Inside, Kal-El learns the reason he was transported to Earth and his future role on the planet from holographic recordings of his father. He soon departs on a journey to the Arctic and uses the crystal to build the Fortress of Solitude, a majestic crystal palace in the architectural style of his home planet, Krypton. He realizes that it is time to discover his purpose and bids an emotional farewell to his Earth mother. At the funeral of Jonathan Kent, Clark feels guilty for not knowing what to do (despite the sudden quickness of the death), lamenting "all that power and I could not save him!"Īfter a few months pass, Clark hears the call of a mysterious green crystal hidden in his parents' barn. Unknown to Clark, his stepfather has been having heart problems, and soon collapses of a myocardial infarction and dies. (and) it's not to score touchdowns." Clark then says how about they race to the barn. But as Jonathan Kent reminds him, Clark was put on Earth "for a reason. But at the urging of his parents, he keeps his abilities hidden, frustratingly accepting the ridicule and scorn of his peers as he assumes a mild mannered temperament, fading into the background rather than becoming the star of the football team. Kal-El's spaceship crash lands three years later in Smallville, Kansas, where the boy is found and adopted by a childless couple, Jonathan and Martha Kent, who name him Clark after Martha's maiden name.Ĭlark is no ordinary boy he is incredibly agile and strong. However, he sends his infant son, Kal-El, to Earth to ensure his survival, just as Krypton begins its death throes. Later, he is unable to convince the Kryptonian elders about Krypton's impending doom and promises them that neither he nor his wife, Lara, will attempt to leave the planet. As danger of imminent destruction approaches, scientist Jor-El condemns three Kryptonian villains, General Zod, Non, and Ursa, to the Phantom Zone. The third part follows the adult Clark Kent and his emergence as Superman in Metropolis. The second part concerns the teenage Clark Kent's life in Smallville and the beginnings of discovering who he is. The first part deals with the last days of Krypton, the child Kal-El's journey from Krypton to Earth, and his discovery by the Kents. The film consists of three major segments, each with its own style and tone. In the 2019 Arrowverse adaptation of the crossover event Crisis on Infinite Earths, it was revealed that, per the Arrowverse's use of the Multiverse, the Earth of the film series' universe is designated as Earth-96. Superman and Superman II are treated as a loose backstory for the 2006 film Superman Returns. There were two further installments in the series: Superman III (1983) and Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (1987), as well as several canceled sequel attempts after 1987.
The movie was filmed and produced at the same time as its sequel, Superman II, although this arrangement was beset by production difficulties, and the sequel was not released until 1980. Superman (marketed as Superman: The Movie) is the 1978 theatrical adaptation of Superman directed by Richard Donner and starring Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Marlon Brando, and Gene Hackman.
Mario Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman, Robert Benton (screenplay), Tom Mankiewicz (creative consultant)