With James Gunn’s new Superman off to a flying start at the box office, conversations have shifted to how much the stars are earning—especially in comparison to past versions. While Superman films have traditionally cast lesser-known actors in the title role, one constant through the franchise’s history has been the casting of bigger stars in key supporting roles. And no casting deal illustrates this better than Marlon Brando’s historic payday in Richard Donner’s Superman (1978).
💰 The Pay Gap That Shocked Hollywood
The 1978 Superman starred a then-unknown Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent/Superman. Reeve was reportedly paid $250,000 for the role—considered decent for a newcomer at the time. Margot Kidder, who played Lois Lane, earned $110,000, while Oscar-winner Gene Hackman received a handsome $2 million for portraying Lex Luthor.
But the biggest paycheck went to Marlon Brando, who played Jor-El, Superman’s Kryptonian father. Brando was on screen for less than 10 minutes, but thanks to his legendary star power and a savvy contract, he earned:
- $3.7 million upfront, and
- 11.75% of the film’s backend profits
With Superman raking in $300 million worldwide, Brando walked away with nearly $19 million in total—75 times more than Christopher Reeve. At the time, it was one of the most lucrative deals ever struck by an actor for such limited screen time.
🦸♂️ The New Superman Film and Salaries
Fast-forward to 2025, James Gunn’s Superman reboot has repeated the tradition of casting a relatively new face in the lead. David Corenswet, the new Superman, reportedly earned $750,000, while Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane) earned the same.
The highest-paid actor in the film is Nicholas Hoult, who plays Lex Luthor and took home $2 million. Despite a production budget of $225 million, the film has already made $250 million globally in its first four days, showing promising legs at the box office.