Superman IV: The Quest for Peace

Nuclear Power. In the best hands, it is dangerous. In the hands of Lex Luthor, it is pure evil. This is Superman's greatest battle. And it is for all of us.

1987 • 90 min • Action · Adventure · Science Fiction

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Synopsis

With global superpowers engaged in an increasingly hostile arms race, Superman leads a crusade to rid the world of nuclear weapons. But Lex Luthor, recently sprung from jail, is declaring war on the Man of Steel and his quest to save the planet. Using a strand of Superman's hair, Luthor synthesizes a powerful ally known as Nuclear Man and ignites an epic battle spanning Earth and space.

Our family guide

Best from age 7

Movie Knight Score

1441 reviews

25 Reviewers · 4 · 60%
46 Audience · 1437 · 40%

Superman battles to rid the world of nuclear weapons, leading to a global crusade against arms. However, Lex Luthor unleashes Nuclear Man, forcing the Man of Steel into an epic confrontation that spans Earth and space.

Violence & peril: 3/10
Language: 1/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 0/10
Romance & sensuality: 1/10
Scary moments: 2/10

Heads up

Some sci-fi peril and combat
Superman is briefly injured

What it models well

Courage and heroism
Fighting for peace
Personal responsibility

Talk about it after

The dangers of nuclear weapons
How even villains can have help
The difference between right and wrong

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

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Top billed cast

Director: Sidney J. Furie • Crew: Mark Rosenthal, Lawrence Konner, Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal, Christopher Reeve

Trailers & clips

Reviewer notes

Not recommended
<em>'Superman IV: The Quest for Peace'</em> isn't one I'll be filing anywhere near 'good', though it is at least a minimal improvement on III and <em>'Supergirl'</em>. It has a pleasantly short run time of just under 90 minutes and features a plot that I didn't find totally terrible. Christopher Reeve stars as Superman for the final time, to as decent effect as you'd expect.…
r96sk, TMDB Community

Not recommended
_**The least of the tetralogy due to a slashed budget and the corresponding cheesy F/X**_ Superman (Christopher Reeve) destroys all nuclear warheads on Earth for the sake of world peace, but Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) has discovered a way to make a nuclear-powered thrall from Supes’ DNA and the energy of the Sun. Meanwhile a tycoon & his daughter take over The Daily Planet (Sam Wanamaker & and Mariel Hemingway).…
Wuchak, TMDB Community

Not recommendedTrusted family reviewers
Filled with cheap gags, really horrible visual effects, a lazy story, a very bad musical score by Alexander Courage, a terrible villain (Nuclear Man), and some tiresome performances by the cast (except for Christopher Reeve), Superman IV: The Quest For Peace is one of the worst films ever made, the one of the worst movie sequels of all time, and the worst Superman film of all time.…
Monoval, TMDB Community

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
**Better than the tedious Superman Returns/Man Of Steel** Bad effects aside, this one is definitely more fun than the _tedious and dull_ Superman Returns and Man Of Steel stuff - an overload of special effects does not make an engaging film. The performances here are all top notch as usual and the plot moved swiftly without taking itself too seriously.…
Ian Beale, TMDB Community