"finish writing duties. George MacDonald Fraser was later hired to do some work on the script, but he says he did little. Their script was submitted in July 1976, and carried a camp tone, including a cameo appearance by Telly Savalas as his ""Kojak"" character. The scripts for ""Superman"" and ""Superman II"" were now at over 400 pages combined. Pre-production started at Cinecittà Studios in Rome, with sets starting construction and flying tests being unsuccessfully experimented. ""In Italy,"" producer Ilya Salkind remembered, ""we lost about $2 million [on flying tests]."" Marlon Brando found out he could not film in Italy"
"the script, giving it a serious feel with Christ-like overtones. Christopher Reeve was cast as Superman, having initially failed to impress the Salkinds before bulking up. Brando meanwhile, despite spending less than two weeks on the shoot, and not even reading the script until then, earned $3.7 million up front, plus 11.75% of the gross profits from the film. The film was a success both critically and commercially, being released during the Christmas season of 1978; it did not have much competition, leading the producers to believe that this was one factor in the film's success. Shooting of the two"
"paid an unprecedented $3.7 million for his 10-minute part in Superman, but agreed to be filmed for no salary at all for the opening sequence of the movie. Brazilian media’s sudden interest made him become the banner-bearer of the fight for the preservation of the Amazon rainforest, which had been put in jeopardy by illegal deforestation, the increasing cultivation of soya beans and the choice of hydroelectric dams as an alternative to fulfill the country needs for energy. Raoni has obtained international public attention thanks to musician Sting, who came to meet him in the Xingu in November 1987. On"
"Bros. spent $7 million to market and promote the film. ""Superman"" premiered at the Uptown Theater in Washington, D.C. on December 10, 1978, with director Richard Donner and several cast members in attendance. Three days later, on December 13, it had a European Royal Charity Premiere at the Empire, Leicester Square in London in the presence of HM Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Andrew. The film set a new all-time U.S. industry record for business during a pre-Christmas week with $12,044,352 and set new records for Warner Bros. for their best opening day ($2,762,112) and three-day weekend ($7,465,343). In the"
"""muscle suit"" to produce the desired muscular physique. Reeve refused, undertaking a strict physical exercise regime headed by David Prowse. Prowse had wanted to portray Superman, but was denied an audition by the filmmakers because he was not American. Prowse also auditioned for Non. Reeve went from 188 to 212 pounds during pre-production and filming. Reeve was paid a mere $250,000 for both ""Superman"" and ""Superman II,"" while his veteran co-stars received huge sums of money: $3.7 million for Brando and $2 million for Hackman for ""Superman I"". However, Reeve felt, ""'Superman' brought me many opportunities, rather than closing a"
"Superman III Superman III is a British-American 1983 superhero film directed by Richard Lester, based on the DC Comics character Superman. It is the third film in the ""Superman"" film series and the last ""Superman"" film to be produced by Alexander Salkind and Ilya Salkind. The film features a cast of Christopher Reeve, Richard Pryor, Annette O'Toole, Annie Ross, Pamela Stephenson, Robert Vaughn, Marc McClure, and Gavan O'Herlihy. The film is followed by """", released on July 24, 1987. Although the film still managed to recoup its budget of $39 million, it was less successful than the first two Superman"
"sum for what amounted to a small part, that he would not have to read the script beforehand, and that his lines would be displayed somewhere off-camera. It was revealed in a documentary contained in the 2001 DVD release of ""Superman"" that he was paid $3.7 million for two weeks of work. Brando also filmed scenes for the movie's sequel, ""Superman II"", but after producers refused to pay him the same percentage he received for the first movie, he denied them permission to use the footage. ""I asked for my usual percentage,"" he recollected in his memoir, ""but they refused,"
"week of December 22–28, it set an all-time U.S. weekly record of $18,517,515. In its third weekend it grossed $13,135,498 for the four day holiday weekend setting a record 18 day gross of $43,697,365. It went on to gross $134.21 million in North America and $166 million internationally, totaling $300.21 million worldwide. ""Superman"" was the second-highest-grossing film of 1978 (behind only ""Grease""), and became the sixth-highest-grossing film of all time after its theatrical run. It was also Warner Bros.' most successful film at the time. According to Rotten Tomatoes, 94% of 62 reviewers gave ""Superman"" a positive review, with an"
