Superman (1978) movie review - Sneak Previews with Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel

[@s1234pro]

I saw Superman on December 25, 1978. When he caught the helicopter the entire audience cheered! It was great! I'll always remember that moment.

[@charlescontreras7499]

It was more than just a movie, it was an event. That was the magic of the movies back in those days. I was glad to be a filmgoer in those days.

[@indigosunset70]

@@charlescontreras7499 1975-1985 imo the golden age of cinema. for me at least.

[@mateusrosito3436]

@@charlescontreras7499 gene always missing the point. The helicópter scene is to this day one of the most complex, amazing special effect scene ever created

[@alyzu4755]

I saw it in NYC with my parents and brother. I was 9, we were visiting the city, and it was quite an event! And my 9 year-old heart fell in love with Christopher Reeve. ❤😊

[@TheBroz]

People cheering at the cinema is always weird…

[@ForceMaximus84]

To this day, Christopher Reeve as Superman is still the best superhero performance in superhero history. There have been many that came close, but his is the bar that hasn’t been reset yet.

[@Dizzy247365plus]

Chris Evans' Captain America is the closest thing I've seen but--REEVE is still the best ever.👍💯🇺🇲

[@BlasphometicHermetic]

Hell yeah, I second that!

[@jkadoodle]

My favorite is Superman’s son who is gay and protests climate change

[@GavinAeilts]

@@Dizzy247365plus Id argue Robert down Juniors iron Man is more important than Chris Evans Captain America

[@RandomPickles]

Iron Man was done better. Not really any others.

[@ernestolombardo5811]

Brando made the project huge and interesting for other big names, but Reeve holds it all together. One of the most astute and wisest casting choices in cinema history, I can't believe just how thoroughly the producers nailed it.

[@meesalikeu]

@Konga 5000 true but reeves magnetic charm pulls it up

[@maxxxmodelz4061]

Indeed. This was the original blockbuster superhero picture, and it was sensational. I remember going to see it with my dad when I was just 6yo. I think we ended up going twice or three times at the theatre, it was just that good. The only other movie I remember worth seeing with my family IN the theatre so many times was Star Wars.

[@ernestolombardo5811]

@Konga 5000 All that Studio 51 coke and pills caught up with her way too quickly, eh?

[@jimjiminyjaroo300]

It’s the best super hero comic book hero adaptation ever made.

[@michaelscott1114]

Its success was due to the director Richard Donner, not the producers. Compare it to Superman II and III, same producers, different directors.

[@Huntertainment1]

Christopher Reeve IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE Superman.

[@donaldcordner1936]

I've waited a long, long time to see this movie review. I had never seen it before and had been searching for it for years. Thank you SO much for posting it! I ... loved ... this movie. I rememebr my father telling me back in the summer of 1978 about a "Superman movie" coming out soon. Even at 11 years old, I recall being cynical enough to say to him that I thought they would mess it all up. Still, in December of that year, Dad took us kids to see it in one of the last remaining single-theater cinemas in town. It had a huge lobby with an incredible and classy chandelier and everything. We snuck in coolers of iced tea and hoagies, and even a cassette recorder as well, to capture the audio from the movie. We were all AWESTRUCK at the spectacle that was "Superman: The Movie", and it was made extra sweet by my father's childlike wonder and glee at seeing his favorite superhero come to life in such a literally perfect way. I played that tape until the player itself finally stopped working. It's funny to have such an emotional attachment to a film as I do to this one. While it is a fantastic work of art to be sure, in my heart I know that the real reason is the eternal connection to my Dad that it gives me whenever I see it. For this reason above all, "Superman: The Movie", will always hold a special place in my heart that is more than just the love of a great film, far more indeed. It is the connection it gives me to the very first Superman I ever knew and loved, who I was so very blessed to call ... "Dad".

[@saturninhabitant]

You should make an Audience Reactions video of that tape-recorded in 1978. Or at least release the audio file on a blog.

[@jedijones]

Do you still have the tape? People would like to hear the crowd’s laughing, cheering or applause at the big moments.

[@Mrclish5000]

Man that was a very emotional and relatable comment. I feel very similar to Empire Strikes Back, and ROTJ. my own Dad made a big deal out seeing those movies with me a young kid.

