<Tr> <Th> Budget </Th> <Td> $55 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $300.2 million </Td> </Tr> <P> Superman (informally titled Superman: The Movie in some listings and reference sources) is a 1978 superhero film directed by Richard Donner and based on the DC Comics character of the same name . The film is a British, Swiss, Panamanian and American joint venture, produced by Warner Bros., Film Export A.G., Dovemead Limited and International Film Productions . Superman features an ensemble cast of Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Jeff East, Margot Kidder, Glenn Ford, Phyllis Thaxter, Jackie Cooper, Trevor Howard, Marc McClure, Terence Stamp, Valerie Perrine, Ned Beatty, Jack O'Halloran, Maria Schell, and Sarah Douglas . The film depicts Superman's origin, including his infancy as Kal - El of Krypton and his youthful years in the rural town of Smallville . Disguised as reporter Clark Kent, he adopts a mild - mannered disposition in Metropolis and develops a romance with Lois Lane, while battling the villainous Lex Luthor . </P> <P> Several directors, most notably Guy Hamilton, and screenwriters (Mario Puzo, David and Leslie Newman, and Robert Benton), were associated with the project before Richard Donner was hired to direct . Tom Mankiewicz was drafted in to rewrite the script and was given a "creative consultant" credit . It was decided to film both Superman and its sequel Superman II (1980) simultaneously, with principal photography beginning in March 1977 and ending in October 1978 . Tensions arose between Donner and the producers, and a decision was made to stop filming the sequel, of which 75 percent had already been completed, and finish the first film . </P>

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