It seems like every summer is now dominated by big-budget superhero movies from Marvel or DC. But it wasn’t always this way. This trend really took off in the early 2000s, starting with the success of X-Men in 2000 and Spider-Man in 2002. Those films paved the way for both studios to adapt many of their popular characters – and even some lesser-known ones – into blockbuster movies. Over time, we’ve even seen more obscure heroes and teams make it to the big screen, sometimes with huge success, like with Guardians of the Galaxy.
Before modern superhero films, a solid base needed to be built. While Tim Burton’s Batman in 1989 helped establish that base, Richard Donner’s Superman from 1978 was even more important. Prior to those films, DC Comics had only been adapted into the Superman and the Mole Men television pilot and a comedic movie based on the Batman TV show.
How Has Superman Aged So Well & How Did It Influence the Future of the Subgenre?
The 1978 film Superman was the first superhero movie to receive a substantial financial investment. With a budget of $55 million (around $274 million today), it was a significant risk that paid off handsomely, earning $300 million worldwide. While that sounds commonplace now, adjusted for inflation, that’s roughly $1.5 billion in today’s money. Even considering later films like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the original Superman remains the most popular Man of Steel movie by a large margin.
When Superman was first announced as a big-budget superhero movie, many people doubted it would succeed. Comic books were seen as a very specific interest, and there was concern that a film based on one wouldn’t have broad appeal. It felt like a risky, specialized project.
The film’s success quickly eased those concerns and paved the way for studios to invest in similar projects. It proved that these movies could be both profitable and critically acclaimed, offering a story with real depth and impact.
Although the special effects look old-fashioned now, they were groundbreaking when the movie first came out. This taught a valuable lesson about superhero films: they need large-scale, costly action sequences. While those bigger scenes in Superman seem a bit simple now—and that’s part of what makes them endearing—they were captivating at the time. No one had ever witnessed a superhero rescuing someone from a crashing helicopter before. It was a truly novel experience, similar to the first time people saw a great white shark in a movie.
These scenes still resonate with audiences today not just because of nostalgia, but because the movie prioritizes its characters. We connect with Lois Lane because she feels like a fully realized person, not just a plot device. And we believe in Superman’s drive to save people – both his ability and his willingness – because the film shows us his compassionate upbringing and hints at his incredible power. Essentially, Superman demonstrated a perfect approach to origin stories, building them in a natural and captivating way.
Looking back, it’s funny to think superhero movies weren’t immediately everywhere. For most of the ’80s, we really only had the Superman trilogy and a couple of Swamp Thing films – honestly, I’m still not sure why Swamp Thing got an early spotlight! It took eleven years after the first Superman film, and the completion of that whole series, before we saw a darker, more realistic take with Batman. And Marvel? They didn’t even join the fun until twenty years after Superman hit screens, starting with Blade.
Even though Superman didn’t instantly kickstart the superhero movie boom, it proved that such films could be successful and attract large audiences. It’s telling that, almost 50 years later, James Gunn’s recent reboot clearly drew inspiration from the 1978 classic, both in its overall feel and its music.
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2025-12-16 00:43