[@donaldcordner1936]

@@Mrclish5000 Aw man. That's SO cool. It really does add a special kind of love to a movie, eh? A bond of pure fun with your Dad. Such a lovely thing to keep in your heart. Peace my friend.

[@donaldcordner1936]

@@jedijones Oops. I totally missed your question about the tape when you first posted it. JUST saw it now. I "think" I do still have it. I'll have to check and I'll let you know. Boy. I played that for hours as a kid and would fall asleep to it many nights. It would have been fun to see the MCU movies with Dad. Sigh.

[@mrnocal]

Christopher Reeve was perfectly cast. He had the perfect look for the part and performed the parts as Superman and Clark Kent so well.

[@Loverboy19691]

I agree, he even looked like the Superman in the comic, something that no actor had before or after him, they don't come close to Christopher.

[@Willpower-74205]

That was actually intentional. After the movie was confirmed a blockbuster, the Superman comic artists saw how perfect Reeve was for the role both physically and in acting ability that they changed his comic book counterpart to closely resemble him. A wise decision on the part of Julius Schwartz.

[@howie9751]

@Mastodon1976 I'll still take Tom Holland as the teenage Spiderman. But Reeve was well cast too. B

[@RossM3838]

in one scene reeve changes from clark to superman and back to clark in one take without a change of lightening or costume, just by changing his posture and facial expression. Its wholly believable and great.

[@howie9751]

@@RossM3838 He did a great job with a comic book character.

[@gokinsmen]

After all these years, after many great superhero films, Superman (1978) is still my favorite. The two standout elements that have never been equaled are Christopher Reeve's lead performance and John Williams' epic score.

[@rocksvids08]

Agreed. I can't get into anything modern...Perhaps I am just too dam skeptical now and take things apart...possibly even over-analyzing them...I saw Superman as a kid, so there was alot of innocence that went with that and I accepted the film in a different, more heroic manner... ~Cheers mate!

[@howie9751]

Superman II was better than this one.

[@chriscornelius2518]

You didn't like the dark Knight.....I mean Man of Steel? I'm so sick of tortured super hero storylines. Essentially they are all the same movie now. Wonder Woman, Spiderman 2 with Tobey Maguire and this Superman are my favorites.

[@bryanismyname7583]

@@chriscornelius2518 : "Man of Steel" was good enough, but yeah I'm kind of tired of the brooding dark gloomy Superman. It doesn't fit his personality. Superman is supposed to be optimistic and hopeful. A hero from another planet who is adopted and raised by earth parents and grows to love the people despite their flaws. Henry Cavill is a decent actor, but the character is now portrayed as a superpowered alien version of Batman more or less.

[@chriscornelius2518]

@@bryanismyname7583 exactly. It is a bit overplayed

[@Willpower-74205]

It's sad that almost none of the people in this video (especially Reeve and Kidder) are alive today. May they all rest in peace.

[@pigmeatmarkham898]

Gene Hackman survives!

[@Willpower-74205]

@@pigmeatmarkham898 One of the fortunate few. Along with Marc McClure.

[@RollingOrmond]

I met and got a picture with Margot at the 2016 San Antonio Comic Con. Cherished item.

[@azach5288]

They all died like dogs!

[@adamw116]

@Killer Joe I just saw Reeve for the first time in Remains of the Day from I think 1993 and he still looked how he did in the late 70s back then. That damn horse riding accident may not have killed his spirit but it was just so heartbreaking to see him in that chair paralyzed.

[@frankiehoskyn3948]

It's still the best superhero movie ever made.

[@ryans756]

I personally think Tim Burton's Batman competes well, as does my personal favourite, Watchmen.

[@TerrylPaul]

Yes

[@clintbronson5]

Batman 1989 toooooo many Kim Basinger screams ooof

[@gus4u2c]

No. Jack Nicholson saved that lamé movie.

[@DavidBrown-wm1up]

I've got a bone to pick with Siskel about his take on Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor. What the heck, Gene, he was great!

[@twstf8905]

Hindsight is always 20/20

[@buckaroobanzai7063]

He’s also wrong about Superman’s suit. It is not ridiculous.

[@TheWuCepticon1981]

I think Brando would've been a better Lex Luthor. Hackman was too silly and comical.

[@donaldpaluga]

@@TheWuCepticon1981 Kevin Fowler was too comical.

[@randyacuna3248]

@@TheWuCepticon1981 I agree , gene did not show much evil in his character and why would he pick a jerk as his # 1 sidekick. Kevin spacey played the role in superman returns much better.

[@adamw116]

Cheap helicopter scene🤔😮!!! Was Siskel serious? That's one of the best action set pieces ever in superhero film! If not a movie period and it was practical! It still holds up today!

[@2bobevans]

I think he was criticizing one of the shots, not the entire sequence. Probably when Lois is handing on to a seat belt with her lags dangling over a thousand foot drop.

[@titan-tm7kl]

It's a brilliant scene and very dramatic regardless if some of the effect's look real or not it by no way takes away from this scene and holds up its dramatic effect to this day and wow what a superman reveal

[@adamw116]

@@2bobevans If that's the case I think he was off. I watched just that scene again a few months ago and it still looks great to me completly as a whole. When Lois is hanging on by a thread, I mean that seatbelt I am still on the edge of my seat and Williams score builds the tension perfectly.

[@raoulmontefiore4803]

Yeah, weird remark. Maybe the most exciting and impressive set piece in the film. I agree with him though that the fantastic chemistry between Lois and Superman/Clark Kent is at the heart of this movie. Do any modern superhero movies create such effective romantic characterisation?

[@bryanismyname7583]

@@raoulmontefiore4803 : No the chemistry is virtually non-existent between Henry Cavill and Amy Adams in the new Superman movies. Both good actors, but it doesn't really work. Certainly not like the paring of Chris Reeve and Margot Kidder.

[@Daniel-ng7oe]

What happen to the part where Roger takes off his glasses and gene doesn't recognize him any more?

[@anthonymullen6300]

My mum dragged me to this 7 times in a row, she fell in love with superman. Wonderful movie magic, and still one of my favourite movies of all time. Almost 45 years ....wow.

[@richardjohnson9543]

I started watching this show as a little kid on PBS about a year or two after this episode. Stayed with it through all its incarnations through Siskel's death, and the final version with Ebert alone just before he passed away. 30 years of memories.

[@williamhicks7736]

They both nailed it... 1978’s Superman is the definitive super hero movie. Truly, it is such a superior film compared to these latter day films, some of which I do like (such as Batman Begins or Iron Man), it’s amazing. I think the main reason is that Christopher Reeve’s Superman is a good person and good natured one at that. And he does feel pain and has vulnerabilities other than Kryptonite. His parents sent him away. His adopted father dies right in front of him and the woman he loves perishes in an earthquake- which hurts him so much, he defies one of the major commandments of Jor-el to reverse time and save her. He is really just as human as anyone emotionally... Reeve conjures so much empathy in his portrayal, he probably should have gotten an Oscar... Superman is one of my favorites.

[@DS8379]

Cannot thank you enough for this page! Watching these classic reviews is such a Joy!

[@THOMMGB]

I was quite surprised that neither reviewer made any mention of the wonderful John Williams music or the state of the art opening credits. No one had ever seen anything like them before.

[@jedijones]

It was extremely rare to see them mention music scores.

[@twstf8905]

Haha "Olson, why am I paying you $40 a week when I should have you arrested for loitering?!" 😂

[@carmenpineda2197]

There is NO WAY that helicopter scene looked cheap!!

[@billybarnett2846]

Used to love watching this show when I was a kid. So sad that both of them have passed on to the great balcony in the sky.

[@CelestialWoodway]

Weird to think off all the movies they have missed since they died.

[@keithforsay4204]

They Both Evolved Into A Couple Of Pompus-Jerks Later On Unfortunately. A Movie-Critic Said He Didn't Like Star Wars!-(1977) Both Siskel And Ebert Go On A Talk-Show Defending It WTF?! Stupid Clowns.

[@gspendlove]

There's a scene in this movie that's so flawlessly executed, I'll bet you didn't even notice the first time you watched it. It's when Superman says goodnight to Lois after their flying scene. He then flies off, and camera follows Lois, without a cut, back into her apartment where Clark is already knocking on her door. Now, if you watch it again and take some time to think about it, I'm sure you'll figure out how the filmmakers accomplished it. But the scene is so natural, unobtrusive and well played by Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder, you didn't pay attention to that little piece of movie magic first time through.

