10 Harsh Realities of Rewatching Superman: The Movie

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Richard Donner’s Superman was a groundbreaking film, being one of the first to treat a comic book hero with genuine seriousness in a major movie adaptation. It boasted a fantastic cast, including legends like Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman, and was co-written by Mario Puzo, the author of The Godfather. Plus, John Williams created the iconic Superman theme, which continues to define superhero music to this day.

The movie Superman not only launched Christopher Reeve’s career – he quickly won over audiences as the iconic hero and set the standard for future actors in the role – but it also paved the way for the successful comic book films we enjoy today. While groundbreaking for its time, revisiting the classic Superman reveals some noticeable flaws.

Superman: The Movie Is a Slowburn

As a huge fan of classic superhero movies, I always loved how Superman started with that incredible Williams theme music! But looking back, the beginning on Krypton, while visually amazing for its time, felt a little slow. Marlon Brando was fantastic as Jor-El, of course, but that whole prologue just went on and on. It felt like they spent too much time setting up a sequel with Zod and his guys when they should have been focusing on Superman’s origin story!

As a big Superman fan, I have to say the movie really took its time getting going. It started with Clark’s childhood in Kansas and then moved to Metropolis, but it honestly felt like three different movies stitched together. It was almost an hour before anything really happened. I appreciate that they really wanted to tell Superman’s origin story properly, but some parts, like his trip to the Fortress of Solitude, could have been a little shorter to keep things moving a bit faster.

The Special Effects Are a Mixed Bag

Superman came out in theaters a year after Star Wars revolutionized big-budget movies, and it certainly had some impressive special effects for 1978. However, the film’s limitations are still noticeable today, especially when it comes to how Superman flies.

Some of Superman’s flying scenes are truly magical, like his first flight inside the Fortress of Solitude. However, other moments revealed the filmmaking techniques used, which highlighted how much movie technology has improved since 1978. Unfortunately, this also made the older visual effects – like the sets and miniatures – seem obviously dated.

Some of the Film’s Humor Hasn’t Aged Well

One thing that often feels dated in older films is the comedy, and the original Superman movie is a good example. Despite this, the film remains very faithful to the comic books it’s based on.

Despite its serious themes, the movie still offers plenty of lighthearted, often silly, humor, especially when Lex Luthor and his henchman Otis are on screen. It also features a lot of physical comedy with the police and other villains, which is typical for films from that era.

The Film’s Treatment of Women Is Dated

For a long time, women weren’t given the opportunity to star in superhero movies, but characters like Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel have recently changed that. Looking back to 1978, the film Superman shows how differently women were portrayed, particularly with characters like Lois Lane and Miss Teschmacher.

While Margot Kidder’s Lois Lane is a strong character, she isn’t fully developed and unfortunately ends up needing to be rescued. Additionally, the character of Miss Teschmacher exists mostly for comic relief with Lex Luthor and is overly sexualized. Films like Superman clearly show how much progress has been made in the way women are depicted in movies.

Lex Luthor’s Plans Are Laughable

The 1978 Superman movie not only introduced audiences to the hero himself, but also to his iconic enemy, Lex Luthor, brilliantly played by Gene Hackman. While Hackman was a highly respected actor, he delivered a performance that was delightfully exaggerated, mirroring the character’s portrayal in the comics of that era. Interestingly, he didn’t want to shave his head for the part, so he only appeared bald at the very end of the film.

One weakness in how Lex Luthor was depicted in the movie was his plan. In Superman, he just wanted to buy up land by sinking the California coast. Compared to modern versions of the character and other Lex Luthor stories, this felt like a simple plot that could have been much more compelling.

Christopher Reeve Isn’t in the Movie That Much

The 1978 film Superman established a now-common approach to superhero origin stories. Rather than immediately showing the hero in costume, the film first focused on Clark Kent, allowing audiences to connect with him before he became Superman. This strategy has been successfully used in films like Spider-Man, but there’s a key distinction between those movies and Richard Donner’s Superman.

Back then, the film only showed Christopher Reeve as Superman for about 45 minutes. By today’s standards, that’s a surprisingly short amount of screen time – he’d likely be in about 80 minutes of a similar movie now. Even though he wasn’t in the film as much as people might expect, Reeve still delivered a truly memorable and iconic performance.

Clark Kent’s Disguise Is Still Ridiculous

While the recent Superman film deserves praise for staying true to the character’s classic costume and backstory, it also carried over a somewhat silly element from the comics. Just like in the original stories, Clark Kent relies on glasses as a disguise, which doesn’t always feel believable.

Christopher Reeve brilliantly portrays both sides of Superman’s identity with his body language and voice, but it still feels a bit unbelievable. Previous Superman movies have used the same approach. Luckily, the latest film by James Gunn tackles a long-standing criticism of the story by offering an explanation that connects back to the 1978 movie, which had previously overlooked it.

Metropolis Was Just New York City

Metropolis is Superman’s iconic home, and it’s depicted in comics as a futuristic city—a stark contrast to the grim atmosphere of Gotham City. Both Metropolis and Gotham are almost like characters themselves, reflecting the personalities of the heroes who live there. It’s important to remember that the DC Universe generally takes place in a separate, alternate reality.

The city of Metropolis in the original Superman film was recognizable thanks to the Daily Planet building, but otherwise didn’t feel distinct from other cities—it largely served as a substitute for New York City, even featuring buildings like the World Trade Center. This approach was common for its time, and films like The Dark Knight also followed suit. However, later movies such as the 1989 Batman and James Gunn’s Superman went much further in developing the unique look and feel of their fictional cities.

Superman Is Overpowered

Superman is arguably the most powerful superhero in comic books, and his early appearance helped establish that reputation. However, his incredible strength can sometimes be a weakness, making conflicts feel less urgent because he often seems unbeatable. The comics addressed this by introducing Kryptonite, a substance that temporarily removes his powers, giving him a vulnerability.

The film isn’t consistent with Superman’s powers, adding abilities like time travel to rescue Lois Lane, on top of his usual super strength and flight. Later movies with Christopher Reeve continued this trend, introducing strange powers – like Superman throwing his iconic ‘S’ shield – that appeared whenever the story needed a convenient solution, often feeling forced and artificial.

Superman Completely Ignored Jor-El

Before becoming Superman, Clark Kent received guidance from his father, Jor-El, within the Fortress of Solitude. Jor-El specifically warned him against altering time. Despite this warning, when Lois Lane tragically died in an earthquake, Superman, overwhelmed with sorrow, used his powers to go back in time and attempt to save her.

Every Superman movie explores how he balances his Kryptonian origins with being raised on Earth, and each film does so differently. The newest Superman film by Gunn focuses on this balance more than the 1978 movie. However, Donner’s film takes a similar approach, showing Superman leaning into his human side to create his own sense of self. Despite this, the ending felt a little odd considering his sudden actions.

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2025-11-30 08:41