X
- 1978
- PG
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- 2 h 23 m
- 1978
- PG
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- 2 h 23 m
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.]
Directed By: Richard Donner
- 1978
- PG
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- 2 h 23 m
- 1978
- PG
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- 2 h 23 m
Superman
7.8
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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.]
Directed By: Richard Donner
Where to Watch
Coming Soon
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 21 Critic Reviews
82
81% Positive
17 Reviews
17 Reviews
19% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 21 Critic Reviews
82
81% Positive
17 Reviews
17 Reviews
19% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
This Superman alludes explicitly to its origins in the Depression-era comics, and Clark has a quaint 30s habit of using the phrase “Swell!” from his boyhood. Maybe now this movie looks quaint in the same way. But there’s still a surge of adventure and fun.
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.
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 503 User Ratings
7.8
83% Positive
419 Ratings
419 Ratings
12% Mixed
59 Ratings
59 Ratings
5% Negative
25 Ratings
25 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 503 User Ratings
7.8
83% Positive
419 Ratings
419 Ratings
12% Mixed
59 Ratings
59 Ratings
5% Negative
25 Ratings
25 Ratings
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Aug 28, 2025
Perfections, but these are often overlooked: Production design of Daily Planet and Lex's Lair. They feel like they're shot on location, but they're painstakingly crafted studio sets with amazing detail. Also, the cinematography is beautiful. Sad because the later Reeve movies just put the camera on a tripod and hit record.
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Effective both as Superman and as the bumbling Clark Kent, Christopher Reeve still seems ideal for the part, if for no other reason than his ability to summon up a convincing sense of intensity when charged with saving the world.
it's the simple, earth-bound quality of the film that makes this comic-book fantasy soar.
By Judith Martin FULL REVIEW
The film allows naiveté and knowingness to coexist. Only when it goes all out for cold Batmanesque villainy in the second half does it narrow its focus and lose its way.
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.
Aug 27, 2025
(Mauro Lanari) "In this film ... the real family isn't the biological one, but the one you grow up with. The true nation you belong to isn't the one you're born in, but the one where you become yourself" (Niola). OK, Superman is quèer. "A bold bet by the filmmaker who manages to turn Kal-El into an Earthling even more awkward than Clark Kent" (Di Porto). OK, Superman is a loser just like us. "The film's aesthetic, sunny, colorful, and cartoonish, tries to break away from Snyder's dark style but risks infantilizing the narrative. The tone never finds a balance between playful irony and the seriousness of its moral implications" in "a confusing fresco where political satire, immigration allegories, and commentary on online disinformation cancel each other out. Ultimately, Superman is a film that ... never truly moves you. And without that heart, not even the most spectacular flight can make it soar" (ilcineocchio). Gunn's man-child humor enchants and rakes in huge box office returns. Since it's in tune with today's zeitgeist, writes Arnone. I nodded off a couple of times, finished watching it after about a month, and can barely recall anything normal that really drew me in. Every era gets the Palazzo Schifanoia it deserves.
