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Superman III
1983 125 min United States of America, United Kingdom, Netherlands PG 18+
★4.9
Comedy, Science Fiction, Action, Adventure
Director: Richard Lester
Trailers
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Description
Aiming to defeat the Man of Steel, wealthy executive Ross Webster hires bumbling but brilliant Gus Gorman to develop synthetic kryptonite, which yields some unexpected psychological effects. Between rekindling romance with his high school sweetheart and saving himself, Superman must contend with a powerful supercomputer.
Budget:
$39M
US Gross:
$59.95M
Worldwide:
$80.25M
Starring
Christopher Reeve
Actor
Richard Pryor
Actor
Margot Kidder
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 1984
— Best Actor
Razzie Awards 1984
— Worst Score
Saturn Awards 1984
— Best Supporting Actress
Razzie Awards 1984
— Worst Supporting Actor
Key opinion
Superman III is widely regarded as a significant decline for the franchise, primarily due to an awkward and often forced shift toward slapstick comedy. While Christopher Reeve's committed performance and the creative 'evil Superman' sequence receive praise, the film is hampered by disjointed storytelling, weak villains, and a tonal inconsistency that alienates fans of the more serious previous installments.
| Acting | Christopher Reeve remains a constant highlight, delivering a committed performance that anchors the film even when the script falters. | |
| Originality | The internal conflict sequence featuring the battle between Superman and his dark persona stands out as the film's most compelling and well-executed creative peak. | |
| Direction | The film attempts a tonal shift toward farce and slapstick, which divides audiences between those who enjoy the lighthearted 'comic book' spirit and those who find it detrimental to the character's legacy. | |
| Acting | Richard Pryor’s performance is polarizing, with some viewers finding him a humorous, likable addition while others view him as miscast and distracting from the narrative. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is criticized for having incoherent motivations, nonsensical plot developments, and a failure to establish a consistent stakes-driven narrative. | |
| Theme | The antagonists are widely considered weak and forgettable, lacking the gravitas or compelling menace of the franchise’s earlier villains. |