History Film / Superman

The success of ''{{Franchise/Superman}}'' opened the door for other [[{{Superhero}} masked marvels in colorful costumes]] -- and 1978's '''''Superman: The Movie''''' did the same for superhero films. (As with the comics, {{Zorro}} asserts his influence here as well: the producers of the Christopher Reeve films, Alexander and Ilya Salkind, admitted they decided to make a Superman film after seeing a billboard of Alain Delon as Zorro in a French film.)

The film was followed by 1980's ''SupermanII'', 1983's ''SupermanIII'', and 1987's ''SupermanIV'', as well as the related (and unsuccessful) 1984 spinoff ''{{Film/Supergirl}}''. The last two films did poorly with critics and the box office, which caused a planned fifth film to sit in DevelopmentHell for nearly two decades. Writers and directors such as TimBurton and KevinSmith attempted to reboot the franchise with their own unique takes, but had no success in convincing Warner Bros. to greenlight the project. In 2006, the fabled fifth film was finally released: ''SupermanReturns'', both a sequel and a SpiritualSuccessor to the first two films, was released, directed BryanSinger of the ''Film/XMen'' film series fame. Unfortunately, it proved too slavish a retread of the Donner film's plot points and it became a disappointment that finally killed the series.

The film was followed by 1980's ''SupermanII'', 1983's ''SupermanIII'', and 1987's ''SupermanIV'', as well as the related (and unsuccessful) 1984 spinoff ''{{Film/Supergirl}}''. The last two films did poorly with critics and the box office, which caused a planned fifth film to sit in DevelopmentHell for nearly two decades. Writers and directors such as TimBurton and KevinSmith attempted to reboot the franchise with their own unique takes, but had no success in convincing Warner Bros. to greenlight the project. In 2006, the fabled fifth film was finally released: ''SupermanReturns'', both a sequel and a SpiritualSuccessor to the first two films, was released, directed BryanSinger of the ''Film/X-Men'' film series fame. Unfortunately, it proved too slavish a retread of the Donner film's plot points and it became a disappointment that finally killed the series.

The film was followed by 1980's ''SupermanII'', 1983's ''SupermanIII'', and 1987's ''SupermanIV'', as well as the related (and unsuccessful) 1984 spinoff ''{{Film/Supergirl}}''. The last two films did poorly with critics and the box office, which caused a planned fifth film to sit in DevelopmentHell for nearly two decades. Writers and directors such as TimBurton and KevinSmith attempted to reboot the franchise with their own unique takes, but had no success in convincing Warner Bros. to greenlight the project. In 2006, the fabled fifth film was finally released: ''SupermanReturns'', both a sequel and a SpiritualSuccessor to the first two films, was released. A reboot of the film franchise, ''Film/ManOfSteel'', is set for release in 2013.

-->''Live as one of them, Kal-El, to discover [[ComesGreatResponsibility where your strength and your power are needed]]. Always hold in your heart the pride of your special heritage. They [[HumansAreSpecial can be a great people]], Kal-El. They wish to be. They only lack [[TheParagon the light to show the way]]. For this reason above all, [[RousseauWasRight their capacity for good]], I have sent them you... my only son.''

-->''Live as one of them, Kal-El, to discover [[ComesGreatResponsibility where your strength and your power are needed]]. Always hold in your heart the pride of your special heritage. They [[HumansAreSpecial can be a great people]], Kal-El, if they wish to be. They only lack [[TheParagon the light to show the way]]. For this reason above all, [[RousseauWasRight their capacity for good]], I have sent them you... my only son.''

* SpandexLatexOrLeather

* DataCrystal: Jor-El made some capable of building the Fortress of Solitude and deliver expo

* AdaptationDistillation: Apart from the origin stuff, it's not based on any particular story from the comics.

