Warner Bros. releases the Richard Donner superhero film Superman: The Movie in American theaters, starring Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman, Ned Beatty, and Marlon Brando. A retelling of the origin story of Kal-El, last son of Krypton, and his arrival on Earth as Clark Kent, the movie successfully introduces a new generation of filmgoers (who may not have been steeped in comic book lore) to the exploits of Superman, turning Reeve into an overnight sensation and ensuring a series of sequels. Though other actors will portray Superman/Clark in years and decades yet to come, for many this film fixes Reeve as the definitive film portrayal of the character.
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