Movie Review: Superman: The Movie (1978)

I do not like this movie as much as I used to as a kid or teen — whenever I first saw it. But even amidst the current overabundance of superhero movies we now have, this movie still stands out — for its casting, its production design, and some of its effects (some are terrible, while some have aged remarkably well).

The first thing that really grabs your eye, I guess, is the casting. Marlon Brando is top billed here in a smaller role as Superman’s father. And yeah, he’s definitely drunk, but he’s still doing a fine job, I’d argue.

He’s really just there to set up the story, and then to provide a shit ton of exposition later on.

The movie really comes alive when Christopher Reeve (third billed, which seems crazy) is on screen. Casting him as Superman is flat-out genius.

As Clark Kent, he’s bumbling, very funny, and incredibly charming.

As Superman, he’s equally charming, and every bit as heroic as you’d hope. I like Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, too. She’s spunky and energetic and quite fun, and the two work well together in their contrast.

I can’t say the story’s all that interesting, and there’s not a lot of action, and what action we do have isn’t all that exciting. There is that fantastic montage sequence where after Superman saves Lois for the first time, he just goes throughout Metropolis solving problems. That’s probably my favorite scene of the movie.

The movie’s so unashamedly goofy and childlike that I actually really admire it. It’s a movie that makes you feel like a kid when you watch it, not too dissimilar from something like The Wizard of Oz.

Rating: 8/10