[@tishtashtishtash]

That office scene is one the most underrated scripted, played, and edited scenes ever. It’s on a par with some of the best of Robert Altman’s overlapping dialogue cinema verite.

[@jedijones]

It's amazing that you've dug up these long-lost movie reviews. It was a real tragedy when the web site that was dedicated to S&E's old reviews was taken down without explanation a couple years ago. It's wonderful to see more discoveries still being made from the archives. I just hope these don't follow in the footsteps of the multiple previous internet archives for S&E reviews and get taken down.

[@patrickshields5251]

It was taken down for monetary reasons. The new site just opened from the same guy though. BTW, these Sneak Previews episodes were taken from IMDb.

[@NovaFeedback1979]

@@patrickshields5251 A good chunk of the Sneak Previews shows are on IMDb. However, this particular one is not on there! Though a different KZbin Channel devoted to Chicago tv programs uploaded the entire episode a few months ago.

[@patrickshields5251]

@@NovaFeedback1979 I've seen these episodes before. I know that channel.

[@jerraldwest8531]

I don't care what these two say, Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor was amazing. He was a perfect balance of funny and sinister. The dark humor and the way the character just gleefully basks in what a piece of crap he is, is just very entertaining to watch.

[@NoName-jq7tj]

Richard Donner the director wanted the love story between superman & lois work that was the essence of the story. That's why this picture works.

[@BrendanJSmith]

Richard Donner's Superman I & II are still the gold standard for superhero films.

[@alanab9674]

I saw Superman at the theater in 1978. Loved it. And I'm not a big fan of superhero movies. 43 years ago. "You'll really believe man can fly." Loved Christopher Reeve.

[@jpetersgoyanks]

The first great superhero film and Reeve, Kidder & Brando were all the second biggest reason in that order. The first major reason was Richard Donner took this job very seriously while making what is still one of the most charming superhero films of all time.

[@wkanost]

I grew up in this movie era. Jaws, Star Wars, Superman, Close Encounters, ALIEN, Empire Strikes Back, it was a great time to be a kid mowing lawns to go to the movies on weekends.

[@anthonymullen6300]

Those movies are amongst the best and in my top 10... Truly timeless classics.

[@akfreed6949]

I think Gene Hackman and the beautiful Valerie Perrine are the only main actors still alive today . I STILL think it's the BEST movie adaptation of a comic book . Director Richard Donner was the best choice for this film .

[@desotowright]

Bless you for uploading these. Siskel is such a romantic and I love that he appreciates those scenes of romance and humanity as much as I do. Heck I recall he criticized the original Terminator for not emphasizing that stuff enough. Listening to these two esteemed, excellent critics gush over Superman is just a delight. Bless them.

[@LongfellowLP]

I never watched any of the classic Superman movies and it's interesting to me just how much nervous energy Clark and Lois have. They always sounded like solemn, self-serious superhero movies, but these clips are really fun and endearing.

[@deadairconversion]

To this day, I still haven’t figured out Gene Siskel. Such an enigma! 🧐

[@billybarnett2846]

My mother took to see this during holiday break. The promos for this movie were so under the radar that you didn't relieve it was a movie about Superman.

[@donaldpaluga]

Disagree, Gene. THAT WAS ONE BAD OUTFIT! WOOOOOO!-Pimp

[@andrewattenboroughtwothumb4697]

one of my favourite classic movies and amazing of Christopher reeves

[@michaelperkowski641]

Thanks Eric wanted to see this review for years

[@Koldeman]

Christopher Reeve will ALWAYS be my Superman. I'm an old 80's kid & this movie was a perennial favorite. Before Marvel, before Tim Burton's Batman, this was really the first bonafide comic book/superhero film done right & with legitimate success because Donner & the cast/crew treated this with "verasamilitude".

