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Jesus Christ Superstar

Play trailer Poster for Jesus Christ Superstar G Released Aug 15, 1973 1h 47m Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
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50% Tomatometer 30 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Adapted from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Broadway rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar recounts the last days of Jesus Christ (Ted Neeley) from the perspective of Judas Iscariot (Carl Anderson), his betrayer. As Jesus' following increases, Judas begins to worry that Jesus is falling for his own hype, forgetting the principles of his teachings and growing too close to the prostitute Mary Magdalene (Yvonne Elliman). After Jesus has an outburst in a temple, Judas turns on him.
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Jesus Christ Superstar

Jesus Christ Superstar

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Critics Consensus

Jesus Christ Superstar has too much spunk to fall into sacrilege, but miscasting and tonal monotony halts this musical's groove.

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Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety Finally ‘Superstar’ blares forth with the shallow impact of an inferior imitation of Isaac Hayes. Oct 13, 2023 Full Review David Parkinson Empire Magazine If it weren't for Lost Horizon, this would have gone down in history as the Worst Musical of 1973. Rated: 2/5 Mar 19, 2008 Full Review Don Druker Chicago Reader The music quickly becomes monotonous, and the operatic dialogue is silly right from the start. Mar 19, 2008 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com …should not be taken as gospel. This good old-fashioned funkadelic religious -themed musical offers a decidedly 1970’s hippy-dippy slant on the story of Christ, and those who find the rock-opera concept offensive should return to their unfiltered text… Rated: 4/5 Mar 27, 2024 Full Review David Elliott Chicago Daily News "Superstar" would be fairly innocuous except that its appeal is so calculated to blitz the audience with pure, dumb sensation. The emphasis on brute scale and shrill volume is oppressive, and at times even frightening. Oct 3, 2023 Full Review Terry Staunton Radio Times Carl Anderson's conflicted Judas Iscariot makes the greatest dramatic impact, while Yvonne Elliman, as Mary Magdalene, has the affecting vocal power to give the production its emotional heart Rated: 3/5 Mar 16, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Pat It's an amazing film, I adore it, is just fantastic. I hope Art House Eugene will show it again in a year or two. Also would love to see Hair and many others too! So glad this theatre is back in business! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/17/23 Full Review Joe S This is an incredibly well shot and staged film. I had never seen it on the big screen and it's one of my favorites. The emotions in the performances connect so deeply with the human side of Christ's last days. It's a wonderfully rendered human portrait and, if they show it every Easter in the theaters, I'll be there. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/18/22 Full Review Mark J Just love this, one of my favourite film musicals. I actually love the casting, the weird setting and visuals add to it. A couple of week songs bring it down slightly but some amazing high points in the musical do make up mostly for this. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/19/25 Full Review Nick B The best version. Authentic delivery. Amazing singing. Incredibly imagined production that has completely stood the test of time. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/16/25 Full Review Kellan D This is an amazing rock opera and while it isn't the most accurate, it is a very enjoyable film! 10/10!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/16/25 Full Review Betty B JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR was an absolute revelation …. I saw it first in my mid twenties… accompanied by my two pregnant sisters! The consensus of all three was that we absolutely loved it! Fabulous film! We had to try to compose ourselves, dry our eyes, and get a ‘grip on yourselves’ as we headed home on public transport. Well time passes… and on Christmas 2024… my family got me and my partner tickets to see the musical showing here in February at the Crown Theatre in Perth, Western Australia … I am so very excited. As was my partner when I told him… Only difference is… I’m now 74 and he’s 75! My family got the tickets cos my daughter remembered me watching the video to pass the time as I ironed their school uniforms. Aye well … my two children are now 46 and 51! Dare I say some critics seem to talk out a certain part of their anatomy? I’m an old lady! Cut me some slack!!! And can I suggest - perhaps you need to get another job? You’d perhaps maybe a wee bit less pretentious…and possibly a lot more HAPPY… 🥳🥳🥳🥳MAYBE??? Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/26/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Jesus Christ Superstar

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Cast & Crew

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Norman Jewison

Director

Ted Neeley

Jesus Christ

Carl Anderson

Judas Iscariot

Yvonne Elliman

Mary Magdalene

Barry Dennen

Pontius Pilate

Bob Bingham

Caiaphas

Movie Clips

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Jesus Christ Superstar

Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - What's the Buzz Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - What's the Buzz 4:05 Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - I Don't Know How to Love Him Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - I Don't Know How to Love Him 3:53 Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - King Herod's Song Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - King Herod's Song 3:14 Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - Heaven on Their Minds Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - Heaven on Their Minds 4:17 Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - Simon Zealotes Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - Simon Zealotes 4:10 Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - Trial Before Pilate Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - Trial Before Pilate 4:10 Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - This Jesus Must Die Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - This Jesus Must Die 3:43 Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - Damned for All Time Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - Damned for All Time 3:56 Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - Superstar Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - Superstar 3:33 Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say) Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say) 4:58 View more videos

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Movie Info

Synopsis Adapted from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Broadway rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar recounts the last days of Jesus Christ (Ted Neeley) from the perspective of Judas Iscariot (Carl Anderson), his betrayer. As Jesus' following increases, Judas begins to worry that Jesus is falling for his own hype, forgetting the principles of his teachings and growing too close to the prostitute Mary Magdalene (Yvonne Elliman). After Jesus has an outburst in a temple, Judas turns on him.
Director
Norman Jewison
Producer
Norman Jewison, Robert Stigwood
Distributor
MCA/Universal Pictures [us]
Production Co
Universal Pictures
Rating
G
Genre
Musical
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 15, 1973, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 19, 2016
Runtime
1h 47m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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