Superman III cover art

Superman III Reviews

1983 Certificate PG
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 5548 members

Superman matches wits with an evil mastermind and a computer genius who discovers the one substance that can harm the Man of Steel. Combining the known ingredients of Kryptonite with a guess at the unknown, the genius invents a new Kryptonite that doesn't kill Superman it turns him evil. Meanwhile, a giant computer has been .. Read more

Starring Christopher Reeve, Richard Pryor, Robert Vaughn, Annette O'Toole
Director Richard Lester
Genres Action/Adventure

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  • Critics' reviews (2) of Superman III

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  • 2 stars out of 5

    Director Richard Lester injected a much needed irreverence into Superman II, but he lost his way badly with this third instalment of “the man from Krypton” saga. There are a few neat touches, such as when Christopher Reeve turns nasty, but this proved to be the beginning of the end for the series. The attempt to up the laughter quotient by introducing Richard Pryor doesn't work, and neither he nor Robert Vaughn prove to be an adequate replacement for Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor. Margot Kidder wanted little to do with this sequel and must have been thankful only to get a look-in as Lois Lane, and Pamela Stephenson would probably rather forget her role as Vaughn's dumb girlfriend. Still, for die-hard fans of the superhero, this is adequate entertainment.

    • Radio Times
  • Sometimes humorous but overwritten and overacted variation on a tired theme. The special effects are the thing, but there's too much padding in between.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Superman III

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Supes turns evil ! And gets drunk !

    If you disregard the spoof comedy side of this movie - all the parts with Richard Pryor, then somewhere inside you'll find a half-decent Superman movie starring the excellent Christopher Reeve. Scenes include him freezing a lake and dropping it on the fire to put it out, going to his high-school reunion to meet Lana Lang again and one of the best scenes of the whole series - Superman turns evil, gets drunk, then fights his good alter-ego Clark Kent. The whole bit about super computers and Richard Pryor is a bit of a waste of time, although some of it is still funny. Anyway, Reeve not only does boy-scout Clark and heroic Supes well, but gets to be a mean Supes too! Also includes him sneezing down the bowling alley and shattering all the skittles into a thousand pieces!

      • TJ from London
  • Rated - 4 stars

    Great Fun

    Obviously, don’t rent this if you after something that will stimulate the intellect but if you want a fun family film this is a great choice. The performance from Richard Pryor is hilarious. I hadn’t watched this film since I was a kid and had forgotten just how funny it is.

      • A customer from Bolton, England
  • Rated - 5 stars

    Putting the 'super' back into superman

    A very funny film that has a high enjoyability factor. Tongue firmly planted cheekwards from start to finish, and a wonderful performace from Richard Pryor. Would recommend to anyone, who is a kid, or a kid at heart.

      • A customer from Sheffield, England
  • Most recent members' reviews (2) of Superman III

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  • 1 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Not a great sequel but enough entertainment

    Superman 3 was the beginning of the film series's demise, but it still has a few interesting moments. As usual Christopher Reeve is excellent as Superman and bumbling alter ego Clark Kent. Margot Kidder was obviously not keen to return as Lois Lane, so the writers had Clark going back to a high school reunion and meeting up again with his former sweetheart Lana Lang. They managed to fit Lois Lane in in a small cameo role(she has like two scenes) which will please die hard fans. Richard Pryor is also in this movie as Gus Gorman a computer programmer who helps a tycoon build a super computer to defeat Superman and rule the world. These villains are no match for Lex Luthor or General Zod of the previous films, but there are some comedy moments. And look out for Superman turning nasty and drunk and fighting his other self Clark Kent. Not a great sequel but enough entertainment here for Superman fans to make it worth seeing.

      • Cjm1975 from Wolverhampton
  • 1 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    FUN!

    This is the one where Superman is seduced by femme fatale and someone has clone made of him. someone wants to set off nuclear warhead. someone is brainwashing the people. too much going on at once. but fun!

      • A customer from NEWCASTLE
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Supes turns evil ! And gets drunk !

    If you disregard the spoof comedy side of this movie - all the parts with Richard Pryor, then somewhere inside you'll find a half-decent Superman movie starring the excellent Christopher Reeve. Scenes include him freezing a lake and dropping it on the fire to put it out, going to his high-school reunion to meet Lana Lang again and one of the best scenes of the whole series - Superman turns evil, gets drunk, then fights his good alter-ego Clark Kent. The whole bit about super computers and Richard Pryor is a bit of a waste of time, although some of it is still funny. Anyway, Reeve not only does boy-scout Clark and heroic Supes well, but gets to be a mean Supes too! Also includes him sneezing down the bowling alley and shattering all the skittles into a thousand pieces!

