Jesus Christ Superstar (film)
Updated: 12/20/2025, 11:50:59 AM Wikipedia source
Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1973 American musical Biblical drama film directed by Norman Jewison, and co-written by Jewison and Melvyn Bragg, choreographed by Robert Iscove, 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 depicts the conflict between Judas and Jesus and the emotions and motivations of the main characters during the week of the crucifixion of Jesus. It stars Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Yvonne Elliman and Barry Dennen. Jesus Christ Superstar premiered at the Uptown Theater in Washington D.C. on June 26, 1973, and was released theatrically in the United States on August 15, 1973. Despite criticism from a few religious groups and mixed reviews from critics, the film was a box office success. Neeley, Anderson, and Elliman were nominated for Golden Globe Awards in 1974, for their portrayals of Jesus, Judas, and Mary Magdalene, respectively. The film was also nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and received an Oscar nomination for Best Score.
Infobox
Directed by
Norman Jewison
Screenplay by
mw- Melvyn Bragg Norman Jewison
Based on
Jesus Christ Superstarby Andrew Lloyd WebberTim Rice
Produced by
Norman Jewison Robert Stigwood
Starring
Ted Neeley Carl Anderson Yvonne Elliman Barry Dennen
Cinematography
Douglas Slocombe
Edited by
Antony Gibbs
Music by
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Distributed by
Universal Pictures
Release dates
June 26, 1973 (1973-06-26) (Uptown Theater) August 15, 1973 (1973-08-15) (United States)
Running time
106 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$3.5 million
Box office
$24.5 million
Tables
· Reception › Accolades
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Category
Best Scoring: Original Song Score and Adaptation or Scoring: Adaptation
Nominees
André Previn, Herbert W. Spencer, and Andrew Lloyd Webber
Result
Nominated
British Academy Film Awards
British Academy Film Awards
Award
British Academy Film Awards
Category
Best Cinematography
Nominees
Douglas Slocombe
Result
Nominated
Best Costume Design
Best Costume Design
Award
Best Costume Design
Category
Yvonne Blake
Nominees
Nominated
Best Soundtrack
Best Soundtrack
Award
Best Soundtrack
Category
Les Wiggins, Gordon McCallum, and Keith Grant
Nominees
Won
United Nations Award
United Nations Award
Award
United Nations Award
Category
Norman Jewison
Nominees
Nominated
British Society of Cinematographers Awards
British Society of Cinematographers Awards
Award
British Society of Cinematographers Awards
Category
Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature Film
Nominees
Douglas Slocombe
Result
Won
David di Donatello Awards
David di Donatello Awards
Award
David di Donatello Awards
Category
Best Foreign Film
Nominees
Norman Jewison
Result
Won
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Category
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Nominees
Nominated
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Award
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Category
Carl Anderson
Nominees
Nominated
Ted Neeley
Ted Neeley
Award
Ted Neeley
Category
Nominated
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Award
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Category
Yvonne Elliman
Nominees
Nominated
Most Promising Newcomer – Male
Most Promising Newcomer – Male
Award
Most Promising Newcomer – Male
Category
Carl Anderson
Nominees
Nominated
Ted Neeley
Ted Neeley
Award
Ted Neeley
Category
Nominated
NAACP Image Awards
NAACP Image Awards
Award
NAACP Image Awards
Category
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Nominees
Carl Anderson
Result
Nominated
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Award
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Category
Yvonne Elliman
Nominees
Nominated
Valladolid International Film Festival
Valladolid International Film Festival
Award
Valladolid International Film Festival
Category
Golden Spike
Nominees
Norman Jewison
Result
Nominated
| Award | Category | Nominees | Result | Ref. |
| Academy Awards | Best Scoring: Original Song Score and Adaptation or Scoring: Adaptation | André Previn, Herbert W. Spencer, and Andrew Lloyd Webber | Nominated | |
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Cinematography | Douglas Slocombe | Nominated | |
| Best Costume Design | Yvonne Blake | Nominated | ||
| Best Soundtrack | Les Wiggins, Gordon McCallum, and Keith Grant | Won | ||
| United Nations Award | Norman Jewison | Nominated | ||
| British Society of Cinematographers Awards | Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature Film | Douglas Slocombe | Won | |
| David di Donatello Awards | Best Foreign Film | Norman Jewison | Won | |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Carl Anderson | Nominated | ||
| Ted Neeley | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Yvonne Elliman | Nominated | ||
| Most Promising Newcomer – Male | Carl Anderson | Nominated | ||
| Ted Neeley | Nominated | |||
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture | Carl Anderson | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture | Yvonne Elliman | Nominated | ||
| Valladolid International Film Festival | Golden Spike | Norman Jewison | Nominated | |
· Soundtrack › Charts
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Chart (1973–74)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Peak
25
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Chart (1973–74)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Peak
1
| Chart (1973–74) | Peak |
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) | 25 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 1 |
References
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