"budget of $55 million (AFI $). It is the most successful Superman feature film to date in terms of box office revenue adjusted for inflation. The soundtrack was composed by John Williams and was nominated for an Academy Award; the title theme has become iconic. ""Superman"" (1978) was the first big-budget superhero movie, and its success arguably paved the way for later superhero movies like ""Batman"" (1989) and ""Spider-Man"" (2002). The 1978 movie spawned four sequels: ""Superman II"" (1980), ""Superman III"" (1983), """" (1987) and ""Superman Returns"" (2006); the last of which replaced Reeve with Brandon Routh. In 2013, ""Man"
"is hired by the Daily Planet after getting an exclusive interview with a man rescued by Superman in his first public appearance. The origin presented in Richard Donner's 1978 ""Superman"" film is considered to be the definitive origin story not only for Superman, but a template for origins stories in the super hero movie genre. The film keeps the classic components intact, but explores more of Clark's boyhood in Smallville. Much of the film's groundwork is laid during the film's first sequences on the planet Krypton, with actor Marlon Brando portraying Superman's Kryptonian father, Jor-El. In this film, Jonathan Kent"
"and Burton signed on with a pay-or-play contract of $5 million. Warner Bros. originally planned on a theatrical release date for summer 1998, the 60th anniversary of the character's debut in ""Action Comics"". Nicolas Cage, a comic book fan, signed on as Superman with a $20 million pay-or-play contract, believing he could ""reconceive the character."" Peters felt Cage could ""convince audiences he [Superman] came from outer space."" Burton explained Cage's casting would be ""the first time you would believe that nobody could recognize Clark Kent as Superman, he [Cage] could physically change his persona."" Kevin Spacey was approached for the"
"beginning in March 1977 and ending in October 1978. Tensions arose between Donner and the producers, and a decision was made to stop filming the sequel, of which 75 percent had already been completed, and finish the first film. The most expensive film made up to that point with a budget of $55 million, ""Superman"" was released in December 1978 to critical and financial success; its worldwide box office earnings of $300 million made it the second-highest-grossing release of the year. It received praise for Reeve's performance, and was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Film Editing, Best Music"
"both of these changes were eventually reversed. Also Superman's Earth-2 counterpart married the Lois Lane of his world, and new rivals such as Terra-Man and Parasite appeared. In 1978 ""Superman"" was released. The film featured groundbreaking special effects and stars such as Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman, but it was the performance of newcomer Christopher Reeve under the direction of Richard Donner that made the film come alive in the eyes of many critics. The film engendered a series of sequels throughout the 1980s. However, the later three sequels proved to be less successful than the first. In 1970, the"
"the film with a new alternate opening and ending for which principal photography began in September 1979 and ended in March 1980. The film received positive reviews from film critics who praised the performances from Reeve and Hackman, the visual effects, and humor. It grossed $190 million against a production budget of $54 million. A sequel, ""Superman III"", was released, for which Lester returned as director. Before the destruction of Krypton, the criminals General Zod, Ursa and Non are sentenced to banishment into the Phantom Zone. Years later, the Phantom Zone is shattered near Earth by the shockwave of a"
"Superman, turned down Lex Luthor. In early 1975, Brando signed on as Jor-El with a salary of $3.7 million and 11.75% of the box office gross profits, totaling $19 million. He horrified Salkind by proposing in their first meeting that Jor-El appear as a green suitcase or a bagel with Brando's voice, but Donner used flattery to persuade the actor to portray Jor-El himself. Brando hoped to use some of his salary for a proposed 13-part ""Roots""-style miniseries on Native Americans in the United States. Brando had it in his contract to complete all of his scenes in twelve days."
