film

In 1978 this was the first in what became a series of four Superman films starring the late Christopher Reeve as the titular superhero. Alongside an ensemble cast including Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Superman's father, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Gene Hackman as the villainous Lex Luthor, Reeve put in the performance of a lifetime in bringing to life the origin story of the DC character.

The film takes us through Superman's escape from the doomed planet of Krypton, his upbringing in small-town Kansas, his life disguised as a mild-mannered reporter in Metropolis and his ultimate emergence as Earth's greatest protector. "You'll believe a man can fly," ran the film's tagline, reflecting a well-earned confidence in its special effects, which still stand up well today. John Williams' iconic score further cemented director Richard Donner's film as a classic that set the standard and established the template for future comic book adaptations.