Superman in film the script, giving it a serious feel with Christ-like overtones. Christopher Reeve was cast as Superman, having initially failed to impress the Salkinds before bulking up. Brando meanwhile, despite spending less than two weeks on the shoot, and not even reading the script until then, earned $3.7 million up front, plus 11.75% of the gross profits from the film. The film was a success both critically and commercially, being released during the Christmas season of 1978; it did not have much competition, leading the producers to believe that this was one factor in the film's success. Shooting of the two
Superman (1978 film) as big an asshole as the Salkinds." Two more films, "Superman III" (1983) and "" (1987), were produced. "Superman Returns" was released in 2006. Director Bryan Singer credited the 1978 "Superman" as an influence for "Superman Returns", and used restored footage of Brando as Jor-El. "" also was released in 2006. The film's final sequence, which features Superman flying high above the Earth at sunrise, and breaking the fourth wall to smile briefly at the camera, featured at the end of every Superman film starring Reeve. Because "Superman" went into production prior to the releases of "Star Wars" (May 1977)