Superman III (1983)
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Superman must confront a corrupt businessman who uses a powerful supercomputer to attempt to control the world's resources.
The story
The conglomerate Webscoe Industries hires computer programmer Gus Gorman, who secretly embezzles money from the company. Gus catches the attention of CEO Ross Webster, a billionaire fixated on using technology for financial domination. Webster blackmails Gus into aiding his schemes. Meanwhile, Clark Kent returns to Smallville for a high school reunion, where he reconnects with childhood friend Lana Lang. While Clark is in Smallville, Webster orders Gus to use a weather satellite to destroy coffee crops in Colombia. When Superman neutralizes the storm, Webster orders Gus to synthesize Kryptonite to eliminate the hero.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Gus Gorman, a programmer for Webscoe Industries, is blackmailed by CEO Ross Webster into using technology for financial domination. While Clark Kent attends a high school reunion in Smallville and reconnects with Lana Lang, Webster uses Gus to create a storm in Colombia to destroy coffee crops. Superman neutralizes the storm, leading Webster to order the synthesis of Kryptonite. Gus and his sister Vera infiltrate a party at Lana's home to give Superman synthetic Kryptonite; however, it fails to harm him and instead corrupts him, causing him to perform sophomoric acts like straightening the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Gus then proposes creating an energy crisis by redirecting oil tankers. Lorelei Ambrosia seduces Superman into causing an oil spill, leading to a nervous breakdown where Superman splits into two beings: a corrupted version and Clark Kent. Clark defeats the corrupted Superman by strangling him to death. After repairing the oil spill, Superman confronts Webster, Vera, and Lorelei in a self-aware supercomputer that transforms Vera into a cyborg. Superman destroys the computer with acid and hands the villains to the authorities. Finally, Clark visits Lana in Metropolis, where Lois Lane returns from Bermuda.
- First release year
- 1983
- Runtime (minutes)
- 125
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Richard Lester
- Writers
- David Newman · screenplay; Leslie Newman · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Christopher Reeve · Clark Kent / Superman; Richard Pryor · Gus Gorman; Jackie Cooper · Perry White; Marc McClure · Jimmy Olsen; Annette O'Toole · Lana Lang; Annie Ross · Vera Webster; Pamela Stephenson · Lorelei Ambrosia; Robert Vaughn · Ross Webster; Margot Kidder · Lois Lane
- Genres
- superhero; action
- Themes
- technophobia; corruption
- Tone and mood
- slapstick; comedy
- Premise and plot tags
- superhero; sequel; computing
- Source material / true-story basis
- DC Comics character Superman
- Franchise connections
- Superman
- Reception
- The film was less successful than its predecessors both critically and financially, receiving mixed reviews for its reliance on slapstick and rehashed plot points.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 31% · review count: 102; Metacritic · score: 44 · review count: 13
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Raspberry Awards · Worst Supporting Actor · 4th · Nominated; Golden Raspberry Awards · Worst Musical Score · 4th · Nominated
- Production trivia
- The film was originally intended to be titled Superman vs. Superman.; The supercomputer set was created on the 007 Stage.; The film includes a reference to A Hard Day's Night and Help! via a Beatles cover of Chuck Berry's song.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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