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The Success of Superman Resulted in One of the Weirdest Christmas Movies Ever
ComicBook.comStory by Catherine DelgadoImage from ComicBook.com
scrn loglineHow the runaway success of Superman led to one of the weirdest Christmas movies ever, an ill-timed attempt to copy the beloved superhero formula.beat sheet- Santa Claus: The Movie was a 1985 Christmas film that bore striking similarities to Richard Donner's 1978 Superman: The Movie, including an origin story, a villain trying to profit off the hero, and even flying scenes - a case of blatant formula replication that audiences rejected.
- Despite Santa and Superman both being symbols of hope, the attempt to replicate the Hero's Journey formula that made Superman a hit backfired, as Santa Claus: The Movie lacked the focus and cultural relevance to pull off such an ambitious blend of genres. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of innovation without understanding the right timing and creative investment.
Read the sourcecall sheetJeannot Szwarc, Richard Donner, DC, Warner Bros. Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Red One, Santa Claus: The Movie, Supergirl, Superman: The Movie - ComicBook.comComicBook.com4d
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The Success of Superman Resulted in One of the Weirdest Christmas Movies Ever
ComicBook.comStory by Catherine Delgado
scrn logline
How the runaway success of Superman led to one of the weirdest Christmas movies ever, an ill-timed attempt to copy the beloved superhero formula.
beat sheet
- Santa Claus: The Movie was a 1985 Christmas film that bore striking similarities to Richard Donner's 1978 Superman: The Movie, including an origin story, a villain trying to profit off the hero, and even flying scenes - a case of blatant formula replication that audiences rejected.
- Despite Santa and Superman both being symbols of hope, the attempt to replicate the Hero's Journey formula that made Superman a hit backfired, as Santa Claus: The Movie lacked the focus and cultural relevance to pull off such an ambitious blend of genres. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of innovation without understanding the right timing and creative investment.
call sheet
Jeannot Szwarc, Richard Donner, DC, Warner Bros. Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Red One, Santa Claus: The Movie, Supergirl, Superman: The Movie