Christopher Reeve

Richard Pryor

Jackie Cooper

Marc McClure

Annette O'Toole

Annie Ross

Pamela Stephenson

Robert Vaughn

Margot Kidder

Gavan O'Herlihy

Nancy Roberts

Graham Stark

Henry Woolf

Gordon Rollings

Peter Wear

Justin Case

Bob Todd

Terry Camilleri

Stefan Kalipha

Helen Horton

Lou Hirsch

Bill Reimbold

Shane Rimmer

Al Matthews

Barry Dennen

Enid Saunders

Kevin Harrison Cork

Robert Henderson

Paul Kaethler

R.J. Bell

Pamela Mandell

Peter Whitman

Ronnie Brody

Sandra Dickinson

Philip Gilbert

Pat Starr

Gordon Signer

John Bluthal

George Chisholm

David Fielder

Robert Beatty

Christopher Malcolm

Larry Lamb

Geoffrey Steele

Jill Goldston

Barrie Holland

John Victor-Smith

Joe Shuster

Richard Lester

Ilya Salkind

Ken Thorne

Pierre Spengler

Leslie Newman

Robert Paynter

David Newman

Jerry Siegel

Peter Murton

Debbie McWilliams

Robert Simmonds

Mike Fenton

Jane Feinberg

Greg Powell

Tracey Eddon

Colin Skeaping

Graham Churchyard

Vic Armstrong

Paul Weston

Wendy Leech

Sue Crosland

Superman Collection

Comedy

Science Fiction

Action

Adventure

Superman III

Dovemead Films

Alexander and Ilya Salkind Productions

Netherlands

United Kingdom

United States of America

Español

English

Italiano

saving the world

superhero

super computer

identity crisis

loss of powers

based on comic

sequel

hacking

super power

bowling alley

superhuman strength

Charles Dance

**Great sequel!**

A funny, exciting Superman movie that includes the greatest scene in the franchise - the junkyard fight between Evil Supes and his nerdy counterpart, Clark Kent.

Richard Pryor is hilarious as the hapless Gus Gorman - the computer programming genius with a heart. Robert Vaughn makes for a great villain and the special effects are top notch.

So much more entertaining than the tedious bile that would come in later years - Superman Returns and the Henry Cavill rubbish.

I remember sitting in the packed theater in 1983 and the whole audience thoroughly enjoying this - laughing and cheering in all the right places.

And for those who claim the film is too silly - do they not remember Ned Beatty as the cretin Otis in Superman and Superman II - surely the stupidest character to grace the series.

- Charles Dance

Never underestimate the power of computers.

After being caught for a money making computer scam, Gus Gorman (Richard Pryor - wonderful) is recruited by unscrupulous multimillionaire Ross Webster (Robert Vaughn). With Gorman's computer expertise, Webster plans to take complete economic control. But first there is the considerable issue of eradicating Superman first...

Richard Lester, as everyone now knows, inherited Superman 2 from the jettisoned Richard Donner. Here we have a complete Richard Lester Superman film, and from the extended slapstick opening we are aware that this is far lighter in tone than the previous two films. Lester's credits are steeped in comedy traditions, so it's no real surprise that Superman 3 is more airy comic book than troubled caped crusader. This is something that many franchise fans are completely unforgiving about. Which is a shame, because viewed as a comic book bit of nonsense it's a rather enjoyable film, certainly it's the one with the most fun approach. 

The action is very well put together, with a franchise highlight as Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve) gets to fight a clearly off kilter Superman (erm, Reeve again), and the comedy, if accepted on its own terms, is very rewarding. Annette O'Toole (adorable) takes the lead love interest role for this one, with Margo Kidder only along for cameo duties. Pamela Stephenson is on hand for some sex bomb side-kick to Vaughn work, and Annie Ross gest the bitch sibling role and gets her teeth and "wires" into it.

All told, it's not a ground shaking superhero film, but it does work as entertainment if one can cast off the mythology of Superman and his fantastical complexities. To do so is not a crime against ones superhero beliefs, it's just an acceptance that this is a different approach, and that Superman 3's only real crime is not being as good as the two film's that preceded it. Hey, just think, "Quest For Peace" was around the corner... 6/10

_**More than it first appears**_

"Superman III" (1983) gets a lot of flack because of the inclusion of slapstick, a parody tone and Richard Pryor, but it is entertaining once you get used to the tone and the presence of Pryor.

Christopher Reeve as Superman is good, of course, but you also have Robert Vaughn as the Luthor-like villain and Pamela Stephenson as his attractive female assistant a la Miss Teschmacher. The cast really excels with the inclusion of the beautiful Annette O'Toole as Lana Lang, a sort of replacement for Lois Lane, who barely appears. Annette is a pleasure to behold throughout.

Once you get used to the too-goofy approach the film really takes off in the second half with Superman fighting his dark side, an obvious type of the inner conflict of flesh & spirit within us all. Even more, there's the satisfying redemption of a certain character that illustrates how a person can make a huge mistake and still be applicable for redemption, as long as he or she is willing. The film just leaves you with a good feeling.

BOTTOM LINE: It's not great like the first two, but "Superman III" delivers if you overlook all the bashing and give it a chance. Richard Pryor is goofy, but likable while Annette O'Toole shines. Most of all, the movie is deeper than what meets the eye and effectively conveys powerful truths about the human condition and potential.

The film runs 2 hours, 4 minutes.

GRADE: B-/B

DC Super Scenes: Super Computer

Trailer

"Oil Spill" Clip

"I'm Splittin'" Clip

Superman III( 1983)

If the world's most powerful computer can control even Superman...no one on earth is safe.

Overview

Top Billed Cast

Social

A review by Charles Dance

Written by Charles Dance on Sat Feb 18 2017

Media

Recommendations

Facts

Status

Original Language

Budget

Revenue

Keywords