress fits, since Lois is already an experienced journalist when Superman debuts. Also, Amy is somewhat famous for [[OlderThanTheyLook looking and seeming much younger than she really is]], constantly playing sweet and youthful characters convincingly.
** Some objected to Creator/HenryCavill just because he's not American, though this largely died down after his performance and [[FakeAmerican convincing accent]] were favorably received.
** For some, Creator/LaurenceFishburne as Perry White just because [[RaceLift he's not white]].

** "They say it's downhill after the first kiss." With that line, it can be difficult to take the scene at its sentimental face value and view it as anything but unintentional comedy as viewers collectively ask "Who ''says'' that?", particularly as Metropolis looks like it's been ''nuked'', making it come off as a really bad case of SkewedPriorities. However, for those willing to be more charitable [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZeqQlmOPgs and who are familiar with Lou Reed]], this line makes some sense. Especially since, for Superman and Lois, they just saved the entire world from being destroyed.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The presence of a Sears location (that a truck crashes through) can be seen as this. Sears, already struggling by the time of the film's release, had over 3500 physical locations in 2010, but by 2017 had declined to 695 before rapidly plummeting to '''17''' locations as of January 2023.

** The film has a rating of 55% with critics and a 75% with audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. That said, it really polarized hardcore Superman fans due to the [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks liberties taken with the source material]] ([[MovieSuperheroesWearBlack not just the costume, either]]). Despite this, the movie had very positive audience reactions and word of mouth, and collected the highest-grossing June opening weekend at the time (before being surpassed by ''Film/JurassicWorld'' two years later).

--> '''Zod:''' You believe your son is safe? I will find him. ''(later)'' I will ''find'' him. I ''will'' find him, Lara. ''(pause)'' I WILL FIND HIM!

* Zod's "I WILL FIND HIM!" before he's sealed away in the Phantom Zone. Him repeating the line ''four times'', and he goes from calmly saying it, to saying it with single words emphasized, to [[LargeHam screaming it at the top of his lungs]]. Lara's [[DissonantSerenity unusually calm reaction]] doesn't help. On the other hand, it fits his character having gone [[SanitySlippage mad with grief at the impending doom of his planet]] and being punished by the very people responsible for its destruction.

* "They say it's downhill after the first kiss." With that line, it can be difficult to take the scene at its sentimental face value and view it as anything but unintentional comedy as viewers collectively ask "Who ''says'' that?", particularly as Metropolis looks like it's been ''nuked'', making it come off as a really bad case of SkewedPriorities. However, for those willing to be more charitable [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZeqQlmOPgs and who are familiar with Lou Reed]], this line makes some sense. Especially since, for Superman and Lois, they just saved the entire world from being destroyed.

* VindicatedByHistory: After premiering to a polarized reception, attitudes towards ''Man of Steel'' have softened considerably over the years for its willingness to take liberties with the source material, portrayal of the main character, WorldBuilding, action scenes, visual effects and relatively self-contained story. With the release of ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'', people are willing to acknowledge that these two movies, along with ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'', make up a believable trilogy that portrays Superman's journey from ClassicalAntiHero to TheCape he is traditionally known as.

* NeverLiveItDown: [[spoiler:Superman killing Zod, despite him clearly having no other choice, [[ShootTheDog only did it as a last resort to save a family]] and he was [[TheseHandsHaveKilled obviously anguished about having to take a life to accomplish it]], and this was before he officially adopted his ThouShallNotKill rule. It is still cited and brought up by DCEU detractors as emblematic of everything they consider wrong with the series, even more than [[InferredHolocaust the massive destruction of the city caused by the fight prior]].

* NeverLiveItDown: [[spoiler:Superman killing Zod, despite him clearly having no other choice, [[ShootTheDog only did it as a last resort to save a family]] and he was [[TheseHandsHaveKilled obviously anguished about having to take a life to accomplish it]], and this was before he officially adopted his ThouShallNotKill rule. It is still cited and brought up by DCEU detractors as emblematic of everything they consider wrong with the series, even more than [[InferredHolocaust the massive destruction of the city caused by the fight prior]]. What makes it even more egregious is that those same detractors will often [[DoubleStandard give a pass to the Christopher Reeve movies while condemning this one on this sort of thing]] (for context, Superman killed General Zod back in ''Film/SupermanII'', yet nobody complained about it back then, yet when he kills Zod in this movie, everyone loses their minds)]]. [[note]]While it took many years for it to come to light, it is worth noting in the Richard Donner cut that the Kryptonian prisoners are revealed to have survived their fall and are arrested; and later on Superman reverses time to undo their escape and any possible deaths.[[/note]] Making it even more nonsensical was that not too long later, it's revealed that the Superman of the Series/{{Arrowverse}} also [[spoiler:killed Zod as well]], but since it happened offscreen, it's barely looked at.

** Superman [[spoiler:breaking Zod's neck]].

* EnsembleDarkhorse:
** Faora has received a surprisingly large amount of positive fan attention considering her status as a tertiary character who has few lines or screen time. However, she offers one of the best fight scenes in the movie, leaving everyone raving over her. It's a great stroke of luck for her actress Antje Traue, who before this film was [[http://herocomplex.latimes.com/movies/man-of-steel-flew-in-just-in-time-for-antje-traue/#/0 beginning to seriously consider quitting acting]].
** Colonel Hardy for having the courage to start a KnifeFight with Faora despite being severely outmatched. He even quips a PreMortemOneLiner [[spoiler:before doing a suicide run into Zod's ship, sending her and himself into the Phantom Zone]]. Being played by Chris Meloni helped make him stand out.

** Colonel Hardy for having the courage to start a KnifeFight with Faora despite being severely outmatched. He even quips a PreMortemOneLiner [[spoiler:before doing a suicide run into Zod's ship, sending her and himself into the Phantom Zone.]] Being played by Chris Meloni helped make him stand out.

* MemeticMutation: [[Memes/ManOfSteel Now has it own page]].

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: A lot of viewers were disappointed that ''Man of Steel'' made a deliberate effort to not match the tone of the Christopher Reeve quadrilogy. The problem is that ''Film/SupermanReturns'' tried to do just that, [[ItsTheSameSoItSucks only to get mixed reactions as well]].

** The first movie of what became the Marvel Cinematic Universe is called ''Iron Man'', while the first movie in the DC cinematic universe is called ''Man of Steel''. In the song "Iron Man" by ''Music/{{Black Sabbath}}'' (which was used in the ''Iron Man'' trailers and soundtrack), the character is actually made of steel.

** The first movie of what became the Marvel Cinematic Universe is called ''Iron Man'', while the first movie in the DC cinematic universe is called ''Man of Steel''. In the song "Iron Man" by ACDC (which was used in the ''Iron Man'' trailers and soundtrack), the character is actually made of steel.

** The unsubtle parallels between Superman and Jesus becomes a lot funnier once Jesus Himself stars alongside a SupermanSubstitute in ''ComicBook/SecondComing''.