Superman (1978): cast, story & where to watch
1978 · Film · ★ 7.1
Released in 1978, Superman is an action, adventure and science fiction film directed by Richard Donner, running about 143 minutes. “You'll believe a man can fly.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Mild-mannered Clark Kent works as a reporter at the Daily Planet alongside his crush, Lois Lane. Clark must summon his superhero alter-ego when the nefarious Lex Luthor launches a plan to take over the world.
Who’s in it. Superman stars Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent / Superman and Ned Beatty as Otis, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.1/10, Superman has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $300.2M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and HBO Max and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Superman page.
If you liked it. Fans of Superman tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Superman (1978)?
- In US, Superman is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and HBO Max, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Superman worth watching?
- Superman holds an audience score of 7.1 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, adventure and science fiction. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Superman?
- Superman stars Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Ned Beatty and Marlon Brando.
- When was Superman released?
- Superman was released in 1978, with a runtime of about 143 minutes.