SUPERMAN THE MOVIES TIMELINE 1980-1984
1974-1979
1980-1984
1985-1989
1990-2023
<PREVIOUS NEXT>
-1980-
January 1980
January 4, 1980– Director Richard Lester films the mid-air restraint sequence for SUPERMAN II with Christopher Reeve as Superman, Jack O’Halloran as Non, and Sarah Douglas as Ursa on A Stage at Pinewood Studios.
An unused take filmed by Lester was used for SUPERMAN II THE RICHARD DONNER CUT. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
January 25, 1980– SUPERMAN THE MOVIE is released on VHS and BETAMAX by WCI Home Video.
The film is sped up, a few scenes are trimmed, and the end credits removed, giving the film a 127 minutes running time in order to fit the movie on one videocassette due to the tape length limitations of the time. Retail price ranges between $65-$100. Many stores sell out of copies. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
February 1980
February 1 and 2, 1980– The production spends a weekend in Buskerud county, Norway, filming Christopher Reeve as powerless Clark walking back to the Fortress of Solitude, and of stand ins for Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor and Valerie Perrine as Miss Teschmacher on a sled heading to and coming from the Fortress.
While filming SUPERMAN THE MOVIE in Canada in August 1977, a second unit during director Richard Donner’s tenure filmed scenes of Lex and Miss Teschmacher heading to and coming from the Fortress of Solitude using Hackman and Perrine stand ins. These scenes were scrapped and all the shots in the theatrical version of SUPERMAN II are reshoots under Richard Lester’s direction. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
February 7, 1980– CBS airs THE MUPPET SHOW featuring Christopher Reeve as a guest.
The episode was filmed two weeks earlier at Elstree Studios from January 22-25 while Reeve was shooting SUPERMAN II under Richard Lester’s direction at Pinewood Studios.
February 20, 1980– Director Zoran Perisic under Director Richard Lester’s direction films the Superman flying to Paris scenes with Christopher Reeve as Superman on A Stage at Pinewood Studios. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
February 22, 1980– Zoptic creator and director Zoran Perisic films the Superman Metropolis battle rooftop take off and tanker truck fly down, and Superman flying with the American Flag on A Stage at Pinewood Studios. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
February 22, 1980– The model unit films the Eiffel Tower miniature for SUPERMAN II on the Pinewood Studios backlot. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
March 1980
March 10, 1980– After seven months of filming new sequences and reshooting of Donner scenes, Director Richard Lester finishes principal photography on SUPERMAN II four days ahead of schedule.
Late March 1980– Press rumors has producers Dino DeLaurentiis having purchased the rights to SUPERMAN THE MOVIE and the then unreleased SUPERMAN II. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
March 25, 1980– Composer Ken Thorne begins recording the musical score for SUPERMAN II at The Music Centre in England.
May 1980
May 2, 1980– SUPERMAN THE MOVIE begins a limited theatrical rerelease across the U.S. This is not a wide release, and some theaters play it as a matinee, or only on weekends, or late shows, etc. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
June 1980
June 27, 1980– SUPERMAN THE MOVIE is re-released theatrically in New York and New Jersey.
July 1980
July 2, 1980– Warner Bros. pulls BRONCO BILLY from most theaters and expands SUPERMAN THE MOVIE’s limited theatrical re-release to take over some of those screens. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
October 1980
October 4, 1980– SUPERMAN THE MOVIE makes its television world premiere with the screening of the theatrical version on the ON-TV premium cable channel.
The home video release on VHS and Betamax earlier in the year had been altered and edited to 127 minutes in order to fit the film on one videocassette due to videotape length limitations of the time, so this ON-TV airing would mark the first time the full theatrical version would be seen on home media. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
October 11, 1980- The theatrical version of SUPERMAN THE MOVIE premieres on Showtime. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
October 12, 1980- The theatrical version premieres on HBO.
October 25-26, 1980– Showtime offers a free viewing weekend with the theatrical version of SUPERMAN THE MOVIE as one of the main attractions. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
November 1980
November 8, 1980– A month after first airing on most major cable television movie channels, the theatrical version of SUPERMAN THE MOVIE premieres on The Movie Channel. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
November 17 1980– The theatrical version of SUPERMAN THE MOVIE premieres on Home Theater Network. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
December 1980
December 4, 1980– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically in Australia.
