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Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

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Average Rating: 5.9/10
Reviews Counted: 21
Fresh: 12 | Rotten: 9

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 1

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Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 35,169

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Movie Info

The second Biblical epic to be turned into a musical by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice, this box-office disappointment recounts the last week in the life of Jesus Christ in rock-opera format and from the surprising point of view of Christ's betrayer, Judas Iscariot. Carl Anderson stars as Judas, who has begun to believe that Jesus (Ted Neeley) has sold out and started buying into the mythology that's quickly springing up around him. Particularly disturbing to Judas is the

G, 1 hr. 48 min.

Drama, Faith & Spirituality, Musical & Performing Arts

Directed By: Norman Jewison

Written By: Melvyn Bragg

In Theaters: Aug 17, 1973 Wide

On DVD: Mar 16, 1999

Cast

Ted Neeley
Jesus Christ
Carl Anderson (II)
Judas Iscariot
Yvonne Elliman
Mary Magdalene
Barry Dennen
Pontius Pilate
Bob Bingham
Caiaphas
Josh Mostel
King Herod
Pi Douglas
Apostles
Ron Hyatt
Jeffrey Hyslop
Apostle
Robert LuPone
Apostle
Larry Marshall
Simon Zealotes
Marcia McBroom
Woman
Richard Molinare
Apostle
Philip Toubus
Peter
Thommie Walsh
Jonathan Wynne
Apostle
Kurt Yahgjian
Annas
Leeyan Granger
Woman
Joshua Mostel
Kurt Yaghjian
Paul Thomas

Critic Reviews for Jesus Christ Superstar

All Critics (21) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (13) | Rotten (10) | DVD (9)

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

March 19, 2008 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment (1)

Don Druker

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Jewison, a director of large talent, has taken a piece of commercial shlock and turned it into a Biblical movie with dignity.

October 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comment

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

Yvonne Elliman is electrifying as Mary Magdalene, and Carl Anderson couldn't have been better as Judas; but Ted Neeley as Jesus is more whiny than heroic.

March 19, 2008 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

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

March 19, 2008 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine

| Comment

David Parkinson

Empire Magazine

niz uistinu upe%u010Datljivih, a ponekad i nadrealnih scena

June 22, 2007 Full Review Source: Index.hr

| Comment

Dragan Antulov

Index.hr

Despite the 'impressive' desert locations and an array of tanks (to represent the ills of modern militarism), it's still staged like a student revue.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Time Out

Flawed, but still worthwhile film of the show.

September 4, 2003 Comment

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Like a baptism by fire, Jesus Christ Superstar rarely leaves the viewer in lukewarm waters

June 14, 2003 Full Review Source: Old School Reviews

| Comment

John A. Nesbit

Old School Reviews Source: Old School Reviews

Overall: Some good songs, some interesting choreography, and some utterly forgotten actors.

June 14, 2003 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com

| Comment

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

[A] rather tedious, if flamboyant affair.

May 24, 2003 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Film4

Ted Neeley is great but the film never rises to the material.

February 7, 2003 Comment

Gerry Shamray

Sun Newspapers of Cleveland

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Audience Reviews for Jesus Christ Superstar

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This is not the best movie musical ever made, not even close. But is it highly enjoyable? Short answer: Yes. Long answer: This is one of the most surreal films made. Not only is it based on the musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, but the film gives us thousand anachronisms to stammer at, giving it a very off-beat feel that

April 22, 2011