"or Jor-El for $4 million, turning down all three roles. When it was next decided to cast an unknown actor, casting director Lynn Stalmaster first suggested Christopher Reeve, but Donner and the producers felt he was too young and skinny. Over 200 unknown actors auditioned for Superman. Olympic champion Bruce (Caitlyn) Jenner had auditioned for the title role. Patrick Wayne was cast, but dropped out when his father John Wayne was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Both Neil Diamond and Arnold Schwarzenegger lobbied hard for the role, but were ignored. James Caan, James Brolin, Lyle Waggoner, Christopher Walken, Nick Nolte, Jon"
"father. Christopher Reeve Christopher D'Olier Reeve (September 25, 1952 – October 10, 2004) was an American actor, director, producer, screenwriter, author, activist, and equestrian, best known for his portrayal of Superman, beginning with the acclaimed ""Superman"" (1978), for which he won a BAFTA Award. He also appeared in other critically acclaimed films such as ""The Bostonians"" (1984), ""Street Smart"" (1987), and ""The Remains of the Day"" (1993). He received a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Golden Globe Award nomination for his performance in the television remake of ""Rear Window"" (1998). On May 27, 1995, Reeve was left quadriplegic after"
"photography began on March 28, 1977 at Pinewood Studios for Krypton scenes, budgeted as the most expensive film ever made at that point. Since ""Superman"" was being shot simultaneously with ""Superman II"", filming lasted nineteen months, until October 1978. Filming was originally scheduled to last between seven and eight months, but problems arose during production. John Barry served as production designer, while Stuart Craig and Norman Reynolds worked as art directors. Derek Meddings and Les Bowie were credited as visual effects supervisors. Stuart Freeborn was the make-up artist, while Barry, David Tomblin, John Glen, David Lane, Robert Lynn and an"
"the corner of the mouth."" Superman III Superman III is a British-American 1983 superhero film directed by Richard Lester, based on the DC Comics character Superman. It is the third film in the ""Superman"" film series and the last ""Superman"" film to be produced by Alexander Salkind and Ilya Salkind. The film features a cast of Christopher Reeve, Richard Pryor, Annette O'Toole, Annie Ross, Pamela Stephenson, Robert Vaughn, Marc McClure, and Gavan O'Herlihy. The film is followed by """", released on July 24, 1987. Although the film still managed to recoup its budget of $39 million, it was less successful"
"average rating of 8/10. The website's critical consensus reads, """"Superman"" deftly blends humor and gravitas, taking advantage of the perfectly cast Reeve to craft a loving, nostalgic tribute to an American pop culture icon."" Metacritic collected an average score of 88, resulting in ""universal acclaim"", based on twelve reviews. The film was widely regarded as one of top 10 films of 1978. ""Superman"" creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster gave a positive reaction. Shuster was ""delighted to see Superman on the screen. I got chills. Chris Reeve has just the right touch of humor. He really is Superman."" Roger Ebert"
"Christopher Reeve Christopher D'Olier Reeve (September 25, 1952 – October 10, 2004) was an American actor, director, producer, screenwriter, author, activist, and equestrian, best known for his portrayal of Superman, beginning with the acclaimed ""Superman"" (1978), for which he won a BAFTA Award. He also appeared in other critically acclaimed films such as ""The Bostonians"" (1984), ""Street Smart"" (1987), and ""The Remains of the Day"" (1993). He received a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Golden Globe Award nomination for his performance in the television remake of ""Rear Window"" (1998). On May 27, 1995, Reeve was left quadriplegic after being"
"star. Landis had been a crew member on ""Kelly's Heroes"" and had become friends with actor Donald Sutherland, sometimes babysitting his son Kiefer. Landis asked Sutherland, one of the biggest stars of the 1970s, to be in the film. For two days of work, Sutherland declined the initial offer of $20,000 plus ""points"" (a percentage of the gross or net income). Universal then offered him his day rate of $25,000 or 2% of the film's gross. Sutherland took the guaranteed fee, assuming that the film would not be very successful; although this made him the highest-paid member of the cast"
"Davies, watched the film in late 1978. In 2006 the ""Last Son"" comic book story arc debuted in Action Comics, co-written by ""Superman"" director Richard Donner. The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists: In December 2017, the film was selected for preservation by the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry, for being ""culturally, historically or aesthetically significant"". Superman (1978 film) Superman (informally titled Superman: The Movie in some listings and reference sources) is a 1978 superhero film directed by Richard Donner starring Christopher Reeve as Superman based on the DC Comics character of the"
"Superman (1980 film) Superman is a 1980 Telugu fantasy film produced by R. Gopal under the Lakshmi Vishnu Productions banner and directed by V. Madhusudhan Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Jaya Prada in the lead roles and music composed by Chakravarthy. The film is based on world-famous comic super hero ""Superman"". Raja (N. T. Rama Rao) is the son of Zamindar Raghunath Rao (Kanta Rao), the entire family is great devotees of Lord Hanuman (Arjan Janardhan Rao). In his childhood, on the occasion of ""Hanuman Jayanthi"", Raghunath Rao want to offer their heritage jewelry to the deity. At"
"cameo roles, such as in ""Superman"" (1978) and ""The Formula"" (1980), before taking a nine-year break from motion pictures. According to the ""Guinness Book of World Records"", Brando was paid a record $3.7 million ($ million in inflation-adjusted dollars) and 11.75% of the gross profits for 13 days' work on ""Superman"". He finished out the 1970s with his controversial performance as Colonel Kurtz in another Coppola film, ""Apocalypse Now"", a box-office hit for which he was highly paid and which helped finance his career layoff during the 1980s. Brando was ranked by the American Film Institute as the fourth-greatest movie"
"Superman (serial) Superman (1948) is a 15-part black-and-white Columbia film serial based on the comic book character Superman. It stars an uncredited Kirk Alyn (billed only by his character name, Superman; but credited on the promotional posters) and Noel Neill as Lois Lane. Like ""Batman"", it is notable as the first live-action appearance of Superman on film, and for the longevity of its distribution. The serial was directed by Thomas Carr, who later directed many early episodes of the ""Adventures of Superman"" television show, and Spencer Gordon Bennet, produced by Sam Katzman, and shot in and around Los Angeles, California."