December 6 and 7, 1980– HBO offers a free viewing weekend with the theatrical version of SUPERMAN THE MOVIE as one of the main attractions. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
December 9, 1980– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically in France and Norway.
VIDEO: French theatrical trailer.
December 11, 1980– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically in Spain.
December 15-31, 1980– The Movie Channel premium channel begins a two week run of “Best of ’80” airing with the theatrical version as one of its attractions. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
December 16, 1980– Official media preview of SUPERMAN II at 6:30 pm at the Warner West End 2 in London. This information was listed by Ilya Salkind on his Facebook page.
December 19, 1980– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically in Seville, Spain.
December 25, 1980– SUPERMAN II opens in Argentina.
December 31, 1980– The Z Channel premium cable channel ends the year s screening of SUPERMAN THE MOVIE. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
–1981–
January 1981
January 8, 1981– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically in Greece.
February 1981
February 3, 1981– The Marquee cable provider in Salinas, California, offers its subscribers a free viewing of the film at 7:30pm. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
March 1981
March 9, 1981– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically in Denmark.
April 1981
April 2, 1981– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically in Portugal and West Germany.
April 8, 1981– SUPERMAN II has its London Royal Premiere at the Warner West End. Margot Kidder, Terence Stamp, and Sarah Douglas are in attendance.
April 9, 1981– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically in London.
April 12, 1981– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically across all of England.
April 17, 1981– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically in Finland.
May 1981
May 31, 1981– SUPERMAN II has its Washington D.C. premiere. In attendance are Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Jack O’Halloran, Sarah Douglas, Director Richard Lester, Executive Producer Ilya Salkind, and Producer Pierre Spengler.
VIDEO: Washington D.C. and New York premieres footage.
June 1981
June 1, 1981– SUPERMAN II New York premiere. In attendance are Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Jack O’Halloran, Sarah Douglas, Terence Stamp, Director Richard Lester, Executive Producer Ilya Salkind, and Producer Pierre Spengler.
June 5, 1981– The SUPERMAN II original soundtrack is released in North America on record and audio cassette.
June 6, 1981– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically in Japan.
June 19, 1981– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically in Canada and the U.S. in 1,395 theaters earning nearly $4.5 million in its first day.
VIDEO: U.S. theatrical trailer
June 20, 1981– SUPERMAN II records the highest two day box office gross in motion picture history up to that time, earning more than $10 million in its opening two days.
June 21, 1981– SUPERMAN II records the highest grossing opening weekend and highest box office earning for one day in motion picture history up to that time.
June 25, 1981– SUPERMAN II records the highest weekly gross in motion picture history up to that time.
July 1981
July 25, 1981– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically in South Korea.
July 31, 1981– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically in Sweden.
August 1981
August 9, 1981– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically in Ireland.
August 13, 1981– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically in Mexico.
October 1981
October 12, 1981– Less than four months since its North American theatrical release, the theatrical version of SUPERMAN II is released on home video in VHS and Betamax formats.
This release would be the same mono sound print later released in the red clamshell case.
SUPERMAN THE MOVIE is released for a third time on VHS and Betamax.
The previous VHS and Betamax big cardboard box releases by WCI Home Video and Warner Home Video had been sped up and the end credits reduced to bring the original running time of the film from 143 minutes to 127 in order to fit the movie on one cassette due to video tape length limitations of the time, this release is that same 127 minute print slightly altered, making this release unique and different from ANY OTHER officially released version of the film. More on this tomorrow.
For the only time in the history of the official videotapes released on home video in the U.S., the title on the labels of the videocassettes were depicted with the film’s respective logo lettering (previous and later releases featured a basic text font).
The release of SUPERMAN II on home video causes a stir in the video rental community as Warner Bros. makes its video library for rental only to video stores.
