Jesus Christ Superstar

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Jesus Christ Superstar

G

1973

1h 47m

Musical

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

52%

Tomatometer

31 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Adapted from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Broadway rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar recounts the last days of Jesus Christ (Ted Neeley) from the perspective of Judas Iscariot (Carl Anderson), his betrayer. As Jesus' following increases, Judas begins to worry that Jesus is falling for his own hype, forgetting the principles of his teachings and growing too close to the prostitute Mary Magdalene (Yvonne Elliman). After Jesus has an outburst in a temple, Judas turns on him.

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Critics Consensus

Jesus Christ Superstar has too much spunk to fall into sacrilege, but miscasting and tonal monotony halts this musical's groove.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Oct 13, 2023

Finally ‘Superstar’ blares forth with the shallow impact of an inferior imitation of Isaac Hayes.

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David Parkinson

Empire Magazine

Mar 19, 2008

2/5

If it weren't for Lost Horizon, this would have gone down in history as the Worst Musical of 1973.

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Don Druker

Chicago Reader

Mar 19, 2008

The music quickly becomes monotonous, and the operatic dialogue is silly right from the start.

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Kenneth R. Morefield

1More Film Blog

Feb 19, 2026

3/4

The music had imprinted itself on me in ways that proved inescapable.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Mar 27, 2024

4/5

…should not be taken as gospel. This good old-fashioned funkadelic religious -themed musical offers a decidedly 1970’s hippy-dippy slant on the story of Christ, and those who find the rock-opera concept offensive should return to their unfiltered text…

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David Elliott

Chicago Daily News

Oct 3, 2023

"Superstar" would be fairly innocuous except that its appeal is so calculated to blitz the audience with pure, dumb sensation. The emphasis on brute scale and shrill volume is oppressive, and at times even frightening.

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Pat

May 17, 2023

It's an amazing film, I adore it, is just fantastic. I hope Art House Eugene will show it again in a year or two. Also would love to see Hair and many others too! So glad this theatre is back in business!

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Joe S

Apr 18, 2022

This is an incredibly well shot and staged film. I had never seen it on the big screen and it's one of my favorites. The emotions in the performances connect so deeply with the human side of Christ's last days. It's a wonderfully rendered human portrait and, if they show it every Easter in the theaters, I'll be there.

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Teddy B

@RT90521672 15 hrs ago

Strangely reverent and unpretentious, 'Superstar' shines with beautiful cinematography and electrifying musical numbers. For a show all about glitz and glam, this film strips away all superficiality (besides some ridiculous costumes), right down to the everlasting desert environment, to present a deeply human and humbling interpretation of the Passion.

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Len H

@AhemAhem Mar 8, 2026

Critics are, on the whole, are more interested in entertainment than actual assessment. What we need more are movie appreciators. Reviews, and all human interactions, should start from a positive perspective and move towards constructive assessments. Judging works on how the critic would envision the product rather than on the actual work itself is selfish and ultimately, puriel and unsatisfying.

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S. T

@RT07816200 Nov 30, 2025

Wonderfully Weird. Enjoy it for the hippie 70's piece of fun, pop culture musical whimsy that it is for the times it was created in and realize this is not a documentary. It was definitely entertaining. Very catchy music. It was a huge hit in 1973. I really liked it!

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Brody B

@brodybaker25 Jul 30, 2025

So this is, in my opinion, a sacrilegious movie. Jesus Christ Superstar is blasphemy because the movie focuses more on Judas than Jesus. Also, it's showing the Jesus wanted to be famous instead of the man he really is.

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Norman Jewison

Director

Ted Neeley

Jesus Christ

Carl Anderson

Judas Iscariot

Yvonne Elliman

Mary Magdalene

Barry Dennen

Pontius Pilate

Bob Bingham

Caiaphas

Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - What's the Buzz

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Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - I Don't Know How to Love Him

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Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - King Herod's Song

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Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - Heaven on Their Minds

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Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - Simon Zealotes

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Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - Trial Before Pilate

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Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - This Jesus Must Die

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Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - Damned for All Time

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Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - Superstar

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Jesus Christ Superstar: Official Clip - Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say)

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Synopsis

Adapted from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Broadway rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar recounts the last days of Jesus Christ (Ted Neeley) from the perspective of Judas Iscariot (Carl Anderson), his betrayer. As Jesus' following increases, Judas begins to worry that Jesus is falling for his own hype, forgetting the principles of his teachings and growing too close to the prostitute Mary Magdalene (Yvonne Elliman). After Jesus has an outburst in a temple, Judas turns on him.

Director: Norman Jewison
Producer: Norman Jewison, Robert Stigwood
Distributor: MCA/Universal Pictures [us]
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: G
Genre: Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 15, 1973, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Runtime: 1h 47m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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