Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Superman

  • 19781978
  • PGPG
  • 2h 23m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
173K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
874
391
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
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Sci-Fi
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
7.4/10
173K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
874
391
  • 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
    • 630User reviews
    • 207Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 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

    Photos418

    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

    More like this

    Superman II
    6.8
    Superman II
    Superman III
    5.0
    Superman III
    Superman Returns
    6.1
    Superman Returns
    Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
    3.7
    Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
    Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
    7.6
    Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
    Batman
    7.5
    Batman
    Batman Returns
    7.1
    Batman Returns
    Batman
    6.5
    Batman
    Batman
    7.5
    Batman
    Batman Forever
    5.4
    Batman Forever
    Man of Steel
    7.1
    Man of Steel
    The Longest Yard
    7.1
    The Longest Yard

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to Roger Moore's autobiography, he witnessed Christopher Reeve walking through the canteen at Pinewood Studios in full Superman costume, oblivious to the swooning female admirers he left in his wake. When he did the same thing dressed as Clark Kent, no one paid any attention.
    • 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 Superman II (1980)
    • Soundtracks
      Can You Read My Mind
      Music by John Williams

      Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse

      Performed by Margot Kidder

    User reviews630

    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•68
    23
    • departed07
    • Oct 11, 2004

    FAQ11

    • Which characters were adapted from the Superman comic books?
    • What is Miss Teschmacher's relationship to Lex Luthor? Is she his girlfriend? If so, why does he not call her by her first name? Does she work for him?
    • Where is Smallville located?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 15, 1978 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Superman: The Movie
    • 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
      • $134,478,449
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,465,343
      • Dec 17, 1978
    • Gross worldwide
      • $300,478,449
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 23 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    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)
    Top Gap
    What is the streaming release date of Superman (1978) in Brazil?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies Coming This Summer
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in June
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.