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SUPERMAN THE MOVIE

A TRIP THROUGH TIME AND TELEVISION

For over 40 years SUPERMAN THE MOVIE has graced tv screens all across the U.S. in many forms and versions. Below is a comprehensive list of its flight through cable, network, and syndicated television.
Researched and complied by Alex Serpa.

A breakdown of the different televised versions of SUPERMAN THE MOVIE:

1- Theatrical version: This is the version released to theaters in 1978, clocking in at 2-hours 24-minutes. This version was presented on television from 1980-2001 in mono and in stereo surround. Airings of this version after 2001 feature the newly created 5.1 sound mix. Network and syndicated airings of this version may have been edited for language or to run in a certain time allotted, and usually played in a 3 hour time slot with commercials. The cable airings of this version are unaltered. This version is currently available on bluray and streaming services.

2- Extended TV Version: Longer version of the film produced in 1982 by the film’s production company for network and syndicated television airings, featuring an added 45 minutes of scenes deleted from the Theatrical Version, clocking this version at 3-hours 8-minutes, and intended to run in a 4 hour time slot with commercials. Though many stations airing this version would screen the complete version of film, some would independently edit it for content or to fit their airing time allotment needs.

3- Extended TV Version 2 Parter: This version is same as the Extended TV Version (#2) but edited to air as a two part film on consecutive nights. The part 1 airing would conclude with a cliffhanger of Lois falling out of the helicopter and cutting to the end credits. Part two would begin with the opening credits into a 14-minute built in recap that would lead into the helicopter cliffhanger payoff and finish off the rest of film. Though many stations airing this version would screen the complete version of film, some would independently edit it for content or to fit their airing time allotment needs. This 2 Parter version is most commonly known as the first ABC network premiere airing of the film in 1982.

4- Expanded Version: 2001 cut of the film with a newly created 5.1 sound mix, and featuring 8 minutes of scenes deleted from the Theatrical Version, clocking in at 2-hours 32-minutes. Syndicated airings of this version may have been edited for language or to run in a certain time allotted, and usually ran in a 3 hour time slot with commercials. This is the same version first released on DVD in 2001. The cable airings of this version are unaltered. This version is currently available on bluray and streaming services.

Channel marker:

Cable: Paid, commercial free, premium channels. HBO, Cinemax, The Movie Channel, Spotlight, WHT, Encore, Starz, etc.
Network TV: Free television networks. ABC, CBS, NBC.
Syndicated: Basic cable channels (with and without commercials) and independent television stations. PBS, The Disney Channel, Turner Classic Movies, American Movie Classics, USA Network, The Family Channel, TV Land, ScyFy, TBS, TNT, A&E, etc.
*Months not shown denotes no airings of the film or no airings I could trace.

*Note that “unaltered” refers to the film’s running time and not the aspect ratio or sound mix.

October 1980 – December 1981
Cable.
Theatrical Version. World home media premiere of the Theatrical Version.

SUPERMAN THE MOVIE- HBO ad. October 1980.

SUPERMAN THE MOVIE- Showtime ad. October 1980.

SUPERMAN THE MOVIE- ON-TV ad. October 5, 1980.

SUPERMAN THE MOVIE- The Movie Channel ad. December 15, 1980.

February 1982 – August 18, 1985
Network.
ABC. Four airings.
February 7 and 8- Extended TV Version 2 Parter. U.S. network television premiere.
November 14, 1982- Extended TV Version.
December 23, 1984- Theatrical version. Edited for network standards.
August 18, 1985- Theatrical Version. Edited for network standards.