Essentially, video stores would lease the tapes from Warner Home Video, and then rent them out to customers. After six months of rental, the video store would be allowed to purchase the used video cassettes at a discounted price. Many video stores refused to carry Warner titles, citing that if your video store rented a title from Warner for their store, and that if that title didn’t rent out that week to customers, you would be out of money.
Basically, Warner Bros. wanted to treat video stores like movie theatres: you rent the films from them weekly, then charge people to watch them.
The film was yet to open theatrically in India, Thailand, Colombia, Uruguay, Turkey, and Peru. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
October 14, 1981– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically in India.
December 1981
December 14, 1981– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically in Colombia.
-1982-
January 1982
January 1, 1982– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically in Uruguay.
January 22, 1982– Three ads from the SUPERMAN II production appear in Variety.
January 24, 1982– ABC premieres THE MAKING OF SUPERMAN THE MOVIE documentary from 7-8pm. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
VIDEO: THE MAKING OF SUPERMAN THE MOVIE ABC TV spot.
February 1982
February 1-7, 1983– ABC promotes the network television premiere of SUPERMAN THE MOVIE on February 7.
VIDEO: SUPERMAN THE MOVIE ABC TV commercials.
February 7, 1982– ABC airs in two parts the extended TV version of SUPERMAN THE MOVIE, featuring roughly 38 minutes of theatrically deleted and alternate takes from 8-10pm. Part 2 would air the following night.
VIDEO: SUPERMAN THE MOVIE ABC night 1 intro, bumpers, and night 2 preview.
February 7 and 8, 1982– NTV in New Foundland airs the extended TV version of SUPERMAN THE MOVIE featuring theatrically deleted and alternate takes at 9:30pm.
February 8, 1982– ABC airs part 2 of the extended TV version of SUPERMAN THE MOVIE featuring roughly 38 minutes of theatrically deleted and alternate takes from 8-10pm.
VIDEO: SUPERMAN THE MOVIE ABC night 2 intro and night 1 recap.
February 14 and 15, 1982– The extended 2 part TV version premieres on network TV in Hawaii.
March 1982
March 1982– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically in Turkey.
March 18, 1982– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically in Peru.
April 1982
Early April 1982– Actor Marlon Brando and story and scriptwriter Mario Puzo settle their lawsuits with the production’s producers.
The payout is an undisclosed amount reportedly to be $10 million split between the the two.
April 13, 1982– Less than a year after its U.S. theatrical release, the theatrical version of SUPERMAN II makes its world television premiere on the QUBE interactive cables service in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, six months before national cable airings. An event is held at Warner Bros. headquarters in Pittsburg, Christopher Reeve flies in on his own plane to be in attendance. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
April 20, 1982– ITV buys the rights to air SUPERMAN THE MOVIE and SUPERMAN II four times each over the next six years.
May 1982
May 19, 1982– Christopher Reeve flies to London to begin a month long preparation starting the next day before filming begins on SUPERMAN III in late June. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
June 1982
June 21-24, 1982– SUPERMAN III begins principal photography with filming portions of the interior of Lana’s home and hotel sequences for SUPERMAN III with Christopher Reeve as Superman and Clark Kent, Annette O’Toole as Lana, and Paul Kaethler as Ricky on E Stage at Pinewood Studios. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
June 23, 1982– Director Richard Lester films the Lana’s hotel room sequences for SUPERMAN III with Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent, Annette O’Toole as Lana Lang, Paul Kaethler as Ricky, and Gavan O’Herlihy as Brad Wilson on E Stage at Pinewood Studios. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
June 24, 1982– Director Richard Lester films the Lana’s hotel room and Lana and Ricky on the subway scenes for SUPERMAN III with Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent, Annette O’Toole as Lana Lang, Paul Kaethler as Ricky, and Gavan O’Herlihy as Brad Wilson on E Stage at Pinewood Studios.
Also filmed on this day on the same stage was a short theatrically deleted sequence featuring Frank Oz as a surgeon about to operate on a patient just as the supercomputer blacks out the planet. The scene was featured in the extended TV version. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
June 25, 1982– Filming the junkyard sequences for SUPERMAN III with Christopher Reeve as Superman and Clark Kent on the Pinewood Studios backlot.
Stunt performer Paul Weston doubles for Reeve.
