'Superman: The Movie' to be celebrated in theaters

Word Balloons #1157: Re-release celebrates 85 years of the character and 45 years since the film’s release

You’ll believe a man can fly, again. 

Celebrating the 45th anniversary of “Superman: The Movie” and 85 years of the character of Superman, Warner Bros. is re-releasing the 1978 film “Superman: The Movie” in select theaters this month, April 2023. 

Depending on where you are in the United States, the Christopher Reeve film will screen between Friday, April 14, and Wednesday, April 26, according to Supermanhomepage.com. 

In the Oklahoma City metro, the most screenings are on the night of Tuesday, April 18, when the film will be shown in Regal Midwest City, Harkins Bricktown 16, Cinemark Tinseltown and Flix Brewhouse. Other local screening dates include Saturday, April 15 and Wednesday, April 19. Check Fandango.com or local theaters for listings near you. 

As I’ve previously written about the film, “Superman: The Movie”’s tagline was “You’ll believe a man can fly.” But perhaps more importantly, you’ll believe one person can make a difference. When Lois Lane asks Superman who he is, he says, “a friend.” That’s something we should all aspire to as best we can.  

In these days of so many superhero films — something I couldn’t have fathomed as a kid — there’s still something special about this movie and this character.

Behind then-state-of-the-art special effects and the compelling performance of Christopher Reeve, moviegoing audiences of the 1970s were introduced to a new Superman in “Superman: The Movie,” arguably the granddaddy of the modern superhero blockbuster film. 

The Richard Donner-directed film made $300 million dollars worldwide following its December 1978 release, was nominated for three Oscars, and spawned three sequels. 

Set to a rousing score by John Williams, “Superman” features Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Ned Beatty, Glenn Ford, Terence Stamp, Margot Kidder, and Jackie Cooper among its all-star cast.

I wrote about this film’s influence on me when Donner passed in 2021: 

If I don’t see this movie at a young age, it’s hard to imagine how my life might have changed. Not to undersell the influence of my parents and those who actually knew me. But without Richard Donner directing Superman, I might never have opened a comic shop, worked at a newspaper, or written a movie. You can argue that without the Superman films, Annette and I might never have dated, which would change a lot over the course of more than two decades of marriage and three kids! 

Other Donner movies have meant a lot to me, as well — if you watch “The Posthuman Project” you’ll probably see a little bit of “The Goonies” influence — but “Superman: The Movie” is practically part of my DNA. So I guess what I’m saying is, thank you, Richard Donner. You made me believe a man could fly.  

Matthew Price, matthew@matthewlprice.com, has written about the comics industry for more than two decades. He is the co-owner of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman.