![Superman Film Collection Due on 4K Ultra HD Digital April 18, Disc May 9](https://mediaplaynews.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/superman4kboxset.jpg)
![Superman Film Collection Due on 4K Ultra HD Digital April 18, Disc May 9](https://mediaplaynews.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/superman4kboxset.jpg)
Superman Film Collection Due on 4K Ultra HD Digital April 18, Disc May 9
March 1, 2023
As part of the year-long centennial celebration for the 100th anniversary of Warner Bros. Studio, the films starring Christopher Reeve as Superman will be available for purchase on 4K Ultra HD through digital retailers April 18, and in a 4K Blu-ray boxed set May 9 from Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment.
The Superman 1978-1987 5-Film Collection includes all four adventures as Reeve as the iconic DC superhero — 1978’s Superman: The Movie, 1980’s Superman II, 1983’s Superman III and 1987’s Superman IV, plus Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut, the re-edited director’s cut released in 2006.
The boxed set will include the films on a 4K Ultra HD disc with HDR, a regular Blu-ray disc and special features in HD, and a redeemable code for a digital version of each film.
Subscribe HERE to the FREE Media Play News Daily Newsletter!
The legendary “Man of Steel” was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and debuted in Action Comics #1 in 1938.
In Superman: The Movie, from the doomed planet of Krypton, two parents launch a spaceship carrying their infant son to earth. Here he grows up to become Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for the Metropolis Daily Planet. But with powers and abilities far beyond those of ordinary men, he battles for truth and justice as Superman. Directed by Richard Donner (The Goonies, Lethal Weapon, The Lost Boys), the film stars Academy Award winner Marlon Brando (On the Waterfront, The Godfather) as Jor-El, Academy Award winner Gene Hackman (The French Connection, Unforgiven) as Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, and Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman. The film also features Ned Beatty as Otis, Jackie Cooper as Perry White, Glen Ford as Jonathan Kent, Valerie Perrine as Eve Teschmacher and Terrance Stamp as General Zod. Superman was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Film Editing, Best Music (Original Score) and Best Sound. The film also received a Special Achievement Academy Award for Visual Effects. In 2017, Superman was inducted into the Library of Congress National Film Registry.
Superman comes with the following previously released special features on Blu-ray Disc:
- Commentary by Ilya Salkind and Pierre Spangler
- The Making of Superman – vintage featurette
- Superman and the Mole-Men – vintage featurette
- Super-Rabbit – 1943 WB cartoon
- Snafuperman – 1944 WB cartoon
- Stupor Duck – 1956 WB cartoon
- TV Spot
- Teaser Trailer
- Theatrical Trailer
In Superman II, directed by Richard Lester, unwittingly released from Phantom Zone imprisonment, three superpowered Planet Krypton criminals (Terence Stamp, Sarah Douglas and Jack O’Halloran) plan to enslave Earth — just when Superman (Christopher Reeve) decides to show a more romantic side to Lois Lane (Margot Kidder). Gene Hackman also returns as Lex Luthor in the sequel. The film also features Ned Beatty as Otis, Jackie Cooper as Perry White, Valerie Perrine as Eve Teschmacher and Susannah York as Lara.
Superman II comes with the following previously released special features on Blu-ray Disc:
- Commentary by Ilya Salkind and Pierre Spengler
- The Making of Superman II – 1980 TV Special
- Superman’s Soufflé – Deleted scene
- Fleischer Studios’ Superman vintage cartoons: First Flight, The Mechanical Monster, Billion Dollar Limited, The Arctic Giant, The Bulleteers, The Magnetic Telescope, Electric Earthquake, Volcano and Terror on the Midway
- Theatrical trailer
Director Richard Donner began shooting Superman II while concurrently filming Superman: The Movie, though the theatrical version of the film was ultimately credited to Richard Lester, who re-shot most of it. In 2006, an approximation of Donner’s original vision was released for the first time. Jor-El (Marlon Brando in footage cut from the theatrical version) appears in key scenes that amplify Superman lore and deepen the relationship between father and son. Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) plots more schemes to unmask Clark Kent as Superman (Christopher Reeve). With so many changes, large and small, including a different beginning and resolution, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut is an alternate experience.
The Donner Cut comes with the following previously released special features on Blu-ray Disc:
- Commentary by Richard Donner and Tom Mankiewicz
- Introduction by Richard Donner – featurette
- Superman II: Restoring the Vision – featurette
- Deleted scenes: Lex and Ms. Teschmacher head north, Lex and Ms. Teschmacher head south, The villains enter the fortress, He’s all yours boys, Clarke and Jimmy, and Lex’s gateway
- Famous Studios vintage cartoons: Japoteurs, Showdown, Eleventh Hour, Destruction Inc., The Mummy Strikes, Jungle Drums, The Underground World and Secret Agent
Superman III, directed by Lester and starring Reeve as Superman and Kidder as Lois Lane, features Gus Gorman (Richard Pryor), a naive computer-programming natural. For him, a keyboard is a weapon — and, as a result, Superman faces the microelectronic menace of his life. Reeve deepens his character’s human side as Clark Kent and sees Lana Lang (Annette O’Toole) at a Smallville High class reunion. And when the Man of Steel becomes his own worst enemy after exposure to Kryptonite, Reeve pulls off both roles.
Superman III comes with the following previously released special features on Blu-ray Disc:
- Commentary by Ilya Salkind and Pierre Spengler
- The Making of Superman III – 1983 TV special
- Deleted scenes: Save my baby, To the rescue, Making up, Going to see the boss, Hatching the plan, The con, Rooftop ski, Boss wants this to go, Superman honored, Gus’ speech and Hanging up on Brad
- Theatrical trailer
In Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, Reeve not only donned the title hero’s cape for the fourth time but also helped develop the movie’s provocative theme: nuclear disarmament. To make the world safe for nuclear arms merchants, Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) creates a new being to challenge the Man of Steel: the radiation-charged Nuclear Man (Mark Pillow). The two foes clash in an explosive extravaganza that sees Superman save the Statue of Liberty, plug the volcanic eruption of Mount Etna and rebuild the demolished Great Wall of China. The film also features Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, Jackie Cooper as Perry White, Marc McClure as Jimmy Olsen, Jon Cryer as Lenny, Sam Wanamaker as David Warfield, and Mariel Hemingway as Lacy Warfield.
Superman IV comes with the following previously released special features on Blu-ray Disc:
- Commentary by Mark Rosenthal
- Superman 50th anniversary special — 1988 TV special
- Deleted scenes: Clark’s morning, Jeremy’s letter, Superman’s visit, Nuclear Man’s prototype, Metropolis after hours, Lex ponders, Flying sequence (extended scene), Battle in Smallville, Battle in the U.S.S.R., Nuclear arms race, Superman’s sickness, Red alert, By my side, Lark and Lacy say goodbye, and No borders
- Theatrical trailer
Update (3/21/23): Disc street date changed from April 18 to May 9.