Superman IV – The Quest for Peace (1987)
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Superman attempts to rid the world of nuclear weapons while facing a new superhuman threat created by Lex Luthor.
The story
After saving a Russian space station and retrieving a Kryptonian energy module, Superman returns to Metropolis to find the Daily Planet under new management. Amidst escalating global tensions over nuclear weapons, Superman addresses the United Nations to announce his plan for global disarmament. However, Lex Luthor orchestrates a jailbreak and teams up with black market arms dealers to create a new threat. Using a genetic matrix stolen from Superman, Luthor creates a superhuman entity intended to serve his interests, forcing the Man of Steel to defend the world from a devastating new power.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Superman saves a Russian space station and retrieves a Kryptonian energy module. In Metropolis, the Daily Planet is taken over by David Warfield, who replaces Perry White with his daughter Lacy. Superman addresses the UN to announce a plan for nuclear disarmament. Lex Luthor, freed from prison by his nephew Lenny, steals Superman's hair to create a genetic matrix. He attaches it to a missile which, when hurled into the Sun by Superman, creates the superhuman Nuclear Man. Nuclear Man attacks the world, eventually slashing Superman and causing him to develop radiation sickness. Superman uses the Kryptonian module to heal and engages Nuclear Man on the Moon. After Nuclear Man kidnaps Lacy, Superman creates a solar eclipse to deprive him of sunlight, rescues her, and traps Nuclear Man in a nuclear power plant. Back in Metropolis, Perry White regains control of the Daily Planet. Superman apprehends the Luthors and concludes with a speech on the long road to world peace.
- First release year
- 1987
- Runtime (minutes)
- 90
- Production countries
- United States; United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Sidney J. Furie
- Writers
- Lawrence Konner · screenplay; Mark Rosenthal · screenplay; Christopher Reeve · story; Lawrence Konner · story; Mark Rosenthal · story
- Cast and characters
- Christopher Reeve · Clark Kent / Superman; Gene Hackman · Lex Luthor; Jackie Cooper · Perry White; Marc McClure · Jimmy Olsen; Jon Cryer · Lenny Luthor; Sam Wanamaker · David Warfield; Mariel Hemingway · Lacy Warfield; Margot Kidder · Lois Lane
- Genres
- superhero; science fiction; action
- Themes
- Nuclear disarmament; World peace; Heroism
- Tone and mood
- Serious; Action-oriented
- Premise and plot tags
- Superhero; Sci-Fi; Action; Anti-war; Cold War
- Source material / true-story basis
- DC Comics character Superman
- Franchise connections
- Superman
- Reception
- The film received negative reviews from critics, citing poor special effects and boring action sequences. It underperformed at the box office, grossing $37 million on a $17 million budget.
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Raspberry Awards · Worst Supporting Actress · 8th · lost; Golden Raspberry Awards · Worst Visual Effects · 8th · lost
- Production trivia
- 45 minutes of footage were deleted after negative test screenings.; The film was the first in the series not to have the involvement of Alexander Salkind and Ilya Salkind as producers.; Christopher Reeve agreed to return in exchange for a larger salary and limited creative control.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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