* DataCrystal: Jor-El made some capable of building the Fortress of Solitude and deliver exposition.
* DawsonCasting: A minor case. In the extended edition, Lois Lane is the young girl the teenage Clark waves to as he's running past her train, implying that Lois Lane is a number of years younger than Clark Kent. Margot Kidder, however, is four years older than her co-star Christopher Reeve.
* DeadArtistsAreBetter: Christopher Reeve's paralysis from a riding accident later in life has certainly helped raise popular opinion of this version of Superman to near-god-like levels. Not that he wasn't popular before but suffering tragedy and becoming a living martyr sealed his place in pop culture heaven.
* DeadpanSnarker
** Miss Teschmacher
-->'''Lex:''' Miss Teschmacher, when I was five years old my father said to me-
-->'''Miss Teschmacher:''' "Get Out!"
-->'''Lex:''' ''(chuckling)'' Before that!...
** And later:
-->'''Lex:''' [[SmugSnake Doesn't it give you a shudder of electricity to be in the same room with me?]]
-->'''Miss Teschmacher:''' ''(scoffing)'' Ha! Not like the shudder YOU'RE going to get when you try and lay that rock on him!...
* DeathByOriginStory
** Jor-El and all of Krypton.
** Also, in this version, Pa Kent's death ends up being what motivates Clark to fulfill his purpose in life as Superman.
* DeathGlare: Ursa gives one to Jor-El, more intense after he calls her hatred of men "unreasonable".
* DeletedScene: Included in some foreign cinema releases and TV airings before the DVD release included them all.
* DisproportionateRetribution: The Council of Elders wanted to send Jor-El to the Phantom Zone for building the rocketship. Also, they send a ''soldier'' to apprehend him.
* TheDitz: Otis
* DoingItForTheArt: Richard Donner made "verisimilitude" his mission for the movies. He wanted it to feel real, which was no easy feat. There's a reason why "you'll believe a man can fly" is the tagline, though.
* DrowningPit: How Lex Luthor tries to get rid of a kryptonite-weakened Superman.
* EarthShatteringKaboom: The destruction of Krypton.
** In a deleted scene from ''SupermanReturns'', Kal finds Jor-El's lab relatively intact, however, he flies further and all that remains of the rest of the planet is some debris.
* EarthquakesCauseFissures: During the destruction of Krypton and the earthquake in California.
* {{Egopolis}}: Lex does this a lot.
* ElaborateUndergroundBase: Lex Luthor's hideout underneath Metropolis. Lex and Miss Teschmacher even Lampshade this fact:
-->'''Lex:''' ...It's a shame he didn't live to see from such humble beginnings this empire I've created.
-->'''Miss Teschmacher:''' An empire...this?
-->'''Lex:''' Miss Teschmacher, how many girls do you know who have a Park Avenue address like this one?
-->'''Miss Teschmacher:''' Park Avenue address? ''[[SarcasmMode Two hundred feet below]]''?!
* EnemyRisingBehind: When Superman is standing on the deck of a ship.
* EpicMovie: The film distilled the source material into a sweeping {{Biopic}} of Superman.
* EvenMooksHaveLovedOnes: Miss Teschmacher didn't like her boss's callous disregard for her mother's life.
* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning: Superman spins like a top while drilling into Lex Luthor's underground lair and flies around the Earth to make it spin backwards and turn back time.
* ExactWords: "Neither I nor my wife will leave Krypton." Jor-El instead sends his son Kal-El to Earth, thus technically keeping his promise to the Council.
* ExecutiveMeddling: Lots of it.
* {{Fainting}}: Lois Lane does the Emotional Faint version after Superman saves her from falling to her death.
* {{Fanfare}}: If you haven't heard it, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9vrfEoc8_g go to YouTube]]. '''''Now!'''''
* FateWorseThanDeath: The Phantom Zone.
* FightOffTheKryptonite
* FlightOfRomance: Every single movie.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Martha Kent warning Jonathan Kent to take it easy because of his heart condition and Jor-El forbidding his son Kal-El from interfering in human history.
* HeroicBSOD: After Superman realizes Lois' car is buried under debris.
* HighHeelFaceTurn: Miss Teschmacher.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Averted in Jor-El's case, as he would have been sent to the Phantom Zone had Krypton not been destroyed. Played with in Superman's case with the lead box in Luthor's lair.
** Inverted in the case of General Zod. He seems to forget that had he not been sent into the Phantom Zone, he would have been killed with the rest of the population
* HonorBeforeReason: Superman deflected the first missile because he promised he would, but couldn't reach the second one in time. It goes off, triggering a massive earthquake.
* HotReporter: Lois Lane.
* HugeHolographicHead
* HumanAliens
** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by Jor-El when he talks about sending his son to Earth:
-->''He will look like one of them.''
** Lara subverts this in her response.
-->''But he won't ''be'' one of them.''
* IgnoredExpert: Jor-El
* ILetGwenStacyDie: Superman and Lois Lane during the earthquake in California.
* InMemoriam: The film begins with a dedication to cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth, who died two months prior to its release.
* InstantCostumeChange: Through a revolving door and in mid-air.
* IntrepidReporter
** Lois Lane
** And, technically, Superman/Clark Kent. Technically because we don't ever ''see'' Clark doing his job, the way we did in the George Reeves series. However, we know Perry only hires good reporters who can get stories and make them great. Besides Clark has two irresistible qualities -- fast (and accurate) typing and a snappy, punchy prose style.
* IronicEcho: Luthor throws the phrase "diseased maniac" back in Superman's face as he's suffering from exposure to kryptonite.
* JerkJock: Brad.
* KickTheDog: Luthor shoving a detective in front of a subway train.