The American cars were acquired from a local junkyard owner whose lot was sold and needed a location to store the cars until the new lot was ready, so the production rented his entire auto graveyard and brought the cars to the studio lot. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
VIDEO: Filming the junkyard behind the scenes footage.
July 1982
July 23, 1982– Director Richard Lester films the coal mine sequences for SUPERMAN III with Christopher Reeve as Superman, Richard Pryor as Gus Gorman, Chris Malcom as Miner 1, and Larry Lamb as Miner 2 at Battersea Power Station in London, England.
Actor Larry Lamb also appeared in various scenes in SUPERMAN THE MOVIE as a reporter at the Daily Planet (he’s one of the guys that ignores and walks past Clark Kent at the elevators).
VIDEO: Filming the coal mine behind the scenes footage.
August 1982
August 17, 1982– The SUPERMAN III production begins its first day of a month long shoot in Canada.
The first sequences filmed are the gas station fight, Richard Pryor as Gus Gorman in the coffee shop, and man filling gas tank from the end resolution to the gas crisis.
Later that afternoon the production films Richard Pryor’s stunt performer, Greg Elam, leaping into the street on skis for the last part of Gus Gorman’s Webscoe building fall. Pryor would then step in to film his scoot away across the street. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
August 18, 1982– Director Richard Lester films the arrival of Gus in Smallville for SUPERMAN III with Richard Pryor as Gus Gorman, Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent, Paul Kaethler as Ricky, and Annette O’Toole as Lana Lang in High River, Alberta, Canada. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
August 18, 1982– THE MAKING OF SUPERMAN THE MOVIE documentary airs on PBS stations WLIL. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
August 19, 1982– Director Richard Lester films the Smallville celebration for SUPERMAN III with Christopher Reeve as Superman, Richard Pryor as Gus Gorman, Annette O’Toole as Lana Lang, Paul Kaethler as Ricky, Gordon Signer as the Mayor, and Annie Ross as Vera Webster in High River, Alberta, Canada. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
VIDEO: SUPERMAN III Smallville celebration behind the scenes footage.
August 22-27, 1982– Director Richard Lester films the streets of Metropolis location scenes for SUPERMAN III with Christopher Reeve as Superman and Clark Kent, Marc McClure as Jimmy Olsen, Pamela Stephenson as Lorelei, and numerous local extras in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
VIDEO: SUPERMAN III filming the streets of Metropolis behind the scenes footage.
August 22, 1982– Filming in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, for SUPERMAN III with Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent blowing out a burning penguin and getting a torn newspaper, Graham Stark as the blind man losing his dog and painting the street, Wendy Leech as the the lady dropping her grocery bags, and Gordon Rollins as the man who falls into street hole. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
August 22, 1982– THE MAKING OF SUPERMAN THE MOVIE documentary airs on the PBS stations WLVT, WKAR, and KHET. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
August 24 1982– THE MAKING OF SUPERMAN THE MOVIE documentary airs on the PBS stations WNET, KTCA, and WETA. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
August 25, 1982– THE MAKING OF SUPERMAN THE MOVIE documentary airs on PBS stations WLVT and WPBT. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
August 26, 1982– THE MAKING OF SUPERMAN THE MOVIE documentary airs on PBS stations NETV, WTVS, WEDU, KSPS, WVPT, WVPT, WPTO, WPTD, KUED, KHET, and KUAT. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
August 27, 1982– Filming Gus Gorman’s fall down the side of the Webscoe building with stunt performer Greg Elam as Gus Gorman for SUPERMAN III in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
August 28, 1982– THE MAKING OF SUPERMAN THE MOVIE documentary airs on PBS stations CPTV, KIXE, and WVIA. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
August 29-31, 1982– Director Richard Lester films the Smallville picnic sequences for SUPERMAN III with Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent and Superman, Paul Kaethler as Ricky, and Annette O’Toole as Lana Lang in Blackie, Alberta, Canada.
September 1982
Early September 1982– Director Richard Lester films the chemical plant fire locations sequences for SUPERMAN III with Christopher Reeve as Superman, Marc McClure as Jimmy Olsen, Rick McNair as Fireman, Stunt Performer Mark Stewart as Firefighter, and Al Matthews as the Fire Chief at the Turbo Refinery in Alberta, Canada.
