Despite the return of Gene Hackman as the evil Lex Luthor, this creaky, tired third sequel sounded the final death knell for the Superman saga.
In this one, Christopher Reeve’s man in tights has finally brought about peace in our time but soon finds himself up against Luthor (now a budding arms baron), his irritating nephew (Jon Cryer) and a powerful new foe called Nuclear Man (Mark Pillow), while his bespectacled alter ego Clark Kent has to fight off predatory publisher’s daughter Lacy Warfield (Mariel Hemingway).
However, the enthusiastic hamming can’t hide the clunking direction by Sidney J Furie and the sub-standard special effects.
Superman/Clark Kent
Christopher Reeve Lex Luthor
Gene Hackman Lois Lane
Margot Kidder Perry White
Jackie Cooper Jimmy Olsen
Marc McClure Lenny
Jon Cryer David Warfield
Sam Wanamaker Nuclear Man
Mark Pillow Lacy Warfield
Mariel Hemingway Jeremy
Damian McLawhorn Harry Howler
William Hootkins Jean Pierre Dubois
Jim Broadbent General Romoff
Stanley Lebor US President
Robert Beatty