* KryptoniteFactor: Also the TropeNamer.
* LargeHam: Lex Luthor.
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Both the mugging scene and the end of the first two movies, you could swear he was looking at the audience.
* LineOfSightName:
-->'''Lois:''' ''(dreamily)'' What a super man! ''({{beat}}) ''Superman!''
* LoadBearingHero: Superman bench-presses the ''entire San Andreas Fault Zone''. And uses his body as temporary train tracks.
* LookMaNoPlane: Superman saves Air Force One by doing this to it.
* LovesMyAlterEgo: The Lois Lane/Superman or Clark Kent dynamic is one of the best known examples of this.
* MagicAIsMagicA
** Richard Donner, the director, used the word "verisimilitude" as the production motto in scripting and crafting the film. They devoted a lot of their effort to figuring out how to have things make sense within the ludicrous framework of the premise and plot. Why doesn't Superman solve all the world's problems? Jor-El's dialogue explains (piecemeal) that there is an intergalactic rule that Superman is bound to not to interfere in the course of another planet's history, this rule having been put into place as the result of the early history of "the 28 known galaxies" being rife with warfare due to interference (presumably resulting in stringent vigilance for that sort of thing now, creating the potential for the intergalactic equivalent of an international incident). He is already bending the rules just being Superman in the first place.
** If the name "Superman" was invented by the media, why is there an S-logo on the outfit? The fancy traditional attire of Kryptonians included family crests in a chest insignia, and the symbol on the seal of Jor-El's clan coincidentally happens to look somewhat like an S. And so on. That last issue, that the S logo was the seal of the House of El, was apparently Marlon Brando's idea. Donner liked the idea and went with it. It went over so well that it was re-used in other adaptations (''LoisAndClark'' and the late-80s ''Superboy'' series), in ''{{Smallville}}'', and later as a retcon in the comics, it was established to be a modification of a letter of the Kryptonian alphabet.
* TheManWithNoName: It seems Supes was going to go nameless ("A friend"), til Lois names him "Superman", which he bemusedly endorses.
* MasterActor: Clark Kent. On top of making audiences believe a man could fly, Christopher Reeve proved that a [[HeReallyCanAct really good actor]] can make you believe that ClarkKenting could actually work.
* MeaningfulBackgroundEvent: While Perry is talking about journalism and Superman, Clark is listening to Luthor's message and looking for a window to duck out of.
* MeaningfulEcho: Even more compelling as they show up again at the same crucial time:
-->'''Jor-El:''' It is forbidden to interfere with human history.
-->'''Jonathan Kent:''' One thing I do know son, and that is you are here for a reason.
-->'''Clark:''' All those things I can do, all those powers, and I couldn't even save him.
* MistreatmentInducedBetrayal: Miss Teschmacher saved Superman after Luthor let it slip that Hackensack was going to be hit by one of the missiles.
* MobileShrubbery: Otis does this briefly while re-aiming the missile.
* MomentKiller: Just as Superman and Lois Lane are [[AlmostKiss about to kiss]], Jimmy Olsen shows up to spoil it.
* MoneyDearBoy: MarlonBrando received an infamously huge salary for the first film. He wanted even more for the second one, which led to [[ExecutiveMeddling all his scenes being cut, Richard Donner fired for supporting him, and Margot Kidder being given all of two scenes in ''Part 3'' for supporting Donner]].
* MoodWhiplash
** A perfect example of this is when the police detectives are following a goofy, bumbling Otis. The mood swiftly changes when Lex uses Otis' entry point to his underground lair to ''push'' the cop into the path of an oncoming express train, with a GoryDiscretionShot. Miss Tessmacher growls, "''Sick!''" at Lex.
** Of course, there's RealitySubtext to the Mood Whiplash. Richard Donner dealt with ExecutiveMeddling in the form of Richard Lester, so the film veers wildly between comedy and drama.
* MonumentalDamage: Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate Bridge. (And in a deleted scene, the Hollywood sign.)
* MosesInTheBullrushes: The iconic scene of Jor-El sending his son to Earth from the dying planet, faithfully carried over from the comics.
* MyCarHatesMe
** Lois, get gas ''before'' you drive into the middle of nowhere. Seriously, she hits the earthquake, burning (broken) train track, oncoming train, ''and'' the nuclear warhead from that trope's description all in one turn of the key.
** Well, it's not for want of trying. She stops at a gas station, but it's deserted, and a few seconds later it blows up right next to her.
* MythologyGag: Clark glances briefly at a pay phone (a half-height, exposed phone kiosk, not a full-fledged PhoneBooth) in the first movie before changing costume in a revolving door.
* NeckLift: Superman does this to Lex Luthor while they're in Lex's underground lair.
* NeverTrustATrailer: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twyYIPhSa3U The trailer]] shows as if only Krypton exploded, like in the comics. Also it's not revealed to be a Superman movie until we see Superman himself.
* NoSell: The unfortunate bank robber who hit Supes in the head with a crowbar got to vibrate along with it. Later, Supes just shrugged off the trial by fire, bullets, and ice at Luthor's lair. In a deleted scene, Superman is about to stop the Hackensack-bound missile in mid-air, but not it before flies right past him[[note]]That scene is followed by the scene in the theatrical cut, where he sends the rocket into space.[[/note]].
* ANuclearError: When missiles are test launched, for some unknown reason the authorities put armed nuclear warheads aboard them.
* OfficerOHara: The first two cops to encounter Superman on his first night in Metropolis.
