What is the relationship between lex luthor and superman?

Lex Luthor is a supervillain character adapted from DC Comics and portrayed by Gene Hackman in the Warner Bros. Superman film series produced by Ilya and Alexander Salkind. In the 1978 film series, Luthor serves as the main antagonist of Superman, positioning himself in direct opposition to the hero’s mission and ideals. The character’s relationship with Superman is defined by this adversarial dynamic, with Luthor’s schemes aimed at undermining or threatening the Superman persona. A film‑original character, Eve Teschmacher, appears as Luthor’s girlfriend in the series; she was later incorporated into comic books and other media adaptations. These elements establish Luthor’s role as the central foil to Superman within the cinematic narrative.