[@ronbusby3335]

Superman was the very first movie I ever remember watching as a child. Absolute favorite movie scene of all time will forever be the legendary moment when Christopher Reeve runs across the street and opens his shirt to reveal the Superman logo for the very first time. Actually had the incredible honor of reaching out to Christopher Reeve shortly before he passed away concerning the Christopher Reeve foundation and he himself actually replied! He was just a simply fantastic human being. Mr Reeve, you are so very missed! Thank you for all of the timeless memories. -God bless you! 🙏

[@alberttriay2594]

Superman became one of my favorites superhero of all time. I remember my dad took me to see this great movie when I was a kid.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

Some of the effects in Superman might have been "cheesy", but to my 11 year old eyes they were PERFECT. And of course John Williams' soundtrack - which they oddly don't even mention - just blew my mind. It lifts this movie up to another level. Some of John's best work.

[@silikon2]

They're right about the surprising amount of comedy in this. I don't find all of the gags all that funny, but compared to modern comic book movies, the attempts at gags are appreciated. To me, modern superhero movies are so darn serious. They've become like watching a church program for 2.5+ hours. Seriously, how many comic book movies in the last 10+ years have been basically "fun". And it's not at all like this Superman doesn't have serious moments.

[@raoulmontefiore4803]

Christopher Reeve as Superman is one of my all-time favourite movie performances.

[@jackiescanlon]

Thanks for uploading this! Brings back great memories of my childhood!

[@FormerHumanX]

The scene where Lois is buried alive scared the crap out of me as a kid. It's still legitimately disturbing today.

[@timothygrant7266]

One of the best films from the '70s. It's just great from start to finish.

[@jackiescanlon]

You disappoint me Siskel. Gene Hackman was amazing!

[@howie9751]

He wasn't the Lex Luthor of the comic books, so I understand his comment.

[@hollyh1969]

The best superman ever.

[@ShujinTribble]

One of the GREATEST pieces of advice Christopher Reeves was given regarding this role, was, "ALWAYS remember... you are SUPERMAN pretending to be Clark Kent... ALWAYS!" - and he delivered on that part. But if they had failed on the, "You Will Believe A Man Can Fly" effect, this would have been a B-Rated 2nd-Play at the drive in Double Feature Tuesday Night Special at BEST! They got that right, and it was, and STILL is, a MAGICAL feeling to watch it happen!

[@christiansoldier77]

Shujin Tribble No Superman was Clark pretending to be Superman

[@ShujinTribble]

@@christiansoldier77 No. He was Kal-El / Superman. Nothing changes that. 'Clark' was a cover, a mask, a persona to hide that from the world.

[@christiansoldier77]

@@ShujinTribble How can he be superman if he grew up on earth ? You are making no sense. He had to learn that he was from Krypton but in his brain he is Clark. Thats why Lois and everyone else who knows his identity calls him Clark or Kent

[@ShujinTribble]

@@christiansoldier77 from his very first moments on Earth, as a baby, he lifted the family car. He was ALWAYS 'different. But for Reeves' part, as an adult, he knew who he was, where he was from, his birth name and heritage.... He was 'Superman' in all but name. 'Clark' allowed him to NOT be all the time.

[@christiansoldier77]

@@ShujinTribble When he was a baby doesnt count . He grew up as an earthling and Clark and that is who he is in his own mind. Superman is basically just his job

[@ThePlasticJones]

Marlon Brando, unexpected. Mario Puzo (writer of the Godfather and Godfather II), prized. This was epic when we saw it for the first time on the big screen, before there was Dolby and surround sound. I wish Siskel had approved of Hackman more.

[@marksoquetjr4693]

Good editing (like most special effects, become dated). Christopher Reeve was the best Superman (and Clark Kent).

[@skoolbus]

Eric, your channel is by far the best on KZbin.

[@SladeBling]

You get massive props for editing in Gene and Roger's review summary at the end of the clip!

[@Vaderd2k926]

Wow.This is so old they hadn’t even gone to the “thumbs up or down” format. When it was titled Sneak Previews we got on PBS CH 13 here in NY.

[@frippertonics6421]

I used to see this on PBS channel 11 in the Chicago area. These clips are a nice trip down memory lane...

[@ShujinTribble]

You're one of my people... I grew up on Long Island.. so it was either 13 or 21 PBS. I still remember!

