I have very fond memories of the early Superman films starring Christopher Reeve. The first two, in particular, were excellent, fun to watch, and I was lucky enough to see them both in the cinema. They had strong stories, a great supporting cast, and felt like true big blockbuster films with big budgets, ambitious effects, and the kind of movies that still felt massive even when they later aired on TV.
Unfortunately, as the franchise continued, the quality began to decline. A real shame after such a strong start. Richard Donner directed the first film and part of the second, originally shooting both Superman II and the original together. After Donner parting ways with the producers, Richard Lester stepped in to complete and partially reshoot the sequel. The shift in tone is noticeable, with the studio pushing for more light humour, not always for the better.
Superman: The Movie
The definitive Superman film, and still the best of the series. A brilliant introduction to the character, with Reeve perfectly cast in the role. One of the most interesting aspects is how it sets up the sequel: the opening on Krypton introduces General Zod, Ursa, and Non, whose storyline isn’t fully realised until Superman II.
It’s incredibly watchable, with a strong story and a stellar cast. I also watched the extended edition, which adds extra footage to the Krypton scenes. A genuinely feel-good film that still holds up now.
Superman II
A very solid follow-up, with its story effectively seeded in the first film. It doesn’t quite reach the same heights, likely due to the directorial changes, but it remains an excellent watch. The theatrical version leans more into humour, especially with scenes reshot under Lester.
Plot-wise, a nuclear explosion in space frees Zod, Ursa, and Non from their imprisonment, leading to chaos on Earth. While I watched the theatrical cut for this review, I do prefer the Donner Cut, which feels more consistent with the tone of the original. I would recommend the Donner versions.
Superman III
This is where the cracks really start to show. The film leans heavily into slapstick comedy, beginning with a drawn-out comedic sequence that sets the tone and not in a good way.
Richard Pryor appears as Gus, a computer programmer turned hacker, which marks a clear shift from the earlier films. Lois Lane is largely absent, and there’s no sign of Lex Luthor. Instead, the film introduces Lana Lang as a new love interest from Smallville.
I probably enjoyed this more as a child, but revisiting it now, it feels messy and unfocused. The “evil Superman” storyline had potential, but it never quite lands.
Supergirl
A largely British-made/filmed spin-off and unfortunately, a poor one. Weak acting, unconvincing effects, and a noticeably lower budget make this a difficult watch.
It improves slightly as it goes on, but the opening half hour is particularly crap. Christopher Reeve doesn’t appear beyond a brief poster cameo, and the whole thing feels disconnected from the main series. The only connection being a brief appearance of Jimmy Olsen.
The film is like an 80s US TV episode than a cinematic release. Definitely one to skip as Reeves refused to appear.
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
This is the final outing of Reeve and I’d never properly watched it before considering its reputation. While budget constraints may be a factor, I think it’s actually better than III in my opinion. It tries to be more of a Superman drama than a comedy. Though the critics did slate the film.
The titles and opening sequences give off a very cheap feel from the offset and the limited budget is evident in the inferior flying effects compared to earlier films. We meet Nuclear Man, portrayed by Mark Pillow, a character heavily criticised at the time. A weak script and overall lack of polish led to the films underperformance. It’s a shame really, as it’s more faithful to the beloved first films than part III. No doubt part III did enough damage to deter some from seeing IV at the cinema and preventing V.
Overall, it was great to revisit these films. The first two are genuinely excellent, and even the third has moments of nostalgia. Supergirl was dreadful and then part III was likely too little too late.
Next up, I’m going to watch the Henry Cavill’s Superman films.
Have you watched these films? To this day, I believe non of the Superman remakes have beaten the first Christopher Reeve film.
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