Superman is the story of a young child send by his father Jor-el, the leader of the planet Krypton, to earth.  The child is raised in the Midwest by loving parents who accept his amazing powers and try to make him feel normal.  He leaves home for New York City and there lives two different lives.  One as a quiet reporter, but he also feels the need to become Superman and save people from danger and catch criminals.  His test comes when millionaire Lex Luther, who lives underground, tries to destroy California in order to up property value.  Superman ends up breaking a promise to his father in order to save Lois Lane, the woman he loves.

This movie was made in 1978 as the eighties, a decade of greed and moral decay, were drawing near.  Superman acts as an opposing force, by offering a role model who is morally sound.  The movie tries to demonstrate that humans can act good and evil, but that goodness is the correct way to succeed.  He fights for Truth, Justice, and the American Way.  Lex Luther embodies the typical business man who would sacrifice millions of people to make billions of dollars out of property sales.  It also shows a rich man who only wants to become richer and greedier.