Superman

Name: Superman
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Released: December 15, 1978
Duration: 143 min
Rating: 81
Cast: Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder

1978

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 20 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 403 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 403 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: December 15, 1978 | PG

Starring: Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder

Summary: An adventure re-told, spanning the Man of Steel's life from his Krypton infancy and Midwest boyhood to his career as Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent and through his titanic struggle with archnemesis Lex Luthor. [Warner Bros.]

Director: Richard Donner

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rating: PG

Runtime: 143 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Empire William Thomas

Manages to capture the pure heart and spirit of this comic book Americana. Read full review

100

Jay Scott

Estimates of the movie's costs range between $35-and $70-million; whatever the price, it was not too much to pay. As gods go, Superman is one of the godliest; his movie is one of the best. Read full review

100

Roger Ebert

Superman is a pure delight, a wondrous combination of all the old-fashioned things we never really get tired of: adventure and romance, heroes and villains, earthshaking special effects, and -- you know what else? Wit. Read full review

Jack Kroll

Superman turns out to be a surprisingly infectious entertainment, nicely balanced between warmth and wit, intimacy and impressive special effects, comic-strip fantasy and several elements that make the movie eminently eligible for Deep Thinking about rescue fantasies, cherubic messiahs and other pieces of popcorn metaphysics. [1 Jan 1979, p.46]

Gary Arnold

Despite a lull here and a lapse there, this superproduction turns out to be prodigiously inventive and enjoyable, doubly blessed by sophisticated illusionists behind the cameras and a brilliant new stellar personality in front of the cameras -- Christopher Reeve. Read full review

Dave Kehr

The film is best when it takes itself seriously, worst when it takes the easy way out into giggly camp--as it does, finally and fatally, when Lex Luthor enters the action; Gene Hackman plays the arch-villain like a hairdresser left over from a TV skit. Read full review

Pauline Kael

Superman doesn’t have enough conviction or courage to be solidly square and dumb; it keeps pushing smarmy big emotions at us—but half-heartedly. It has a sour, scared undertone. Read full review

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User Reviews

kyle20ellis

Mar 26, 2022

Superman may be corny and cheesy to some people, but for those who grew up with it it is as original and as exciting as it was 30+ years ago. The spectacle of the film is terrific, the cinematography is wonderful and the special effects are dazzling. In terms of effective scenes, the scenesSuperman may be corny and cheesy to some people, but for those who grew up with it it is as original and as exciting as it was 30+ years ago. The spectacle of the film is terrific, the cinematography is wonderful and the special effects are dazzling. In terms of effective scenes, the scenes with Clark and Lois are cute and don't take up too much of the film or harm it in any way, while the confrontation between him and Lex Luthor is suitably bright and breezy and the opening is wonderfully elegiac. The score's main theme is iconic and just superb, John Williams has done some wonderful scores before, this score is no exception. The direction is innovative and the script is sophisticated enough. I also much enjoyed the acting. Christopher Reeve is perfectly cast as Clark/Superman while Gene Hackman is superb as the calculating yet comic Lex Luthor. Overall, just terrific fun! 10/10 Bethany Cox… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AlbertoE.

Dec 4, 2006

I really enjoyed this movie as a child, yet I learned through time that it has a lot of editing and continuity mistakes, I still like it. And Chris Reeve will be Superman to me forever!

3 of 3 users found this helpful

Nov 22, 2008

Looks like somebody got bored and decided to trash a classic film. Yeah it seems a bit dated now, but it's a great great movie. Supes is in need of a reboot.

7 of 9 users found this helpful

MattBrady99

Nov 8, 2015

Superman (1978 film) still remains as the best Superman movie ever made. The visual effects may be dated today, but I still find some scenes visually impressive and it uses the CGI very well. Christopher Reeve is fantastic as Superman, because he made the character his own while respectingSuperman (1978 film) still remains as the best Superman movie ever made. The visual effects may be dated today, but I still find some scenes visually impressive and it uses the CGI very well. Christopher Reeve is fantastic as Superman, because he made the character his own while respecting the source material to the character. Oh and let's not forget about John Williams amazing score.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

gracjanski

Dec 29, 2020

The movie has it strong side, for example, when Superman's father shows his wisdom or Lex Luthor shows his intelligence. The story explains a lot about Superman and makes the movie interesting.

But on the other side the movie is very stupid sometimes: The thugs of Lex are childish and theThe movie has it strong side, for example, when Superman's father shows his wisdom or Lex Luthor shows his intelligence. The story explains a lot about Superman and makes the movie interesting.

But on the other side the movie is very stupid sometimes: The thugs of Lex are childish and the Clark Kent is naive like a teenager. Of course the special effects are outdated, but I can forgive that.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ChristopherG.

Dec 31, 2005

If I had seen this for the first time not some fifteen years after it came out I might have rated it higher. It's not the best superhero to movie adaptation (Spider-Man 2 and Superman 2 were better), but none the less ranks among the best Superhero films.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

DamonC.

Jan 28, 2008

The problem with this movie is that it goes too far with Superman's powers. And whenever he fights a bad guy, he always wins. Its like he's undestructable and invincible. And director Richard Donner cheesily art directs this movie, with a horrible style, unengaging fashion, and a The problem with this movie is that it goes too far with Superman's powers. And whenever he fights a bad guy, he always wins. Its like he's undestructable and invincible. And director Richard Donner cheesily art directs this movie, with a horrible style, unengaging fashion, and a dull, dudfull life. Superman would have been better if it weren't cheesy, frick'n overrated, and better acting. Its so corny, Richard Donner presents a getting far overaged, and has easily lost its high standards it once had. The affects are terrible, everything sucks. The kryptonyte stuff, the nudity (which in the beginning shows an 8 year-old kid butt-naked, showing absolutely everything, and some parts we don't want to see), its nudity like never before, but a bit too much. The planet Krypton stuff, the 7 crystal things, the ghost of his father, led being a weakness. There are so many stupid ideas. Just to settle the reviews, I personally think this is a simply forgettable bore. Snd a huge disappointing letdown.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful

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