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Superman: Brainiac Attacks

Superman: Brainiac Attacks

Two enemies unite to destroy the Man Of Steel.

Video200676 minNot RatedMidcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
Director
Curt Geda
Starring
Tim Daly, Dana Delany, Powers Boothe, Lance Henriksen

Embittered by Superman's heroic successes and soaring popularity, Lex Luthor forms a dangerous alliance with the powerful computer/villain Brainiac. Using advanced weaponry and a special strain of Kryptonite harvested from the far reaches of outer space, Luthor specifically redesigns Brainiac to defeat the Man of Steel.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Superman: Brainiac Attacks?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Superman: Brainiac Attacks to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Superman: Brainiac Attacks?

Superman: Brainiac Attacks earns 2 badges, led by Rousing and Preferred by Non-US Viewers.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Superman: Brainiac Attacks worth watching?

Superman: Brainiac Attacks' Midcredits score is the 38th percentile of all films, from 12K ratings across 4 sources. 37% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

38th percentile

Better received than 38% of films

23rd percentile among Animation37th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)43rd
Approval (how many liked it)33rd

59 /100

43rd percentile of all films

25th percentile among Animation42nd percentile among 2000s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.0 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

37% liked it

33rd percentile of all films

21st percentile among Animation31st percentile among 2000s
37% rated it 7–1063% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

78th percentile

12K ratings across platforms

57th percentile among Animation70th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 33% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree Tim Daly and Dana Delany deliver familiar, welcome voice performances as Superman and Lois Lane, but the character writing and story execution fall short of the DCAU standard.

Fans praised

  • Tim Daly and Dana Delany returning as Superman and Lois
  • fun use of Superman's powers with a wider spectrum
  • enjoyable as a light, kid-friendly animated feature

Detractors panned

  • thin, rushed plot with no sense of mystery or danger
  • characters off-model: Lex Luthor as a joke-cracking coward, Mercy robotic, Lois stereotypical
  • poorly written dialogue and weak jokes

What stands out

Acting62

Tim Daly and Dana Delany praised as warm and familiar; recast roles like Lex, Brainiac, Mercy criticized

Effects and spectacleDivisive45

lots of missiles and beams but pointless, no real sense of danger

PacingDivisive35

story never gets going; action sequences dull and paint-by-numbers; feels rushed

Plot and storyDivisive30

thin, haphazard story with no sense of mystery or excitement; rushed character beats

CharactersDivisive25

Luthor turned into a joke-cracking coward; Mercy robotic; Lois stereotypical; characters drift from origins

TensionDivisive25

no real sense of danger from Brainiac or Luthor; suspense curve absent

Dialogue20

stale, weak jokes; Luthor's lame cracks and Brainiac's uncharacteristic wisecracks panned

OriginalityDivisive18

derivative cash-in on Superman Returns; rehashes DCAU characters without the quality

Preferred by

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 12 points higher than US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Critics vs users 6 points apart

Watch experience

What is Superman: Brainiac Attacks like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Fun ride: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want a fun ride.

It is intense and leaves you fired up.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Very little.

What it feels like

Fun ride.

The answer rests on this: Moods
ThrillingTense
Heaviest: middle
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Adventurous · 11% of filmsEpic · 2% of films: Vast in scale: big landscapes, big stakes, a long span.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film presents its superhero conflict with earnest heroism and high-stakes action.
The rideThe action and confrontation with Brainiac make the middle act the most intense, with the overall film feeling exciting and suspenseful.
StructureThe story follows a traditional superhero conflict structure with setup, confrontation, and resolution.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Fired up.

The answer rests on this: Rousing · 10% of filmsHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves the viewer with a sense of triumph and hope as Superman overcomes the villainous alliance.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterTyrant
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% (this title) · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Tyrant: A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).

21% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeSuperman faces a combined threat from Lex Luthor and the alien computer Brainiac, who join forces to destroy him.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfJusticeMorality
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16% (this title): Justice 13% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% (this title) · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Morality

Justice · 13% of filmsFame · 3% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Single lead
How it treats its themeSuperman defends Metropolis from a combined threat, while Lex Luthor's jealousy of Superman's fame drives his alliance with Brainiac.
StanceThe film celebrates Superman's heroism and its value to the public, while presenting Brainiac and Luthor as threats to that order.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanStylized realism
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score · Thomas Chase
SettingMetropolis, a superheroic urban world
MusicA dynamic orchestral score that supports the superhero action.

Content guide

Is Superman: Brainiac Attacks okay for kids?

Not Rated

Superman: Brainiac Attacks is not rated.

Ratings in 5 other countries
  • UKPG
  • Germany12
  • IrelandPG
  • Brazil12
  • Denmark11

No detailed content scores for this title yet.

What content warnings does Superman: Brainiac Attacks have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Superman: Brainiac Attacks?

Cast

2 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Tim Daly
as Clark Kent
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Dana Delany
as Lois Lane
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Powers Boothe
as Lex Luthor
Lance Henriksen
as Brainiac
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
George Dzundza
as Perry White
David Kaufman
as Jimmy Olsen
Mike Farrell
as Jonathan Kent
Shelley Fabares
as Martha Kent
Tara Strong
as Mercy Graves
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Roger Rose

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Superman: Brainiac Attacks?

Movies like Superman: Brainiac Attacks include Superman: Doomsday (2007), Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) and Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam (2010). Of the 12 closest matches, two are films written by Duane Capizzi, and all are superhero films.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

6 of these 12 share its world: a fictional world. Those cards say what else they share.

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What else shares a premise, people or place with Superman: Brainiac Attacks?

291 other films share the rarest tag below, up against: robot or ai. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.