Superman (1978)
89%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Superman deftly blends humor and gravitas, taking advantage of the perfectly cast Christopher Reeve to craft a loving, nostalgic tribute to an American pop culture icon.
Superman: The Movie is the ultimate superhero flick that still holds up today. Christopher Reeve’s portrayal of the Man of Steel is iconic and his performance is manlier and steelier than any other actor who has taken on the role. The film is full of humor, heart, and adventure, making it the perfect escape for any moviegoer. Plus, the special effects are still impressive even after all these years. It’s no wonder why this classic film is still considered the best superhero movie ever made.
Production Company(ies)
Twentieth Century Fox,
Distributor
Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros.
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-14
Year of Release
1978
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:2h 23m
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 15, 1978 Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2001
Genre(s)
Adventure/Action
Keyword(s)
Superman, Christopher Reeve, Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, Pierre Spengler, Richard Lester, Alexander Salkind, Jerry Siegel, Mario Puzo, David Newman, Robert Benton, Tom Mankiewicz, Adventure, Action, Fantasy, PG, Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros., Richard Donner, Box Office, Budget, Reviewed by Ron Pennington, Ed Potton, Gary Arnold, Kathleen Carroll, Patrick Gibbs, Pauline Kael, Michael Ventura, Matt Brunson, Alan Ng, Mike Massie, Niall Browne, Alberto Abuín, Critics Consensus, Jor-El, Kal-El, Lois Lane, Otis, Perry White, Lex Luthor, Krypton, Metropolis, Superhuman Powers, Superman Costume, John Williams, Soundtrack, DC Comics, American Pop Culture Icon, Childhood Hero, Nostalgia, Tribute, Humor, Gravitas, Love Story, Villain, Novice Reporter, Co-Worker, Farmers, Spaceship, Alien, Orphan, Adoptive Home, Superhero, Man of Steel, Mild Mannered Reporter, Action Scenes, Adrenaline Pumping, Classic Film, Film Buffs, Critics, Family Movie, PG-Rated, Special Effects, Visual Panache, Funny Pages, Cutting Edge, SFX, Brilliant Casting, Awe-Inspiring Scenes, Spectacle Making, Direction, Best Casting, Oscars, Best Man of Steel, Caped Crusader, Superman Costume, Jaw-Droppingly Cornball Ending, Kryptonite, Christopher Reeve’s Performance, Richard Donner’s Direction
Worldwide gross: $134,218,018
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $134,218,018
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Gene Hackman – Lex Luthor
Marlon Brando – Jor-El
Margot Kidder – Lois Lane
Ned Beatty – Otis
Jackie Cooper – Perry White
Director(s)
Richard Donner
Writer(s)
Jerry Siegel, Mario Puzo, David Newman, Robert Benton, Tom Mankiewicz
Producer(s)
Pierre Spengler, Richard Lester, Alexander Salkind
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (72) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (68) | Rotten (4)
Christopher Reeve is perfect in physical appearance for the title role and he manages to play the open honestness and naivete without losing credibility.
December 10, 2021
Ron Pennington
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
Reeve died in 2004, but his Man of Steel was manlier and steelier than recent portrayals by Brandon Routh and Henry Cavill.
May 11, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Ed Potton
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Between its extravagant fancies and extravagant success Superman can only help to enhance the prestige of large-scale fantasy filmmaking.
April 23, 2018
Gary Arnold
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
It is this year’s answer to “Star Wars,” a movie that is pure escape and good, clean, unadulterated fun.
December 10, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/4
Kathleen Carroll
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
All this makes a highly entertaining, though undemanding mixture, of sci-fi, romance and comedy, which could hardly have come off at all at any lower artistic level, nor without such a happy choice for the central part as Christopher Reeve.
November 9, 2014 | Rating: 3/5
Patrick Gibbs
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Superman doesn’t have enough conviction or courage to be solidly square and dumb; it keeps pushing smarmy big emotions at us — but half-heartedly.
January 15, 2013
Pauline Kael
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
This is a grandiose tongue in cheek adventure yarn, full of sight gags and in-jokes, all the fun you can get for 45 million dollars.
November 5, 2021
Michael Ventura
L.A. Weekly
Superman still remains the best superhero movie ever made, full of humor, heart, and an iconic performance by Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel.
September 22, 2021 | Rating: 4/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
All this storytelling is never rushed, and we’re left wanting more.
July 18, 2021 | Rating: 9/10
Alan Ng
Film Threat
The execution may not always be sound, but the sense of adventure is grand – a welcome accomplishment for the most expensive film ever made up to 1978.
June 28, 2021 | Rating: 7/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Richard Donner’s Superman broke new cinematic ground. Visually it’s stunning, and that’s before you take into the account the special effects – most of which still hold up today!
May 11, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
Niall Browne
Movies in Focus
A classic, which became the adaptation of a comic by its excellence. [Full Review in Spanish]
February 12, 2020
Alberto Abuín
Espinof…
Plot
Superman and Lois’ stars Tyler Hoechlin (Teen Wolf) and Elizabeth Tulloch (Grimm) as the world’s most famous superhero and comic books’ most famous journalist as they deal with all the stress, pressures, and complexities that come with being working parents in today’s society.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Christopher Reeve’s portrayal of Superman is considered iconic and is still beloved by fans today.
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