[@howie9751]

The "Thumbs Down" came with the "Siskel and Ebert at the Movies".

[@johnfitzpatrick3094]

I watched it on PBS channel 12 in Springfield, IL.

[@whitleybayman123]

Greatest comic book movie of all time

[@Dohsoda]

Makes my Top Ten for sure.

[@roycastanon5754]

Eddy Coulson never seen it

[@jamesway]

@Roger Edgerton yes it is. It inspired all the ones to come.

[@howie9751]

Superman II was better. But also several of the Marvel ones. But it was real good.

[@whitleybayman123]

@Roger Edgerton dont be daft mate

[@CaptainSpalding72]

Jesus, Gene! How else are the special effects supposed to be done, lol! He is off the mark there.

[@MrUnsolvedMystery]

I was a big fan of siskel and ebert. Always looked forward to their movie reviews since I was a huge movie lover. Thanks for posting this classic review

[@anaperez5442]

"The new $40 million movie" Me watching it in 2021 "$40 millions? Thats the catering for an Avengers movie!"

[@TooCooFoYou]

The actual budget for the movie was $55 million. With inflation, the film costed ~$235 million, which is nearly the amount the average MCU film costs to make.

[@rockys201]

You do realise that this film was made in 1978 right?

[@anaperez5442]

@@rockys201 I do realize that. That's why my comment said " Me watching in 2021"

[@anaperez5442]

@@rockys201 And I'm old enough to have seen it in theater when it came out.

[@rockys201]

@@anaperez5442 in 1978 I wouldn't exist for another 6 years so I missed the whole buzz of this film. My era was the first two Spiderman films from Sam Raimi.

[@Cutay7BOOTAY]

I remember when my mother took me to see Superman. I was 8 years old. To me, Christopher Reeves will forever be Superman.

[@jamesanderson6373]

*Reeve

[@CaptainSpalding72]

Man of Steel is a modern version of the Superman persona of course, but the love triangle is missing and it hurt the film. The Penthouse interview Is one of the best foreplay scenes of all time... we see the moment Lois falls in love with Superman,.

[@christianlorre]

Saying Christopher Reeve is one to watch was pretty accurate. You look back at these old Ebert reviews, he expected a lot out of people who had strong debuts like Sandra Bullock and Cameron Diaz.

[@ChrisOliver4307]

Siskel: "I think the public is wising up to the fact that the bigger the advanced promotional hype on a film, the worse the film probably is." HAHAHAHAHA sorry Gene, you were right about a lot, but not this.

[@stonebaxter]

Yeah, I think critics might have been "wising up to it", but the public keeps getting fooled time and again by box office trash.

[@KevyNova]

The special effects may look dated but this is still the best superhero movie, thanks to the cast, directing, music and writing. There is more heart and soul in this movie than in all the modern DC movies combined.

[@MichaelSteverMLS]

As great as this review is for 'Superman,' it is unconscionable that both Siskel and Ebert would completely ignore praising this films director and true driving force, the inimitable Richard Donner!~ A glaring omission guys, hope you're both up there with Donner in the here after, peeling him grapes and affirming what an irreplaceable, critically important force he was behind the magic of 'Superman,' 1978.

[@jeremiahrose4681]

This is the only Superman movie..and I'm a Spiderman fan.

[@beav1962]

"Otisburg!?"

[@jvamerica1703]

It always makes me laugh

[@mrbee4life182]

They seemed to rubbish Gene Hackman as Lex Luther he was awesome and always has been a magnificent actor feel they disrespected him a lot he also made the film what it was he was just as awesome in the second one and even made the fourth one just about watchable probably the only reason to watch it! And they seemed to be too demanding on the effects did they not realize what decade it was 70s i mean probably the best effects at that time were Star Wars and Close Encounters Of The Third Kind and also of course Alien which came out i think a year after this so some effects at the time were cutting edge but still unfair to expect amazing effects and well before CGI which i think is used too much now!

[@kaicanyonellis]

Oh wow. The audio mix is super different here. In that Daily Planet scene introducing Clark Kent, there are a few bits from Lois that I never heard in the film!

[@KevyNova]

I thought that was my imagination. I’ve seen this movie a hundred times and never noticed the nursing home orgy line.

