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Superman

  • 19781978
  • K-12K-12
  • 2h 23min
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
168K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,479
571
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Gene Hackman, Terence Stamp, Ned Beatty, Christopher Reeve, Jackie Cooper, Sarah Douglas, Jeff East, Margot Kidder, Jack O'Halloran, Valerie Perrine, and Susannah York in Superman (1978)
Trailer for Superman: The Movie
Play trailer2:39
3 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionAdventureDrama

An alien orphan is sent from his dying planet to Earth, where he grows up to become his adoptive home's first and greatest superhero.An alien orphan is sent from his dying planet to Earth, where he grows up to become his adoptive home's first and greatest superhero.An alien orphan is sent from his dying planet to Earth, where he grows up to become his adoptive home's first and greatest superhero.

IMDb RATING
7.3/10
168K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,479
571
  • Director
    • Richard Donner
  • Writers
    • Jerry Siegel(character created by: Superman)
    • Joe Shuster(character created by: Superman)
    • Mario Puzo(story)
  • Stars
    • Christopher Reeve
    • Margot Kidder
    • Gene Hackman
Top credits
  • Director
    • Richard Donner
  • Writers
    • Jerry Siegel(character created by: Superman)
    • Joe Shuster(character created by: Superman)
    • Mario Puzo(story)
  • Stars
    • Christopher Reeve
    • Margot Kidder
    • Gene Hackman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 605User reviews
    • 212Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 17 wins & 23 nominations total

    Videos3

    Superman: The Movie
    Trailer 2:39
    Superman: The Movie
    We Are Superman
    Clip 0:59
    We Are Superman
    'Aquaman' Star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Picks the Baddest DC Villain Ever
    Video 2:15
    'Aquaman' Star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Picks the Baddest DC Villain Ever

    Photos414

    Gene Hackman in Superman (1978)
    Marlon Brando and Maria Schell in Superman (1978)
    Marlon Brando, Lee Quigley, and Susannah York in Superman (1978)
    Christopher Reeve in Superman (1978)
    Terence Stamp, Sarah Douglas, and Jack O'Halloran in Superman (1978)
    Christopher Reeve in Superman (1978)
    Christopher Reeve, Jackie Cooper, and Margot Kidder in Superman (1978)
    Christopher Reeve in Superman (1978)
    Marlon Brando, Lee Quigley, and Susannah York in Superman (1978)
    Glenn Ford and Phyllis Thaxter in Superman (1978)
    Christopher Reeve in Superman (1978)
    Marlon Brando and Lee Quigley in Superman (1978)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Christopher Reeve
    Christopher Reeve
    • Supermanas Superman…
    Margot Kidder
    Margot Kidder
    • Lois Laneas Lois Lane
    Gene Hackman
    Gene Hackman
    • Lex Luthoras Lex Luthor
    Marlon Brando
    Marlon Brando
    • Jor-Elas Jor-El
    Ned Beatty
    Ned Beatty
    • Otisas Otis
    Jackie Cooper
    Jackie Cooper
    • Perry Whiteas Perry White
    Glenn Ford
    Glenn Ford
    • Pa Kentas Pa Kent
    Trevor Howard
    Trevor Howard
    • 1st Elderas 1st Elder
    Jack O'Halloran
    Jack O'Halloran
    • Nonas Non
    Valerie Perrine
    Valerie Perrine
    • Eve Teschmacheras Eve Teschmacher
    Maria Schell
    Maria Schell
    • Vond-Ahas Vond-Ah
    Terence Stamp
    Terence Stamp
    • General Zodas General Zod
    Phyllis Thaxter
    Phyllis Thaxter
    • Ma Kentas Ma Kent
    Susannah York
    Susannah York
    • Laraas Lara
    Jeff East
    Jeff East
    • Young Clark Kentas Young Clark Kent
    Marc McClure
    Marc McClure
    • Jimmy Olsenas Jimmy Olsen
    Sarah Douglas
    Sarah Douglas
    • Ursaas Ursa
    Harry Andrews
    Harry Andrews
    • 2nd Elderas 2nd Elder
    • Director
      • Richard Donner
    • Writers
      • Jerry Siegel(character created by: Superman)
      • Joe Shuster(character created by: Superman)
      • Mario Puzo(story) (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    Just before the destruction of the planet Krypton, scientist Jor-El sends his infant son Kal-El on a spaceship to Earth. Raised by kindly farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent, young Clark discovers the source of his superhuman powers and moves to Metropolis to fight evil. As Superman, he battles the villainous Lex Luthor, while, as novice reporter Clark Kent, he attempts to woo co-worker Lois Lane —Jwelch5742
    superherodc comicsyear 19781970shero316 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • You'll believe a man can fly.
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Adventure
      • Drama
      • Sci-Fi
    • Certificate
      • K-12
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      To obtain the musculature to convincingly play Superman, Christopher Reeve underwent a bodybuilding regime supervised by David Prowse, the man who played Darth Vader in the original "Star Wars" trilogy.
    • Goofs
      (at around 44 mins) When Jor-El introduces himself in the Fortress of Solitude, he explains that by this time, he will have been dead for thousands of Earth years. Yet during his teaching during Kal's journey to Earth from Krypton (at around 21 mins), Jor-El refers to Einstein's theory of relativity, which wasn't formulated until long after the destruction of Krypton.
    • Quotes