* OhCrap: Watch Superman's face as the missile hit San Andreas and later when he realized Lois needed saving after he'd contained the flooding.
* OnPatrolMontage: Superman has a busy night after rescuing Lois from the helicopter crash with crimes to stop and more rescues to do.
* PaidHarem: Luthor's perpetual moll, Eve Teschmacher.
* TheParagon: "They only lack the light to show the way."
* ParentService: Kids enjoyed seeing Superman fly around. Their dads enjoyed seeing Valerie Perrine in a series of revealing outfits.
* {{Planetville}}: There seems to be only a single city on Krypton.
* RacingTheTrain: A young Clark Kent does this.
* RealMenWearPink: Or at least like pink, very much.
* RemakeCameo: Kirk Alyn (the first actor to portray {{Superman}} on the silver screen in a 1948 serial) and Noel Neill (Alyn's co-star from the serials and the second actress to portray Lois Lane in ''TheAdventuresOfSuperman'') were Lois Lane's parents on the train.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Given to Superman by Lex Luther right after the Kryptonite is revealed.
-->'''Lex:''' You were great in your day, Superman. But it just stands to reason. When it came time to cash in your chips, this old "diseased maniac" would be your banker. [[SmugSnake Mind over muscle?]]
* RetCanon
** The first movie established Smallville as being in Kansas and that the Superman crest was a Kryptonian family symbol, both of which were eventually adopted into the comics.
** Also Lex being a businessman.
* RippedFromThePhoneBook: Lex Luthor is looking through a book in his library to find some information. When he finds it, instead of just showing it to his henchmen he rips it out and hands it to them.
* RougeAnglesOfSatin: Despite being an accomplished reporter, Lois is ''terrible'' at spelling.
* RuleOfSymbolism: Lots of [[EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory Christ symbolism]]:
-->''Live as one of them, Kal-El, to discover [[ComesGreatResponsibility where your strength and your power are needed]]. Always hold in your heart the pride of your special heritage. They [[HumansAreSpecial can be a great people]], Kal-El, if they wish to be. They only lack [[TheParagon the light to show the way]]. For this reason above all, [[RousseauWasRight their capacity for good]], I have sent them you... my only son.''
* SameLanguageDub
** Jeff East's scenes as young Clark Kent were dubbed over by Christopher Reeve.
** Reeve also dubbed the voice of the helicopter pilot (yes, ''that'' helicopter).
** [[Film/OnHerMajestysSecretService David DeKeyser AKA Marc Ange Draco]] dubbed over the voice of the jail warden at the end.
* SavedForTheSequel: At the beginning of the movie, General Zod is roaring to Jor-El, "[[KneelBeforeZod You will bow down before me, Jor-El! Both you and, one day, your heirs!]]" However, he is then cast into the PhantomZone and we have to wait for the next film to see him carry out that threat.
* SayMyName: "'''''MISS TESCHMACHEERRR!!!!'''''"
* ShrugTake: The man at the office did this when Superman caught the cat burglar.
* TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks: Superman's SilverAge era had the most influence on the creation on the film. This is why most people who are familiar with Superman refer to SilverAge elements.
* SpandexLatexOrLeather
* SurroundedByIdiots: Lex says this about Otis, and probably thinks the same about Miss Teschmacher.
* TechnologyMarchesOn: The movie really doesn't ''say'' it's the late 1970's outside of a few minor lines, but the ubiquitous typewriters in the Daily Planet with nary a computer monitor to be seen drags you back into the time period.
* ThisIsReality: {{Invoked|Trope}} with Jor-El's first words in the movie. He is actually speaking about the clues that prove Zod and his henchmen guilty of sedition, but the phrase can be easily interpreted as [[BreakingTheFourthWall talking to the audience]]:
-->''This is no fantasy - no careless product of wild imagination. No, my friends.''
* ThrowItIn: Gene Hackman's "Come in, it's open!" in the first film after Superman breaks the door down is said to be an ad-lib.
* TimeTravel: Near the end of the film, Superman flies around the world backwards so fast -- presumably, [[FTLTravel faster than light]] -- that time runs backwards, allowing him to [[spoiler: save Lois Lane]].
* TookAShortcut: It is made clear by Jor-El's narration that Superman's journey to Earth took thousands of years but he only aged a few years due to the effects of relativity. Oddly enough, Lex Luthor pinpoints 1948 as the year of Krypton's destruction.
* TwoOfYourEarthMinutes: Jor-El uses this twice during the reading of his VideoWill to Clark Kent (Kal-El).
* UnConfession: Clark Kent starts to tell Lois Lane that he's Superman, but loses his nerve at the last minute.
* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The films are usually good about avoiding it, but the first guy who sees Superman in costume is unquestionably from the '70s.
* VehicleVanish: Otis does this while the cop is following him in the subway tunnel.
* VideoWill: In his Fortress of Solitude Kal-El/Clark Kent receives a recorded message from the HugeHolographicHead of his father Jor-El, recorded thousands of years ago before the destruction of the planet Krypton.
* VirtualGhost: Through the use of [[AppliedPhlebotinum crystal technology]], Jor-El and several other Kryptonians can communicate with Superman despite having been dead for thousands of years.
* WeCanRuleTogether: General Zod invites Jor-El to join him in his rebellion. Doesn't work.
* WeaksauceWeakness: Of course people will argue the KryptoniteFactor, but at least it's [[{{Unobtainium}} supposed to be rare]].
* WhooshingCredits: The TropeMaker. Reportedly the credits for the first movie alone cost $1 million, more than a lot of movies of the time.
* WoundedGazelleGambit: Miss Teschmacher pretends to be an accident victim so that Otis can reprogram the missile coordinates.