      • TJ from London
  • Rated - 4 stars

    Great Fun

    Obviously, don’t rent this if you after something that will stimulate the intellect but if you want a fun family film this is a great choice. The performance from Richard Pryor is hilarious. I hadn’t watched this film since I was a kid and had forgotten just how funny it is.

      • A customer from Bolton, England
  • Rated - 5 stars

    Putting the 'super' back into superman

    A very funny film that has a high enjoyability factor. Tongue firmly planted cheekwards from start to finish, and a wonderful performace from Richard Pryor. Would recommend to anyone, who is a kid, or a kid at heart.

      • A customer from Sheffield, England
  • Rated - 4 stars

    super...............man

    havent seen this film for a while forgot what a class act chris reeve is excellant!

      • david mitchell from southampton
  • Rated - 4 stars

    SUPERMAN 3

    Superman 3, Synthetic kryptonite laced with tobacco tar splits Superman in two: good Clark Kent and bad Man of Steel. Another great superman sequel. I particularly enjoyed Richard Prior in this one.

      • Cornetto from Lancaster
  • 1 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Great , innocent fun !

    Superman 3 is a joy to behold simply because it is a fun movie that has no pretentiousness and deeply profound meaning.

    Over the top villains and gullible sidekicks, the man in red and blue tights and some good, as well as lousy, effects.

    Two hours of sheer fun. Ceetainly better than Matrix Revolutions.

      • A customer from Durham, England
  • 0 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    Rubbish!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I've always remembered this film from my childhood, having fond memories of the film & remembering being scared out of my wits when the woman gets taken over by the computer. Now, at 23 years old, I guess my tastes have matured slightly. Utterly rubbish and an embarassment to the franchise!! Don't get me started on Superman 4!!

      • A customer from Newcastle Upon Tyne
  • 1 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    FUN!

    This is the one where Superman is seduced by femme fatale and someone has clone made of him. someone wants to set off nuclear warhead. someone is brainwashing the people. too much going on at once. but fun!

      • A customer from NEWCASTLE
  • 1 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Not a great sequel but enough entertainment

    Superman 3 was the beginning of the film series's demise, but it still has a few interesting moments. As usual Christopher Reeve is excellent as Superman and bumbling alter ego Clark Kent. Margot Kidder was obviously not keen to return as Lois Lane, so the writers had Clark going back to a high school reunion and meeting up again with his former sweetheart Lana Lang. They managed to fit Lois Lane in in a small cameo role(she has like two scenes) which will please die hard fans. Richard Pryor is also in this movie as Gus Gorman a computer programmer who helps a tycoon build a super computer to defeat Superman and rule the world. These villains are no match for Lex Luthor or General Zod of the previous films, but there are some comedy moments. And look out for Superman turning nasty and drunk and fighting his other self Clark Kent. Not a great sequel but enough entertainment here for Superman fans to make it worth seeing.

      • Cjm1975 from Wolverhampton
  • 2 out of 6 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    erm... rating for poor service

    wasn't this released on October 17th - together with Superman 4? Just a thought... as at the time of writing this is still being listed as 'not available'

      • A customer from annoyed
  • Critics' reviews (2)

  • 2 stars out of 5

    Director Richard Lester injected a much needed irreverence into Superman II, but he lost his way badly with this third instalment of “the man from Krypton” saga. There are a few neat touches, such as when Christopher Reeve turns nasty, but this proved to be the beginning of the end for the series. The attempt to up the laughter quotient by introducing Richard Pryor doesn't work, and neither he nor Robert Vaughn prove to be an adequate replacement for Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor. Margot Kidder wanted little to do with this sequel and must have been thankful only to get a look-in as Lois Lane, and Pamela Stephenson would probably rather forget her role as Vaughn's dumb girlfriend. Still, for die-hard fans of the superhero, this is adequate entertainment.

    • Radio Times
  • Sometimes humorous but overwritten and overacted variation on a tired theme. The special effects are the thing, but there's too much padding in between.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide

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    • Superman III
      Superman matches wits with an evil mastermind and a computer genius who discovers the one substance that can harm the Man of Steel. Combining the known ingredients of Kryptonite with a guess at the unknown, the genius invents a new Kryptonite that doesn't kill Superman it turns him evil. Meanwhile, ...

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