Superman (1978)

It goes without saying that Superman is the most iconic superhero of all time and is, therefore, incredibly popular. Any movie starring the character – even if it’s terrible – will make a profit at the box office, but that wasn’t always guaranteed to be the case.

When 1978’s Superman movie was released, it was a major risk. Superhero movies weren’t “cool”, and the fact that an unknown actor named Christopher Reeve was cast meant that the movie had the potential to flop terribly.

However, it was brilliant. Reeve was charming in the role, and the movie captured the imaginations of comic book fans and mainstream movie fans alike around the world. It’s arguably the reason comic book movies have become as popular as they are today.

Let’s move on to another well known superhero, who also wasn’t guaranteed to be a success in his first blockbuster outing.