The acid room and Superman walking through fire and picking up Jimmy were filmed at Pinewood Studios. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
VIDEO: SUPERMAN III filming the chemical plant fire behind the scenes footage.
September 7, 1982– Director Richard Lester films the Superman landing with an injured Jimmy Olsen and taking off to the lake scenes for SUPERMAN III with Christopher Reeve as Superman, Marc McClure as Jimmy Olsen, Rick McNair as Fireman, Stunt Performer Mark Stewart as Firefighter, and Al Matthews as the Fire Chief at the Alberta Turbo Factory in Alberta, Canada.
The acid room and Superman walking through fire and picking up Jimmy were filmed at Pinewood Studios. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
September 10, 1982– The production holds a thank you party for the cast and crew of the film and their invited guests.
As a token of their appreciation to the people of city for their outstanding support in the making of the film, the production donates $3,000 to the Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts.
September 13, 1982– The production wraps up the last couple of days of location filming in Canada with the tanker truck rescue in Longview, Alberta, Canada. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
September 14, 1982– After almost four weeks of location filming in and around Calgary and High River in Alberta, Canada, and at the Grand Canyon In the U.S., the production heads back to England’s Pinewood Studios for another two months of stage and backlot filming. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
September 21-23, 1982– Director Richard Lester spends three days filming the Webster’s office scenes for SUPERMAN III with Richard Pryor as Gus Gorman, Robert Vaughn as Ross Webster, Pamela Stephenson as Lorelei Ambrosia, Annie Ross as Vera Webster, and Robert Henderson as Mr. Simpson on F Stage at Pinewood Studios. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
August 24 and 25, 1982– Director Richard Lester films the Gus Gorman paycheck scenes with Richard Pryor as Gus Gorman, Lou Hirsch as Fred, and Bill Reimbold as Wages Man on L Stage at Pinewood Studios. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
October 1982
October 1, 1982– SUPERMAN II begins a re-release across the U.S. The film would play throughout the country well into 1983. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
November 1982
November 3, 1982– Christopher Reeve appears on ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT to talk SUPERMAN III. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
November 12, 1982- SUPERMAN THE MOVIE is released for the fourth time, and SUPERMAN II for its second, on VHS and Betamax.
This was to be the first time that the complete 144 minutes theatrical version of SUPERMAN THE MOVIE would become available on home video.
The first two home video releases (the big black box by WCI HOME VIDEO and WARNER HOME VIDEO) had been edited down to 127 minutes, sped up, and the end credits reduced in order to fit the entire film on one videocassette due to tape length limitations of the time. The third home video release was the complete film in normal speed, but the end credits were still reduced. This same third release was also marked as part of Warner Home Video’s new rental only plan, where Warner would rent, not sell, the videotapes to stores, they in turn rented them out to customers. This marketing strategy barely lasted a year, as many video stores refused to carry Warner titles because of it.
SUPERMAN II had been released in October the previous year (1981), also as part of the Warner rental only program, so this release would be the first where the film was available for purchase by the general public.
November 13, 1982– The CFCN Canadian TV network airs for the second time the extended TV version of SUPERMAN THE MOVIE.
This is the same version as the two night airing in February edited to run in one night. Note in the ad the mention of SUPERMAN III filming in Calgary over the summer of 1982. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
November 14, 1982– ABC airs the extended TV version of SUPERMAN THE MOVIE from 8-11:40pm. This is the same version as the two night airing in February edited to run in one night.
VIDEO: SUPERMAN THE MOVIE ABC intro and bumpers.
November 27, 1982– ABC airs the extended TV version of SUPERMAN THE MOVIE on their Hawaii affiliate station KITV. This is the same version as the two night airing in February edited to run in one night. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
November 27, 1982– THE MAKING OF SUPERMAN THE MOVIE documentary airs on the PBS station KTCA. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
December 1982
December 8, 1982– THE MAKING OF SUPERMAN THE MOVIE documentary airs on PBS stations KEDT and KTVP. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
December 30, 1982– SUPERMAN II opens theatrically in Thailand.