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Jul 11, 2025
We are officially kicking off the "DCU" with this movie and James Gunn at the helm, so of course Superman sets the tone for the entire universe. Having seen every incarnation of Superman thus far, I'd have to say that this version is just okay. Many people will probably compare this to Christopher Reeves' or Henry Cavill's versions, and I think Gunn is taking aspects from both styles. He is definitely leaning more into the campy nature of the Reeves version though, and I think that was a misstep. Say what you want about Zack Snyder, but one thing he truly understood about Superman was making him appear as a god amongst mortals, and framing the shots in ways where you could see how imposing and powerful he actually is. There isn't enough of those kinds of scenes in Gunn's Superman, so while you still get to see how powerful Superman is, it's done in a much more light-hearted manner. It's like comparing a graphic novel to a Saturday morning cartoon. If we had more of a blend of Snyder's and Gunn's styles we could get the perfect Superman adaptation, where it's both serious and fun when it needs to **** film itself is solid and thoroughly enjoyable. Although it doesn't achieve the level of greatness I was hoping for, given the amount of hype surrounding this movie and how consequential this is for the DC brand. I felt that Lois was portrayed very well, she is both sexy and sassy and Rachel Brosnahan was surprisingly good in this role. Mr. Terrific was the breakout star in this film, he took over every scene he was in, and many times he was more interesting than the Man of Steel himself. The rest of the "Justice Gang" was fine, but at this point the movie started to feel a little overstuffed. They packed a lot of material into this film and it moves at an incredibly fast pace. I think this was another downside for this movie because instead of having a more focused story where plot points are given time to build up, we jump from one situation to the next without any breathing room. Maybe this was because of forced time constraints or studio demands, but everything could've flowed a little better. David Corenswet did fairly well as both Clark Kent and Superman. He definitely isn't as stoic as Cavill's Superman, and shows a more humanized interpretation. This sort of rendition is perfectly fine, but then they try too hard driving the point home by having Superman constantly getting curb-stomped throughout the film, to the point where you almost expected it to happen again no matter who he was facing. Gunn focused too much on the Man and not enough on the Super. Nicolas Hoult did well enough as Lex Luthor, but of all the Lex Luthors his was the least memorable, and truthfully so was Corenswet's Superman. I just didn't feel the tension between these two as much as other Superman adaptations, plus the conflict they had was completely contrived and impersonal. The worst characters in the film were unfortunately Clark's parents. They were like caricatures of hillbilly farmers with heavily exaggerated Southern accents. Easily the worst versions of his foster parents yet, and this felt more like Gunn playing up the audience for laughs. These were just horrible depictions of the people that Clark is supposed to derive all of his life lessons and sense of morality from. Krypto was also used mostly for comedic effect, and with Gunn's style of filmmaking this was almost a given. Even the surprise cameo in the film was made purely as a gag. This is probably what turned me off the most from the film, the whole MCU comedy template that was so heavy handed throughout this movie. On the other hand, the action scenes are pretty good and entertaining. There is no shortage of epic battle scenes as well, so if that's all you're here for this film will deliver. The visual effects are kind of a mixed bag, at times the CGI looks clean and properly integrated, but other times it just seems obviously computer generated. They use some of the classic Superman scores for the soundtrack and that definitely fit the tone the movie was setting.Overall, this Superman was pretty good, but not great, and this truly needed to be on another level to fix the DC film universe. If you're a fan you'll probably find something to enjoy here. I don't think this is the home run Warner Brothers was looking for though. This film is like a slightly undercooked steak with too much seasoning. They tried to launch so many characters and plot threads all together that they forgot to focus on what truly matters. The film has heart, but it doesn't quite stick the landing. I hope Gunn can learn from this movie and refine things a little more in future DCU projects.
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Jul 25, 2025
You find yourself thrust into the tenth episode of a Superman TV series, having missed the first nine. You literally understand nothing. The movie begins like this. It's like picking up a book you've never read and starting on page 50. The dog is incredibly stupid, both with Superman and when the fortress is attacked; he's the last to notice. Civilians never escape with monsters or villains. They just go about their business, like in GTA. Too many unnecessary secondary characters that add to an already hackneyed story. The CGI is sometimes worse than Snow White's dwarfs. The plot is entirely centered on the metaphorical war for Israel and Palestine. Superman is always getting beaten up and always getting help. His Earth parents look like his grandparents. Lex has his own dimension, his own Superman (Ultraman), but he has to prove to the world he's right about Superman when the whole world buys and finances him. In conclusion, an incredibly stupid and pointless film for superficial people who call it a masterpiece just because some paid YouTuber they met on the street said so. Bravo! This opprobrium is the result of your frustrations. You deserve it. Rating: 3. And I was generous!
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Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Win & 4 Nominations
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Nomination
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 6 Wins & 13 Nominations