"the most profitable movie serial in movie history. A sequel serial, ""Atom Man vs. Superman"", was released in 1950. For flying scenes, Superman was hand-drawn in animated form, composited onto live-action footage. The first feature film was ""Superman and the Mole Men"", a 58-minute B-movie released in 1951, produced on an estimated budget of $30,000 (AFI $). It starred George Reeves as Superman, and was intended to promote the subsequent television series. The first big-budget movie was ""Superman"" in 1978, starring Christopher Reeve and produced by Alexander and Ilya Salkind. It was 143 minutes long and was made on a"
"in the late 1970s. After a script reading of Lois Lane for the 1978 superhero film ""Superman: The Movie"", Kidder was flown to England by Richard Donner for screen-tests. Donner ultimately cast Kidder in the role, which would become her most iconic. Filming took over a year, and the film was released during Christmas 1978, to major commercial success. Kidder won a Saturn Award for best actress for her performance in the film. Kidder publicly disagreed with the decision of producers Alexander Salkind and Ilya Salkind to replace Richard Donner as director for ""Superman II"" (1980), though she maintained a"
"materialized and has been passed on to other studios. His script was reinverted into a limited comic book series titled ""The Bionic Man."" After Kevin Smith had been hired to write a new ""Superman"" film, he suggested Tim Burton to direct. Burton signed on with a pay-or-play contract of $5 million and Warner Bros. set a theatrical release date for the summer of 1998, the 60th anniversary of the character's debut in ""Action Comics"". Nicolas Cage was signed on to play Superman, with a $20 million pay-or-play contract, believing he could ""reconceive the character"". Producer Jon Peters felt Cage could"
"even rejecting a $3 million offer to buy the comic outright. On his decision to sell, he opted to use eBay instead of other comic auction houses like Heritage House, believing the auction site would reach a wider audience and was a better fit for the pop culture nature of the piece. After discussions with the site, Adams and eBay also arranged to donate 1% of the sale to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, reflecting on Christopher Reeve's role as Superman in motion pictures. The auction ended on August 24, 2014 and sold for over $3.2 million. This was"
"was offered the part, but he felt he was too famous and was not right for the role, as did Burt Reynolds. After the success of ""Rocky"", Sylvester Stallone lobbied hard for the role but was ignored. Paul Newman was offered all three roles of Superman, Jor-El and Lex Luthor to his choosing though he did not accept any of them, for a salary of $4 million. Nick Nolte and Rex Harrison would both turn it down. It was decided to focus on casting Jor-El and Lex Luthor and save Superman for later. Hoffman was then offered the role of"
"Inc. The contract for the sale, signed in March 1938, read: Superman was published on April 18, 1938, in ""Action Comics"" #1, and was an immediate and great success. Siegel and Shuster now regretted selling the copyright for so little. Nevertheless, DC Comics retained Siegel and Shuster because they were popular with the readers. From 1938 to 1947 they were together paid over $400,000 (AFI $). On September 22, 1938, Siegel and Shuster signed a 10-year contract with Detective Comics wherein they agreed to give Detective right of first refusal with a duration of six weeks over any comics stories"
"the United States and Canada on June 19—six months after its release in other parts of the world. To promote the film, ""The New York Times"" reported that Warner Bros. had licencees for 34 products including posters, Pepsi-Cola, pajamas, and T-shirts with Superman carrying the American flag. They had also enlisted their publishing division to produce calendars, pop-up books, a film novelization, a behind-the-scenes book, and a children's dictionary. Before production on ""Superman II"" resumed in 1979, the Philip Morris Company had paid $40,000 (approx £20,000) for their Marlboro cigarette to appear in the film. Lois Lane was shown as"