David Pierdomenico
It was the superhero classic that started everything. Long before the MCU, The Dark Knight, Sam Raimi’s Spiderman trilogy, the X-Men series, and Tim Burton’s Batman, there was only Superman. This was a time, long before the overabundance of CGI heavy comic book blockbusters, that the world was able to be dazzled by a film which made them believe “a man could really fly”. So let’s take a look back at Superman, and how it shaped the genre it would come to define.
A Different Cinematic Landscape
At the time of its release, superheroes were still very much seen as juvenile. In fact, Gene Hackman was initially reluctant to accept the role of Lex Luthor because he feared that it would tarnish his reputation as a legitimate, serious actor. Warner Brothers even brought in writer Mario Puzo (of The Godfather fame) to try and give the project gravitas and credibility.
There were still many who felt that a superhero based on a comic was mere children’s entertainment. But with the brilliant direction of Richard Donner, legendary acting performances by Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, and Marlon Brando, as well as the iconic John Williams score, the film was a critical and financial hit. It would still be a long time until superhero films were taken seriously, but Superman was one step in the right direction.
It Still Holds Up (Mostly)
When looking at some of the effects, as well as a few goofy performances (Ned Beatty’s “Otis” in particular), it’s easy to write off the film as dated. However, there’s so much more to it than that. Perhaps its most lasting legacy is Reeve’s performance as the titular hero. He represents truth, justice, and the American way in every facet possible. Reeve shows us a hero that does the right thing, no matter what, and one who’s not overly aggressive or dominating. When he’s Clark Kent, he’s downright timid. And as Superman, he uses force, but never lethally, and only to help someone.
Given that he’s the most powerful being on Earth, it would be very easy for him to relish in his own power, but he avoids this because his motivation is to help others. In fact, there are more scenes of him saving people from disasters/accidents than of him actually fighting criminals, which seems very intentional. And it would take Marvel Studios all the way until 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger to portray a hero anything like that.
The Future of Superman (as well as the DCEU)
Unfortunately, the series seemed to struggle in quality with its sequels. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace was universally panned. Superman Returns was seen as a return to form but has since been mostly forgotten. Then of course came the controversial portrayal of the character in the DCEU. Many fans felt that Henry Cavill’s take on Superman was too brooding like Batman in Man of Steel. And while he did start to embody the spirit of Christopher Reeve in Justice League, that film was too much of an overall mess to truly be enjoyed. And now that Henry Cavill has allegedly hung up his cape in resignation, where does that leave our beloved superhero? Just when it seemed like DC and Warner Brothers were getting the character right, now they’ll have to recast, assuming they continue with him at all.
Honestly, the box office performances and fan receptions of Aquaman and Shazam will determine the future of the franchise. Perhaps they’ll start over with a new universe. DC seems to be doing this already with the upcoming Joker film. Because all their films don’t have to necessarily mesh with the DCEU, it does leave room for a new Superman film that could capture the spirit of the 1978 classic. Or perhaps it would be best to leave the character alone and simply enjoy the original film. But only time will tell.
Over the years, Superman has been criticized for being too boring. And while Batman’s brooding and dark tone do make for compelling stories, Superman is a beacon of inspiration unlike any other. He is everything good and righteous that we wish we could be. And it all started with this film 40 years ago.