----

* AdaptationDistillation

Produced (concurrently with its first sequel) in the late 1970s and released in 1978, ''Superman'' almost wasn't even made, since the studio feared it would be two hours of campiness in the vein of the 1960s ''{{Franchise/Batman}}'' [[{{Series/Batman}} TV series]]. Once a screenplay written by Mario Puzo (''Film/TheGodfather'') was approved, Richard Donner was hired to direct and history was made.

''Superman'' had a star-studded cast -- ''except'' for the two main characters. Casting the titular hero was a real hunt, but the studio hit the jackpot with Creator/ChristopherReeve, who is likely the best actor ever to play the role. ([[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIaF0QKtY0c Watch the scene where he transitions between the character's identities on camera in Lois' apartment if you need convincing.]])

* CanNotTellALie: Miss Tessmacher's sole reason for freeing Superman is that if he promises he'll save Hackensack, NJ first (saving her mother in the process), she knows he'll keep it. Of course, the fact that the other missile is more likely going to hit a less populated area in California means that Supes would made the Hackensack top priority anyway.

* CanNotTellALie: Miss Tessmacher's sole reason for freeing Superman is that if he promises he'll save Hackensack, NJ first (saving her mother in the process), she knows he'll keep it.

-->'''Lex:''' You were great in your day, Superman. But when it came time to cash in your chips, it just stands to reason, that this "diseased maniac" would be your banker. [[SmugSnake Mind over muscle?]]

* SayMyName: "'''''MISS TESSMACHEERRR!!!!'''''"

* SurroundedByIdiots: Lex says this about Otis, and probably thinks the same about Miss Tessmacher.

* HonorBeforeReason: Superman deflected the first missile because he promised he would, only to forget about the second one.