      Lex Luthor: Some people can read War and Peace and come away thinking it's a simple adventure story. Others can read the ingredients on a chewing gum wrapper and unlock the secrets of the universe.

    • Crazy credits
      Next Year: "Superman II"
    • Alternate versions
      The current DVD, in addition to containing the 2000 restored director's cut, has 2 deleted scenes (both of Lex' babies, and seen in the TV edits in their original context), and alternate audio scoring for 8 sequences (including an unreleased alternate pop version of Margot Kidder's "Can You Read My Mind"). The DVD has the 2000 restoration with the following additions / expansions (all of which were seen in previous expanded television versions):
      • Some added dialogue when Jor-El is talking with the council.
      • The council calls an "Executioner" to hunt and kill Jor-El to keep the rocket from launching.
      • Noel Neill and Kirk Alyn's speaking cameos on the train.
      • Little girl sees Clark running faster than train, parents call her Lois Lane.
      • In the kitchen Martha Kent takes out a box of Cheerios.
      • After rescuing Air Force One Superman returns to Fortress of Solitude and has a conversation with his father.
      • In Metropolis when the news of Superman comes out, Clark is a spectator. A stranger (played by an uncredited Richard Donner) comments "that'll be the day when a man can fly"; Clark grins.
      • While trying to get Luthor's lair Superman goes through machine guns, flame throwers, ice machines with Luthor taunting on loudspeaker.
      • The sequence with the Girl Scouts.
    • Connections
      Edited into Teräsmies II (1980)
    • Soundtracks
      Can You Read My Mind
      Music by John Williams

      Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse

      Performed by Margot Kidder

    User reviews605

    Review
    Top review
    Christopher Reeve Will Be Missed
    I thought I would pay tribute to one of Christopher's Reeve's best role ever; and that role is Superman. As many comic book fans follow, the film tells the story of Clark Kent who was born on Krypton and was transported into Earth after the planet exploded and loses his real family. As a new family finds him in the field going home, the couple take Clark as their own son and raise him. What the couple know about Clark is that he has a gift to do things twice as fast than any other ordinary human being; but as time goes by, Clark loses his father of a stroke and decides to take a life of his own as he works for the Metropoltian Newspaper, he meets Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) and he has a crush on her, even saving the woman from being killed. Just like any comic book movie, there is always a villain; with Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor in a campy role along with Ned Beatty as Otis, the sycophant with no sense, these two plan to destroy the world with nuclear weapons. Christopher Reeve doesn't get into the Superman Costume until 45 minutes into the film in which he saves Lois in one scene, busts bad guys and becomes and icon to the public. Superman is the finest comic book movie, and I only wish Christopher Reeve's family the best.
    helpful•63
    23
    • departed07
    • Oct 11, 2004

    FAQ8

    • Which characters were adapted from the Superman comic books?
    • Where is Smallville located?
    • Where is Metropolis located?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 2, 1979 (Finland)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
      • Canada
      • Switzerland
      • France
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Stålmannen
    • Filming locations
      • Range Road 264, Blackie, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Dovemead Films
      • Film Export A.G.
      • International Film Production
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $55,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $134,451,603
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,465,343
      • Dec 17, 1978
    • Gross worldwide
      • $300,451,603
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 23min
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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