Superman (also known as Superman: The Movie) is a 1978 superhero film base on the fictional DC Comics character Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Richard Donner directed the film, which stars Christopher Reeve as Superman, as well as Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, Marlon Brando (who was given top-billed credit), Ned Beatty, Valerie Perrine, Glenn Ford and Jackie Cooper. The film depicts the origin story of the character from being infant Kal-El of Krypton, to his teenage days in Smallville. In addition he takes up the secret identity of mild mannered reporter Clark Kent in Metropolis, falls in love with Lois Lane, and finds himself facing off against the villainous Lex Luthor, who sets in motion a fiendish plot that will have dire consequences for Superman.