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Superman

  • 1978
  • PG
  • 2h 23m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
196K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
659
301
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)
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.
Play trailer1:33
3 Videos
99+ Photos
Sci-Fi EpicSuperheroUrban AdventureActionAdventureSci-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.

  • Director
    • Richard Donner
  • Writers
    • Jerry Siegel
    • Joe Shuster
    • Mario Puzo
  • Stars
    • Christopher Reeve
    • Margot Kidder
    • Gene Hackman
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    196K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    659
    301
    • Director
      • Richard Donner
    • Writers
      • Jerry Siegel
      • Joe Shuster
      • Mario Puzo
    • Stars
      • Christopher Reeve
      • Margot Kidder
      • Gene Hackman
    • 710User reviews
    • 185Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 19 wins & 23 nominations total

    Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:33
    Official Trailer
    Superman: The Movie
    Trailer 2:39
    Superman: The Movie
    Superman: The Movie
    Trailer 2:39
    Superman: The Movie
    We Are Superman
    Clip 0:59
    We Are Superman

    Photos464

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    + 457
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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Christopher Reeve
    Christopher Reeve
    • Superman…
    Margot Kidder
    Margot Kidder
    • Lois Lane
    Gene Hackman
    Gene Hackman
    • Lex Luthor
    Marlon Brando
    Marlon Brando
    • Jor-El
    Ned Beatty
    Ned Beatty
    • Otis
    Jackie Cooper
    Jackie Cooper
    • Perry White
    Glenn Ford
    Glenn Ford
    • Pa Kent
    Trevor Howard
    Trevor Howard
    • 1st Elder
    Jack O'Halloran
    Jack O'Halloran
    • Non
    Valerie Perrine
    Valerie Perrine
    • Eve Teschmacher
    Maria Schell
    Maria Schell
    • Vond-Ah
    Terence Stamp
    Terence Stamp
    • General Zod
    Phyllis Thaxter
    Phyllis Thaxter
    • Ma Kent
    Susannah York
    Susannah York
    • Lara
    Jeff East
    Jeff East
    • Young Clark Kent
    Marc McClure
    Marc McClure
    • Jimmy Olsen
    Sarah Douglas
    Sarah Douglas
    • Ursa
    Harry Andrews
    Harry Andrews
    • 2nd Elder
    • Director
      • Richard Donner
    • Writers
      • Jerry Siegel
      • Joe Shuster
      • Mario Puzo
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      On his first day on the set, Marlon Brando suggested to Richard Donner that the cameras roll during rehearsal. Brando reportedly said, "Who knows? We might get lucky." According to Donner, that very first take was the one that was used in the finished film. Brando was notoriously lazy and was constantly pulling little stunts like this to lessen his workload. Christopher Reeve even complained about it in interviews, saying Brando was "phoning it in and it shows!"
    • Goofs
      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-El's journey to Earth from Krypton, Jor-El refers to Einstein's theory of relativity, which wasn't formulated until long after the destruction of Krypton.
    • Quotes

      Superman: Easy, miss. I've got you.

      Lois Lane: You - you've got me? Who's got you?

    • Crazy credits
      For the first few opening credits, the graphics 'soar' towards the viewer. Following the appearance of the 'S' symbol, they change direction and from the film's title onwards, recede into the distance.
    • 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 reviews710

    Featured review
    8/10

    A Sensational Cinematic Spectacle that Persists...

    It all begins as planet Krypton's world unwinds, as you're packed inside a vessel and assigned, to a place where you'll excel, where folk will come under your spell, the populations of this place are called mankind. You're discovered by a couple and taken in, while growing up, concealing talents that could win, a loss leads you to the arctic, an experience cathartic, but it's Metropolis, where you firmly stick your pin. The Daily Planet is the place you'll ply one trade, Clark Kent assisting Lois on her crusades, your first encounter with Lex Luthor, a somewhat challenging manoeuvre, as you defy Jor-El's mandate, to save the day.
    • Xstal
    • May 20, 2023
    • Permalink

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    FAQ32

    • How long is Superman?Powered by Alexa
    • 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?
    • Why did a supposedly super-advanced civilization like the Kryptonians not realize their planet was mere hours from total destruction?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 15, 1978 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
      • Switzerland
      • Panama
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Superman: la película
    • Filming locations
      • Range Road 264, Blackie, Calgary, Alberta, Canada(The Kents' farm, coordinates: 50.675111, -113.558333)
    • 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

    Tech specs

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

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