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Superman: The Movie

Play trailer 2:16 Poster for Superman: The Movie PG Released Dec 15, 1978 2h 23m Adventure Sci-Fi Action Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 118 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Just before the destruction of the planet Krypton, scientist Jor-El (Marlon Brando) sends his infant son Kal-El on a spaceship to Earth. Raised by kindly farmers Jonathan (Glenn Ford) and Martha Kent (Phyllis Thaxter), young Clark (Christopher Reeve) discovers the source of his superhuman powers and moves to Metropolis to fight evil. As Superman, he battles the villainous Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman), while, as novice reporter Clark Kent, he attempts to woo co-worker Lois Lane (Margot Kidder).
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Superman: The Movie

Superman: The Movie

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Critics Consensus

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.

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Critics Reviews

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Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune The film is a delightful mess. Good performances. Sloppy editing. Cheap nonflying special effects. Funny dialog. In sum, Superman is the kind of picture critics tear apart, but still say, "You ought to see it." Rated: 3/4 Jul 8, 2025 Full Review Susan Stark Detroit Free Press What was fun in the comic books, what is still fun in the comic books 40 years later, is also fun in the movie. The fun is scaled up, to be sure. The fun is spectacular. But it is never snide, never mocking. Jul 8, 2025 Full Review Alexander Walker London Evening Standard [Christopher Reeve's] Superman impersonation stays just a mocking glint this side of self-parody. They are lucky to have found a fellow who looks as if a comic-strip artist had held God's hand in his body-work. Jul 8, 2025 Full Review Stephen A. Russell Orion's Shoulder (Substack) The eruption of Krypton in Donner’s first flight is a thing of unmitigated cinematic beauty, Brando’s cue cards be damned. As is the earthquake’s devastation – more models please – and Clark’s determination to turn back time. Jul 9, 2025 Full Review Roy Peter Clark Tampa Bay Times Like watching five different movies: a highly symbolic sci-fi spectacular; a midwestern pastoral ballad; a high-camp comedy; a star-crossed romance; and a disaster film. Each section has its own charm. Together they offer a spectacular, but flawed work. Rated: 4/4 Jul 8, 2025 Full Review Ronald E. Butler Tulsa World In the action sequences and in the overall sweep of such an epic-sized story, Donner is adrift amid a tidal wave of writers, producers and conflicting concepts. Jul 8, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mr. Hollywood The classic superhero movie still holds up. Some scenes are campy for sure but the whole film is enjoyable and is better than most current superhero movies out there. RIP Richard Donor, Christopher Reeves, Margot Kidder, Marlon Brando etc Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/26/23 Full Review Adam P Greatest superhero movie ever made Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/20/23 Full Review Eduardo I really enjoyed watching this movie on the big screen for the 1st time. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/19/23 Full Review Doug S Still the bar for superhero movies to strive for. Idealistic. Wholesome. Joy filled. John Williams! Yes dated in many ways but holds up. Wonderful to see on a big screen again. My daughter looked at me during the opening credits & said do you feel like youre 8 again? Yes I did. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/19/23 Full Review Shelby I loved everything!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/19/23 Full Review Wil What can you say, it's a masterpiece. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Superman: The Movie

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Movie Info

Synopsis Just before the destruction of the planet Krypton, scientist Jor-El (Marlon Brando) sends his infant son Kal-El on a spaceship to Earth. Raised by kindly farmers Jonathan (Glenn Ford) and Martha Kent (Phyllis Thaxter), young Clark (Christopher Reeve) discovers the source of his superhuman powers and moves to Metropolis to fight evil. As Superman, he battles the villainous Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman), while, as novice reporter Clark Kent, he attempts to woo co-worker Lois Lane (Margot Kidder).
Director
Richard Donner
Producer
Pierre Spengler, Richard Lester, Alexander Salkind
Screenwriter
Jerry Siegel, Mario Puzo, David Newman, Robert Benton, Tom Mankiewicz, Leslie Newman
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Dovemead Films, Film Export A.G., International Film Production
Rating
PG
Genre
Adventure, Sci-Fi, Action, Fantasy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 15, 1978, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2008
Runtime
2h 23m
Sound Mix
Surround
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