Superman Retrospective: Superman: The Movie

Superman: The Movie (1978)
Starring: Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Marlon Brando
Directed by: Richard Donner


We're less than a month away from the Man of Steel returning to the big screen, so there's no better time than now to finally try and sit through all the Superman movies. I've seen the 2 most recent Superman films, but I've never immersed myself in the complete filmmaking journey it takes with documentaries and binge watching the franchise that I've done with the MCU or the Batman films. The ones that I knew were going to be the true test of appreciation and approval were the Christopher Reeve's Superman movies. Not only were these four films I'd never seen before, but they're films that a lot of people my age probably wouldn't be able to enjoy when there's a more modern version of Superman out there today. So, heading into Superman: The Movie, I was very intrigued with the kind of cinematic experience I would be in for. And for the most part, I was very satisfied with the results. Naturally, it hasn't aged the greatest over the course of  nearly 40 years, but there is still plenty that make this film an icon of the silver screen and one of the most important comic book movies of all-time. So let's see what elements of Superman: The Movie are still soaring high all these years later.

The star that shines brightest in this entire franchise is Christopher Reeve as Superman. He's such a delight as both Superman and Clark Kent. Those glasses might be a stupid disguise, but you can still detect the nuances he does to differentiate the two. Knowing that the role could have gone to someone like Robert Redford or Paul Newman, I'm thankful they gave the part to a virtual unknown actor. There's something about him that just looks and feels like the genuine article when it comes to Superman. It's hard to imagine anyone else playing the role. When you say Superman, Christopher Reeve is probably the first person that popped into your head. And how could you not? He's campy, but he has a charm to him that I really like. He's the Superman moviegoers needed to see on the big screen at the time, so I would never shun his performance for lacking the dark and gritty nature that we cling to nowadays.

One of the key names attached to Superman: The Movie early on was Marlon Brando as Superman's father Jor-El. I've heard enough stories of how much of a nightmare Brando could be to work with, but you can't deny the talent in front of you. He's one of the best actors of all-time and he is responsible for commanding your attention for about the first half hour of the movie while Superman is an infant. The entire planet of Krypton is such an interesting aspect of the movie, reflecting a world we have never seen before on film.

But a lot of that has to do with the insane amount of quality production design for the film. The technical aspects for Superman: The Movie are off the charts, displaying many iconic locations in Superman folklore. We see Krypton, Metropolis, Smallville, all showcasing a different look and tone from the others. It helps paint a realistic and visually stunning part of Superman's world. Of course, the exterior shots of Metropolis are CLEARLY New York, but that's a minor gripe.

As far as Superman: The Movie is concerned, a lot of it has aged well. But whatever doesn't age well sticks out like a sore thumb. A lot of the characters are over the top and cartoony. The costumes for a lot of characters look like they're out of the '70s. And of course, a lot of people complain about the scene where Superman turns back time by circling the Earth backwards. Silly? Yes, but it gave everyone a happy ending, so I consider it pretty harmless. But other than that, the movie really holds some value. It has great effects and production design, a memorable cast of characters, and it proved that one of the most legendary superheroes can come to life on film. Without a film like this, filmmakers may never had taken gambles on adapting superheroes like Spider-Man, Batman, or The Avengers for film. Even if you think this movie series hasn't aged well, you have to admit that the landscape of the modern movie industry would be completely different if a film like Superman: The Movie never existed.


Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Superman: The Movie may seem trapped in the '70s on the surface, but there's a lot going for it. Amazing production design, great editing, a terrific score, groundbreaking special effects, a well-rounded supporting cast, and the debut of the world's most recognizable Man of Steel. All these things come together to give you a fun adventure that proved a man could fly and that comic books can come to life on the big screen.

Superman: The Movie and movie images are copyrighted by Warner Bros.