December 21, 1982– Helen Slater is notified that she has been cast as Supergirl, Linda Lee, and Kara. Her pay, $75,000.
SUPERMAN III had finished principal photography the previous month and is in post production to be released in less than six months. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
VIDEO: Helen Slater is informed she is cast, from the SUPERGIRL: THE MAKING OF THE MOVIE 1985 documentary.
-1983-
January 1983
January 1983– The Movie Channel runs the “Superman Adventure Sweepstakes” mail in contest.
1st place (1 winner, 3 guests): Round trip travel on a private Learjet to Washington D.C., accommodations for four, $1000 spending money, and tickets to the cast party and premiere screening of SUPERMAN III.
2nd place (150 winners): Atari 2600 video computer system and Superman game.
3rd place (1500 winners): SUPERMAN II U.S. movie program. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
VIDEO: The Movie Channel “Superman Adventure Sweepstakes” tv spot.
January 1, 1983– The HBO premium cable channel premieres the theatrical version of SUPERMAN II.
January 2, 1983– The Showtime premium cable channel premieres the theatrical version of SUPERMAN II.
January 9, 1983– The Movie Channel airs the theatrical version SUPERMAN II.
January 21-23, 1983– The Movie Channel premium cable channel offers a free preview weekend with the theatrical version of SUPERMAN II as one of the main attractions. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
Late January 1983– The theatrical version of SUPERMAN II is released on CED. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
February 1983
February 14, 1983- Composer Ken Thorne begins recording the musical score to SUPERMAN III at The Music Centre in England.
February 13 and 14, 1982– The Extended 2 part TV version makes its network premiere on Australian television’s Ch 10.
The competing channel 9’s advertising of their airing of the film Slapshot starring Paul Newman takes a swipe at Channel 10’s Superman screening. Newman was offered the role of Superman early in the casting decisions.
February 18-20, 1983– The World of Wheels auto show in Rapid City, South Dakota
has free showings of the film. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
March 1983
March 1983– The theatrical version of SUPERMAN II premieres on Canadian cable television.
April 1983
April 18, 1983– SUPERGIRL begins principal photography at Pinewood Studios.
May 1983
May 26, 1983– The theatrical version airs as a free viewing on Palmer Cablevision.
June 1983
June 1983– The SUPERGIRL production spends a week in Jackson Hole, the Yellowstone National Park, and the surrounding horse ranches in the Wyoming area filming the flying background plates.
The waterfall Supergirl flies over is called the Yellowstone Lower Falls, and is accessible to tourists.
The remaining locations for the sequence were filmed in Scotland and at Pinewood Studios and Blackpark Lake in England. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
June 12, 1983– SUPERMAN III has its Washington D.C. premiere to benefit the Special Olympics.
VIDEO: Washington D.C. premiere footage.
June 14, 1983– SUPERMAN III has its New York premiere to benefit the Museum of Modern Art.
June 17, 1983– SUPERMAN III opens theatrically across North America on 1, 759 screens.
VIDEO: U.S. theatrical trailer.
June 19, 1983– SUPERMAN III is the highest grossing film of the weekend.
July 1983
July 18, 1983– SUPERMAN III has its London Royal Premiere at the ABC Shaftesbury Avenue theatre.
The event is a charity function to benefit The Variety Club of Great Britain and The Newspaper Press Fund.
In attendance are Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, Christopher Reeve, Marc McClure, Pamela Stephenson, Annie Ross, Paul Kaethler, Director Richard Lester, and Producers Pierre Spengler and Alexander and Ilya Salkind.
VIDEO: SUPERMAN III ITV Royal Premiere TV special.
July 1983– Filming the tractor and Midvale town sequences for SUPERGIRL with Helen Slater as Linda Lee and Supergirl, Hart Bochner as Ethan, Peter Cook as Nigel, Sandra Dickinson as Pretty Young Lady, Marc McClure as Jimmy Olsen, Maureen Teefy as Lucy Lane, Brenda Vaccaro as Bianca, and Faye Dunaway as Selena on the Pinewood Studios backlot. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
August 1983
August 11, 1983– SUPERGIRL completes principal photography with filming of the beach sunset scene (pictured in ad below). This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
November 1983
November 25, 1983– The Showtime premium cable channel airs a Christopher Reeve quadruple feature marathon.
