Jesus Christ Superstar (film)

For the 1970 album, see Jesus Christ Superstar (album).

Jesus Christ Superstar
Theatrical release poster
Directed byNorman Jewison
Screenplay by
Based on
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyDouglas Slocombe
Edited byAntony Gibbs
Music byAndrew Lloyd Webber
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release dates
  • June 26, 1973 (1973-06-26) (Uptown Theater)
  • August 15, 1973 (1973-08-15) (United States)
Running time
106 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3.5 million[2]
Box office$24.5 million[3]

Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1973 American musical drama film directed by Norman Jewison, and co-written by Jewison and Melvyn Bragg, based on the 1970 concept album of the same name written by Tim Rice and composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, which in turn inspired a 1971 musical. The film, which stars Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Yvonne Elliman and Barry Dennen, depicts the conflict between Judas and Jesus[4] and the emotions and motivations of the main characters during the week of the crucifixion of Jesus.

Jesus Christ Superstar premiered at the Uptown Theater in Washington D.C. on June 26, 1973,[5] and was released theatrically in the United States on August 15, 1973. Neeley, Anderson, and Elliman were nominated for Golden Globe Awards in 1974, for their portrayals of Jesus, Judas, and Mary Magdalene, respectively. Despite criticism from a few religious groups and mixed reviews from critics,[6] the film was a box office success.

  1. ^ "Jesus Christ Superstar (A)". BBFC. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  2. ^ Jesus Christ Superstar at the TCM Movie Database
  3. ^ "Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Archived from the original on August 24, 2014. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  4. ^ Jewison, Norman (2004). This Terrible Business Has Been Good to Me. An Autobiography. Toronto: Key Porter Books. p. 164. ISBN 1-55263211-3. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  5. ^ "Stereotype 'Superstar'". The Washington Post. June 25, 1973. B5. "The film premieres Tuesday evening at Washington's Uptown theater and opens to the public Wednesday."
  6. ^ Forster, Arnold; Epstein, Benjamin (1974). The New Anti-Semitism. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company. pp. 91–101.