Superman (1978 movie series character)

Superman (Kal-El) or Clark Kent, a fictional superhero from the Superman movie series and based on the DC Comics superhero of the same name, is an alien from the planet Krypton who gains superhuman abilities such as strength, flight, and invulnerability through Earth's yellow sun. Portrayed by Christopher Reeve, Superman is known for his iconic costume featuring a blue suit, red cape, and the emblematic 'S' shield on his chest. He embodies qualities of heroism, justice, and moral integrity, often balancing his alien origins with his human upbringing as Clark Kent. The 1978 movie Superman established the character as a cultural icon and set the foundation for superhero cinema.

The character was received positively and Reeve's performance is ranked as one of the best in superhero movies.

The 2006 movie Superman Returns served as an alternate sequel to the first two Reeve movies while ignoring the events of Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest For Peace, with Brandon Routh portraying a version of this iteration in an alternate timeline, after Reeve's paralysis in 1995 and death in 2004. The movie was dedicated to both him and his wife, Dana, who died two years after her husband's death and shortly before its release. A CGI version of Reeve as Superman makes a cameo in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) movie The Flash (2023), which retroactively incorporates him into the franchise's multiverse, alongside a de-aged Helen Slater as Supergirl.