Superhero movies are more popular than ever in present times, but it is important to note that the entertainment industries have been making superhero movies on a semi-regular basis for decades and decades. For proof, look no further than the Supergirl movie, which came out in 1984.
Here are 10 things that you may or may not have known about the Supergirl movie:
It Was a Spin-off
Given its timing, it should come as no surprise to learn that Supergirl was a spin-off of the Superman franchise launched by the father-and-son team of Alexander and Ilya Salkind. Said franchise consisted of four movies, with the fourth movie having been made by Cannon Films.
Canon to the Superman Franchise
Supergirl is canon to the Superman franchise, consisting of the Superman movies starring Christopher Reeve. However, it is not a well-regarded movie, as shown by the fact that Warner Bros. has never bothered to bundle it with the Superman movies in box sets.
Resulted in the Selling of the Superman Franchise
In fact, Supergirl is sometimes considered to be one of the major factors that resulted in the Salkinds selling the rights to the Superman franchise to Cannon Films. Suffice to say that Cannon Films proceeded to botch Superman IV, so much so that it was both a critical and a commercial failure.
Starred Helen Slater
Regardless, Supergirl starred Helen Slater, who has participated in a wide range of productions since that time. It is interesting to note that Slater has since shown up in not just Smallville as Superman’s biological mother but also Supergirl as Supergirl’s adoptive mother.
Helen Slater Got Nominated for a Saturn Award
As it turned out, Slater’s performance was well-received by a significant segment of people. After all, her performance got her nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Actress, which was an impressive achievement even if she didn’t get it in the end.
Peter O’Toole and Faye Dunaway Were Not So Well-Received
In contrast to Slater, Peter O’Toole and Faye Dunaway’s performances as Zaltar and Selena were not so well-received. This can be seen in how the two managed to win nominations for the Golden Raspberry Awards for the Worst Actor and the Worst Actress.
Christopher Reeve Failed to Make an Appearance
Initially, Christopher Reeve was supposed to make an appearance in Supergirl in his role as Superman. However, he bowed out, with the result that his absence had to be explained by a newscast within the movie announcing that Superman was visiting another galaxy.
Directed By Jeannot Szwarc
The Salkinds had been hoping to get Richard Lester to direct Supergirl. When that plan failed, they turned to Robert Wise, who declined as well. As a result, the Salkinds settled for a French film-maker named Jeannot Szwarc, who was much better-known for his work in TV at that point in time.
Still Claimed the Number One Spot at the Box Office on Its Opening Weekend
There can be no doubt about the fact that Supergirl was a failure from a commercial perspective, seeing as how it brought in $14.3 million at the box office on a $35 million budget. However, it is interesting to note that it was able to claim the number one spot at the box office for its opening weekend.
Failed to Freshen Up the Superman Franchise
Ultimately, Supergirl failed its intended purpose of freshening up the Superman franchise, which needed it because Superman III was a flop. Its impact was particularly hard-felt because the Salkinds had actually funded the whole thing, though Warner Bros. was still involved in the production process from start to finish.
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