Richard Donner’s 1978 Superman is a cult classic, to say the least. As the first major big-budget superhero feature, one could argue it paved the way for many action films that have come since. More than just a hero’s origin story, Donner’s film also explores universal themes of identity, loss, love, and sacrifice, centring on Superman as a complex character who embodies both the hope and tragedy of being a hero.

The film begins on the planet Krypton, the home world of Kal-El (Superman). In light of impending annihilation, Jor-El (Kal-El’s father) makes the painful choice to save his infant son by sending him to Earth, just as Krypton explodes. As the last survivor of his planet, Kal-El represents the lifeline of his species, in the form of a baby as a vessel for growth. Immediately, this juxtaposition establishes that Kal-El will have to live with the fact that his existence came along with the destruction of everything he came from. This duality introduces the key theme of the film - the idea that hope is often paired with tragedy. The paradox at the heart of his identity is that even in the birth of a hero, there is an accompanying shadow of devastation.

Eventually, Kal-El arrives on Earth and is found by Jonathan and Martha Kent. Yearning for a child, they name him Clark and raise him as their son. Being a part of this family serves as the foundation of Clark’s identity, allowing him to experience the human condition through warmth and love rather than as a lone survivor.

The film skips another few years with Clark now in college. After he is teased by a bully, we witness a dramatic action scene as Clark kicks a baseball far into the sky, uses his superhuman speed to race against a moving train, and reaches his barn just as the same bully drives by in his car. The mischief in this scene encapsulates the thrill of youth, as Clark takes things on a whim and acts spontaneously to “show off”. Yet, he is still called an “oddball”, highlighting his difficulties to fit in, a common experience in growing up and coming of age. Jonathan sees how Clark used his powers recklessly, and gives him a friendly pep talk where he emphasises that he has a purpose in life he will one day discover — not soon before Jonathan dies from heart failure. Clark, though blessed with extraordinary powers, is unable to save him. For the first time, he experiences the painful realities of life and loss, wondering what his purpose is, “All those things I can do. All those powers. And I couldn't even save him.”

From here on, the film takes place with Clark now a young adult. In this new stage of his life, he is introduced to the workplace environment as he begins his career at the Daily Planet. Here he meets Lois Lane, a woman determined to succeed in her work while not giving him much attention, as he carelessly stumbles around the office trying to find his place.

One night, as Lois boards a malfunctioning helicopter, Clark immediately transforms from his everyday office attire to the classic blue and red outfit. Finally, Clark Kent becomes Superman. After saving Lois, he continues to travel around the city, capturing a thief, stopping a group of robbers, fetching a cat from a tree, and saving a plane from crashing. We see reactions from the public with people in disbelief. They look up to him as a beacon of hope, finding comfort in the presence of a hero with the power to save lives. Clark’s first night as Superman enables him to finally realise his purpose on Earth, as an unlikely protector who brings balance to society. This functions as a powerful expression of self-acceptance as Clark discovers a new dimension to his identity and embraces it.

A heartfelt moment unfolds as Superman sweeps Lois into the sky, offering her a breathtaking flight over the city. In this enchanting moment they appear to be floating in the air against the wind, while twinkling stars surround them in the night sky. We hear voiceover narration from Lois as an internal monologue, in a rhythmic poem (“Can you read my mind?”) where she expresses her awe and admiration for being with Superman. This scene is styled as a physical representation of the feeling of romance, with the couple swept off their feet in a dreamlike, ethereal atmosphere with a homemade and nostalgic quality, while the music of composer John Williams perfectly accompanies the visuals with a soothing, comforting score.

After their escapade, Superman sets Lois back onto her balcony and flies off, only to return as Clark Kent. Clark rings the doorbell to her home, to which she sees him dressed in his plain office attire and black glasses, ready for their date. While Superman could drop by on the balcony, Clark must take the stairs and wait by the door. He then tries to tell Lois his secret, taking off his glasses before hesitating and putting them back on. This scene underscores the emotional complexity behind superheroes. While Superman is capable of grand feats, he is also Clark, the ordinary man who longs for companionship and a life beyond the responsibilities of being a hero. Yet, Superman is the persona that captures Lois’ attention. While Clark tries to speak to her, she is clearly distracted and still mesmerised by her experience with Superman.

Their relationship culminates in the film’s climactic scene where Lois dies after Superman fails to save her. Rather than a triumphant ending where the hero easily defeats the villain, the film settles on a quiet note as Clark encounters his most tragic moment, reminded of Jonathan, his father whom he could not save. Earlier, it was Lois’ near-death incident with the helicopter that got him to become Superman and save the world. Yet despite the heroic acts, he could not save the woman he loved.

This film reminds viewers that hope is found only in the context of destruction. The annihilation of his home planet made him the last survivor of his species but allowed him his newfound family on Earth, the death of his father challenged him to be the man he is, and in trying to save everyone, he fails to save some. It is not only the external conflict of those around him but the internal conflict of his identity. Is he Kal-El who holds the legacy of his people, Superman who is admired by the masses, or simply Clark Kent who wants an ordinary and happy life?

Throughout the film, basic stages in the human experience such as loss, youth and love are personified from the perspective of a superhero. This film successfully echoes that struggle, where Clark tries to find a balance between his personal life and bringing peace to humanity.

The film ultimately ends on a positive note, as Superman manages to reverse time and save Lois before her accident. But more importantly, the essence of the film is the dichotomy between peace and suffering, not only how the hero saves the world but also how he struggles from the burden of being the hero.

Since this film, Superman has become a franchise, with Clark Kent undergoing several reinterpretations and reflecting the ever-changing perspectives of how the world would see an all-powerful champion of good. Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, for example, reflects today’s collective pessimism towards power, authority, and righteousness. On the other hand, Richard Donner’s Superman reflects an age that yearned for the innocence of hope and optimism, while still containing dimensions that feel distinctly human with its subtle internal struggles.

Overall, this origin story is not just about how Clark Kent becomes Superman, but also what it means to take on this responsibility. While being an entertaining and comedic film about the titular superhero, Superman (1978) stands out as a film that is also mature about the tragedy of being a hero.