Abstract
<jats:p>This work analyzes the evolution of Superman in cinema between 1970 and 2000 as a social construct. Through discourse and visual analysis of six films —from Superman The Movie (1978) to Man of Steel (2013)—, the author identifies the values and mindsets prevalent in each era. While the 1978-1987 films feature vibrant colors, high-key lighting, and clear distinctions between good and evil, later productions display gloomy tones, low-key lighting, and blurred moral boundaries. The study reveals how the hero reflects sociocultural transformations: from the rejection of revolutions and dictatorships to the post-9/11 disillusionment. Superman emerges as a symbol trapped between disseminating Western values and revealing American fears, evidencing hegemonic processes in global popular culture.</jats:p>