In 1978, moviegoers were treated to one of the most iconic films in cinema history: Superman. Starring Christopher Reeve, the film wasn’t just a blockbuster—it was a cultural moment that redefined what a superhero movie could be.
Superman marked the first of four films featuring Reeve as the Man of Steel and told the hero’s origin story from the very beginning. Audiences watched as baby Kal-El was sent from the doomed planet Krypton by his father, Jor-El (played by Marlon Brando), grew up in the quiet town of Smallville, and eventually became Metropolis’ mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent. Of course, no Superman story would be complete without romance and rivalry—Margot Kidder’s sharp, fearless Lois Lane and Gene Hackman’s delightfully devious Lex Luthor rounded out the unforgettable cast.
The road to casting Superman was almost as dramatic as the movie itself. Producer Ilya Salkind first conceived the film in 1973 and spent years navigating a complicated deal with DC Comics. The studio initially wanted major stars considered for the role, approving names like Muhammad Ali, Al Pacino, Clint Eastwood, Steve McQueen, and Dustin Hoffman. Even Neil Diamond and Arnold Schwarzenegger aggressively pursued the part. Director Richard Donner, however, had a different vision—he wanted an unknown actor. When Christopher Reeve was first suggested, the producers worried he was too young and too skinny. More than 200 unknown actors auditioned before Reeve finally did a screen test in February 1977 and completely won them over.
Reeve refused to rely on a muscle suit to bulk up for the role. Instead, he committed to an intense physical training regimen, transforming his body from 188 pounds to 212 pounds during production. Despite becoming a global superstar overnight, Reeve earned just $250,000 for Superman and Superman II combined—far less than his veteran co-stars, with Brando earning $3.7 million and Hackman $2 million.
Speaking of Brando, he made headlines behind the scenes as well. In an early meeting, he suggested portraying Jor-El as a floating suitcase—or even a green bagel—with his voice. Donner skillfully steered him back to a traditional performance, though Brando still worked only about 10 days for roughly 10 minutes of screen time. He also refused to memorize his lines, requiring cue cards to be placed all around the set.
What truly amazed audiences in 1978 were the film’s groundbreaking special effects. Made without computers, Superman was the first film to convincingly show a person flying. Reeve performed much of the wire work himself, suspended up to 50 feet in the air using counterweights, pulleys, and innovative camera techniques involving dual zoom lenses. As a licensed pilot, Reeve brought an extra layer of realism to those now-legendary flight scenes.
With a then-jaw-dropping budget of $55 million, Superman premiered at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on December 10, 1978. The risk paid off. The film earned $300 million worldwide, becoming the second-highest-grossing movie of the year. Critics praised Reeve’s performance and John Williams’ soaring musical score. The film received Academy Award nominations for Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, and Best Sound, along with a Special Achievement Oscar for Visual Effects.
More than four decades later, Superman is still flying high. The film proved superhero movies could be big, serious, and emotionally resonant—paving the way for the genre we know today. In 2017, it was officially preserved by the Library of Congress in the National Film Registry, ensuring that future generations will continue to believe that a man can fly.