5pm– DEATHTRAP
7pm– FAIRY TALE THEATER: SLEEPING BEAUTY
8pm– SUPERMAN II
10:15pm– MONSIGNOR
December 1983
December 6, 1983– The theatrical version of SUPERMAN III is released in the U.S. on VHS and Betamax for $69.95, and on laserdisc and CED for $39.95. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
-1984-
January 1984
January 1, 1984– The Nickelodeon show “Stand By… Lights! Camera! Action!” features a segment on the making of SUPERMAN III. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
Video: Stand By… Lights! Camera! Action! featurette.
January 1, 1984– ABC airs THE MAKING OF SUPERMAN III documentary from 7-8pm. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
January 17, 1984- TELE 1ST goes on the air and features the theatrical version of SUPERMAN II in its first weeks of broadcasting, more than two months prior to premiering on general premium cable channels in April. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
February 1984
February 17, 1984– SUPERMAN II makes its network tv world premiere as the extended version airs in Canada three days before the U.S.
This version was put together by the Salkind’s production company for television to feature roughly 20 minutes of added Richard Donner and Richard Lester filmed scenes unused in the theatrical version, giving it a running time of around 146 minutes. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
February 20, 1984– ABC premieres the extended version of SUPERMAN II.
This was the same TV Version as the Canadian airing a few nights before, except ABC cut roughly 6 minutes out, giving this airing a running time of 140 minutes.
March 1984
March 30, 1984– The extended tv version of SUPERMAN THE MOVIE airs on Australia’s Channel 10.
April 1984
April 1, 1984– Showtime is the first non-network tv channel to air the theatrical version of SUPERMAN III by showing it at 10am, beating the Cinemax airing at noon by two hours. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
April 8, 1984– The theatrical version of SUPERMAN III airs on the HBO premium cable channel.
April 12-15, 1984– The HBO and Cinemax premium cable channels offer a free preview weekend with the theatrical version of SUPERMAN III as one of the main attractions. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
April 18, 1984– The Cowlitz Cableview Co. in Washington offers a free night of movies featuring the theatrical version of SUPERMAN III. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
April 19, 1984– The theatrical version of SUPERMAN III airs on the HBO premium cable channel.
May 1984
May 1984– The theatrical version of SUPERMAN THE MOVIE is released on home video in Spain. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
May 24, 1984– U.S.A. Home Video releases THE MAKING OF SUPERMAN THE MOVIE and THE MAKING OF SUPERMAN II in the U.S. on VHS and Betamax. This site was the first time this date was posted on a Superman website.
July 1984
July 17, 1984– SUPERGIRL opens theatrically in Spain with a 124 minutes running time.
July 19, 1984– SUPERGIRL has its Royal Premiere in London.
July 20 1984– SUPERGIRL opens theatrically in the UK with a 124 minutes running time.
VIDEO: SUPERGIRL UK theatrical trailer.
August 1984
August 9, 1984– SUPERGIRL opens theatrically in Australia.
VIDEO: SUPERGIRL international trailer.
October 1984
October 10, 1984– SUPERGIRL opens theatrically in France.
October 24, 1984– SUPERGIRL opens theatrically in various parts of Canada.
November 1984
November 21, 1984– SUPERGIRL opens theatrically in the U.S. with a 105 minutes running time.
VIDEO: SUPERGIRL U.S. theatrical trailer.
November 27, 1984– SUPERGIRL is #1 at the U.S. box office with $5.7 million for the three day weekend, and $7.7 million in its first five days of release.
December 1984
December 21, 1984– SUPERGIRL opens theatrically in various parts of Canada.
December 23, 1984– The theatrical version of SUPERMAN THE MOVIE airs in Canada and on ABC in the U.S.
This would be the third of four showings on ABC and Canadian television, and since the two previous airings had been the extended version of the film, this showing would mark the first time the theatrical version aired on network television in North America.
VIDEO: ABC intro and teaser.