** [[FridgeBrilliance Or the Earth was spinning backwards from Superman's perspective]] as he traveled faster than the speed of light in order to travel back in time. Thus he can stop both rockets in time because there are now two of him present until the one who didn't go to save Lois [[TimeyWimeyBall goes back in time to complete the loop and save her life again (off-screen of course).]]

* AllMenArePerverts: Played With. Although it ''is'' in response to a direct challenge from Lois to identify the color of her underwear in the first movie, to prove he has X-ray vision, he was visibly embarrassed by Lois's challenge. Lois clearly believes AllMenArePerverts, and Superman's genuinely pure-as-the-driven-snow character isn't something she remotely knows how to deal with.

*** [[FridgeBrilliance Or the Earth was spinning backwards from Superman's perspective]] as he traveled faster than the speed of light in order to travel back in time. Thus he can stop both rockets in time because there are now two of him present until the one who didn't go to save Lois [[TimeyWimeyBall goes back in time to complete the loop and save her life again (off-screen of course).]]

* ComesGreatResponsibility: Jor-El teaches this trope to Superman.
** Pa Kent, too: "Been showing off a bit, haven't you, son?" He follows it with a lecture that Clark is "[[ComesGreatResponsibility here for a reason]]." And then suffers a fatal heart attack.
*** Played beautifully by Glenn Ford. Yes, ''[[TheBlackboardJungle that Glenn Ford]]''.

* DeadpanSnarker: Miss Teschmacher

* DeathByOriginStory: Jor-El and all of Krypton.

* HumanAliens: [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by Jor-El when he talks about sending his son to Earth:

** Lara subverts this.

* IntrepidReporter: Lois Lane. And, technically, Superman/Clark Kent.
** Technically because we don't ever ''see'' Clark doing his job, the way we did in the George Reeves series. However, we know Perry only hires good reporters who can get stories and make them great. Besides Clark has two irresistible qualities -- fast (and accurate) typing and a snappy, punchy prose style.

* MagicAIsMagicA: Richard Donner, the director, used the word "verisimilitude" as the production motto in scripting and crafting the film. They devoted a lot of their effort to figuring out how to have things make sense within the ludicrous framework of the premise and plot. Why doesn't Superman solve all the world's problems? Jor-El's dialogue explains (piecemeal) that there is an intergalactic rule that Superman is bound to not to interfere in the course of another planet's history, this rule having been put into place as the result of the early history of "the 28 known galaxies" being rife with warfare due to interference (presumably resulting in stringent vigilance for that sort of thing now, creating the potential for the intergalactic equivalent of an international incident). He is already bending the rules just being Superman in the first place. If the name "Superman" was invented by the media, why is there an S-logo on the outfit? The fancy traditional attire of Kryptonians included family crests in a chest insignia, and the symbol on the seal of Jor-El's clan coincidentally happens to look somewhat like an S. And so on.
** That last issue, that the S logo was the seal of the House of El, was apparently Marlon Brando's idea. Donner liked the idea and went with it.
*** It went over so well that it was re-used in other adaptations (''LoisAndClark'' and the late-80s ''Superboy'' series), in ''{{Smallville}}'', and later as a retcon in the comics, it was established to be a modification of a letter of the Kryptonian alphabet.

* MoodWhiplash: A perfect example of this is when the police detectives are following a goofy, bumbling Otis. The mood swiftly changes when Lex uses Otis' entry point to his underground lair to ''push'' the cop into the path of an oncoming express train, with a GoryDiscretionShot. Miss Tessmacher growls, "''Sick!''" at Lex.

* MyCarHatesMe: Lois, get gas ''before'' you drive into the middle of nowhere. Seriously, she hits the earthquake, burning (broken) train track, oncoming train, ''and'' the nuclear warhead from that trope's description all in one turn of the key.

** It's the only city exposed to the surface, since, as it is mentioned very briefly, the rest of the planet is completely uninhabitable.

* RetCanon: The first movie established Smallville as being in Kansas and that the Superman crest was a Kryptonian family symbol, both of which were eventually adopted into the comics.

* SameLanguageDub:

* SurroundedByIdiots: Lex says this about Otis.
** And probably thinks the same about Miss Tessmacher.

* TookAShortcut: It is made clear by Jor-El's narration that Superman's journey to Earth took thousands of years but he only aged a few years due to the effects of relativity.
** Oddly enough, Lex Luthor pinpoints 1948 as the year of Krypton's destruction.