[@wajidhussain5305]

Over the years Gene Hackman has overshadowed the love story 😆

[@jerometaperman7102]

I’ve always said that, if you want to succeed playing Superman, you have to nail Clark Kent. Christopher Reeve nailed it. So, by the way, did Dean Cain.

[@matthewpaul6904]

When a $40 million budget was staggering.

[@scottym9778]

What a great concept this show was.

[@johntucker9782]

What a great casting job on this film. Aside from the wonderful supporting cast..Brando, Kidder, Hackman, Cooper (who was a Little Rascal as a kid), Reeve was perfect. Hollywood usually screws the pooch when casting an actor to portray someone we're familiar with like a famous person or a super hero. The actor should never be more famous than the person they portray. Otherwise you're watching and totally aware that's Nicholson or DiCaprio up there pretending. Reeve was a great hire as was Ben Kingsley in Gandhi. Both relative unknowns.

[@parallaxnick637]

Guys, he said "helicopter shot" not "helicopter scene." A helicopter shot is a shot taken from a helicopter.

[@Karla_Marie]

Boy this takes me back. Fun to watch.

[@adamw116]

The new 40 Million dollar spectacular, lol! One of my favorite movies of all time! Redefined the Superhero on film! Written by of all people, Mario Puzo. Writer of the Godfather! RIP Margot Kidder and Christopher Reeve!!! My preteen neice and nephew saw Man of Steel and Superman The Movie a few years back and they liked this more!

[@pungisotu]

According to Tom Mankiewicz not one word of the Puzo script was used. It was completely rewritten by Mank.

[@adamw116]

@@pungisotuC'mon your gonna tell me that story credit was a complete lie or not even one of his ideas was used in the film. I don't buy it! Plus I've seen a few docs and remember Puzo had something to do with the script.

[@pungisotu]

@@adamw116 Sure. That is Tom's take on it from the Superman commentary track. I assume what he meant was not one word of dialogue was used. I'm sure most of the action was probably kept, somewhat like Cameron's Rambo II script begin rewritten by Stallone. It was Puzo's idea to turn back the time at the end of Superman 1 rather than 2 (remember his script was actually cut into for the two films.) He felt that the ending of simply saving Lois and the criminals freed wasn't dramatic enough.

[@adamw116]

@@pungisotu With all the criticism that turn back time scene has gotten for so many years, I still love it and in a comic book sense Puzo was right. It was a very Superman thing to do because he is in all practicality a God. You needed to end that movie with something mindblowing to culminate the uses of all Superman's powers shown through the film. Now I may understand if your perturbed by the following statement. But like Superman '78, Man of Steel had to have the epic battle with Zod which showed Superman's godlike ulimate power. The realistic, unfortunate loss of life and collateral damage aside. The energy thrown of when Superman and Zod collide after destroying half the city was also mindblowing in the grand scheme of things. No matter how you feel about the neck breaking scene. In my opinion it almost topped the world going backwards scene because it represented one God killing another!

[@howie9751]

Superman II was even better.

[@lambjack1]

Siskel looks like Chevy Chase in this clip.

[@silvermanemilard]

I miss that opening.

[@123rockfan]

I love the models in this movie, way better than green screen

[@mattray4876]

For Siskel to say the last 40 minutes of the movie were juvenile is to dismiss Superman's discovery of Lois in her car and his heart wrenching scream of anguish and the look of anger on his face as his flies to the heavens to find a way to undo all of this. That moment, for me, is the greatest moment of the film. His raw, and human, heartbreak was completely exposed and he is determined to do what he couldn't (or didn't know how to) do to save his father all those years ago.

[@bryanismyname7583]

Well Siskel was off on the Visual Effects, which won a special Oscar the following spring. And because of the bias against comic book or fantasy movies up to that time (less so now, but not entirely), it wasn't nominated for a deserved best picture slot.

[@7Earthsky]

These guys obviously didn't care about spoiler alerts back then. lol.

[@RollingOrmond]

Reeve really knew how to make Clark distinct from Superman by emulating people like Cary Grant in Bringing Up Baby and his stage-training. Cavill just played him as a depressed moper and didn't capture the magic of Superman at all.

[@MrDasher01]

It's as wonderful now as when I saw it in 1978.

[@benjiarehart2878]

I was 14 years old when I saw this at the movie theater when it came out. The perfect age to see a magical movie about my favorite super hero of all time. Life was good. And the popcorn wasn't 15 bucks either. Still the best Superman movie I've ever seen.

[@cliffordshafran9250]

This set the standard for superhero movies. Perfect casting, great effects, and a terrific story exploring Superman's origins, along with the love story. Plenty to enjoy for kids and adults. Richard Donner had the perfect vision for the Man of Steel, which unfortunately got discontinued when he got fired during the filming of Superman II. Sadly, it resulted in the series going in a bad direction, ending with the 4th movie being such a flop with critics and audiences, effectively killing the franchise. RIP, Chirstopher Reeve and Margot Kidder. Lois and Clark, together again!

[@patrickshields5251]

Although I liked both versions of Superman II, I agree that the Salkinds should have kept Donner. Friggin' idiots these Salkinds.

[@TheHoopyscoopy]

The 3rd killed the franchise, not the 4th.

[@patrickshields5251]

@@TheHoopyscoopy Then the 4th put the series out of it's misery.

[@pungisotu]

At least the 3rd was well produced. The 4th was just too cheap looking it was embarrassing. Superman should not look shittier than it’s 1948 movie serials.

[@radar0412]

Every current Hollywood Comic Book Actor owes their career to 1978's "Superman" Movie.

[@thomashumphrey4953]

Damn Straight!!!

[@cliffordshafran9250]

There were a couple of scenes where the effects looked cheap, but just a couple. It was mainly where a flooded river was bearing down on a town. The buildings looked like miniature models. Otherwise, I disagree with Gene over Gene Hackman and the helicopter shot. And the effects of Hoover Dam bursting were pretty awesome.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

The reason why that effect looked so cheap was because the special effects supervisor, Derek Meddings, didn't work on that scene. I believe he had to leave the production early in order to work on Moonraker.

[@robertroche2077]

😎 Fun memories of seeing this over Christmas vacation in 1978. Fantastic movie! While the SFX aren't as good as they are today, I think that overall this is probably the best superhero film ever made.

[@daylearceneaux4083]

Hackman was superb in this role.

[@orionkalahari2037]

I thought I recognized Gavin Newsom - he's Lex Luthor.

[@TheJennyWalaShow]

When I was very young, I wanted to fly like Superman.

[@daveyboy_]

Just smoke some crack

[@thomashumphrey4953]

Who doesn't??

[@billcame6991]

This is the first episode of "Sneak Previews" that I saw.

[@natalieps2387]

Superman was great & reeves is the best & definitive superman. I was surprised to hear he was only 24. He looked a bit older. Superman is so cool it emulates moses story from the bible. It sux dinner was fired. His directors cut of superman 2 was awesome. This & the 89 batman in 89 were the best comic book movies. Also the helicopter scene as a kid was scary. Lots of tension. Also kidder looked great in the first superman. In the second one she looks so different bc it was cheaply made they did a horrible job on her hair and make up. In the second movie u can see the difference in her looks with the donner parts she looks so different. Reeves did a great job in pretending to fly.

[@jamesanderson6373]

*Reeve

[@mbradleyc6165]

The best part of this movie was Smallville. Up to when Jonathon had the heart attack. Quintessential Superman. Nothing mattered after that.

[@lesslycarthan956]

Chris is the only superman for me ever

[@theradgegadgie6352]

As a genuine nerd, geek and nib, it always bothered me that Luthor quoted a bomb yield roughly ten times the size of the biggest one ever tested. (And that one was ridiculously impractical.)

[@nativewizard]

after scorsese and coppola's opinions on marvel movies today I wonder how siskel and ebert would think of the MCU today, roger lived to see all of phase one he only really loved the first iron man movie and the second one and the first avengers and captain america were just okay didn't like hulk or thor though

[@lukegreen5341]

Superman The Movie Is A Classic Warner Bros Superhero Family Movie Of All Time Back In 1978. Thanks Mate. X

[@offspringfan1288]

Gene Hackman and Richard Donner are almost the only 2 people associated with this film that are still alive today...

[@acholl980]

and John Williams.