Check out my Superman and Superman II reviews if you want to read something positive about the last son of Krypton! Superman III was released in 1984 and once again Richard Lester would be in the directing chair. The whole Superman saga of going from Donner to Lester to the Donner cut and then back to Lester is really weird.
How to Download Superman III
Superman III was released on June 17, 1983. You can download or stream the film from a digital platform. Click on the Where to Watch & Stream button below and make your choice.
The Movie Review
The Behind-the-Scenes Drama
However, the behind the scenes drama of this saga is something I love to read about. To be honest with you, Superman III does not have as much drama as the previous two movies. But, it has been said that writer Ilya Salkind had a really grand idea for a third movie that would have featured Supergirl as well as the villains Brainiac and Mister Mxyzptlk, The studio disagreed and we ended up getting something very different.
A Step Down for Superman
Look, I do not hate Superman III and as a kid, I did like it, but this is a huge comedown from the previous two movies. I love Richard Pryor, but his casting as Gus, a computer genius feels like a massive step down from Lex Luthor and General Zod. However, the real villain of the movie is Robert Vaughn as Ross Webster who wants to become an even bigger captain of industry!
Well, Superman manages to stop a couple of Webster’s schemes so Webster has Gus come up with a way to make Kryptonite so that he can destroy Superman. Again, this is nowhere near as grand or as epic as the stuff we had in the first Superman, and especially Superman II with Zod and his crew!
Superman vs Superman: The Red Kryptonite Twist
The big twist and this is a spoiler, but the movie is over 40 years old as I write this so I think I am ok is that this movie has Red Kryptonite in it. Red Kryptonite makes Superman/Clark go nuts and eventually causes him to snap and turn into two people so we get Superman vs Superman! In theory, this is awesome, but it comes across as really goofy as does the stuff with the good Superman doing bad stuff like blowing out the Olympic Torch!
What Worked in Superman III
To be fair, there are some things that I do like about Superman III. I know that some people hate Richard Pryor and while Gus and Webster are certainly no Zod and Luthor. His over-the-top performance kind of reminds me a bit of Jim Carrey in Batman Forever. However, his goofiness was seen by many as too over the top.
Also, I liked how the movie introduced Lana Lang. I am a huge fan of the show Smallville and when I started watching that I thought that it was so cool that Annette O’Toole who played Lana Lang in Superman III played Martha Kent in Smallville. What can I say, little things like this are always something that I get a kick out of.
A Must-Have 4K Collection
I mentioned this in both my Superman and Superman II reviews, but there is a special 5 movie 4K set that has this and Superman IV in 4K on it. There have been a few Superman movie sets, but this most recent one is the one that you need to get. I know it is certainly something that I am very excited about!
Final Thoughts on Superman III
I think if the studio had not stuck their nose in and if they had used the ideas that Ilya Salkind initially had, Superman III would have been pretty epic. As it is, this is nowhere near as good as the other movies. Yet, I would not say that I hate it. It is an ok movie and one that I can have fun with, but at the same time, I would never go out of my way to watch this like I would the first two.
If you enjoyed this review, explore our full streaming and digital download guides for Thor: Ragnarok, Soul, and Despicable Me 2.
Want more high-scoring movie night ideas? Open the MadDownload 2-Tap Movie Picker to discover our highest-rated movies by mood or hit Surprise Me for an instant pick. For another memorable title worth adding to your watchlist, see our guide to Zack Snyder's Justice League.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch or get the official digital download of Superman III?
You can check official streaming and digital download availability for Superman III on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Disney+ via our dedicated watch page.
What is Superman III (1983) about?
Our review breaks down the plot, themes, and pacing of Superman III directed by Richard Lester without spoiling key twists.
Can I download Superman III for offline viewing?
Yes, major licensed VOD and streaming services allow you to download Superman III inside their official apps for offline viewing.
Is Superman III worth watching?
Yes, strong performances, direction, and production quality make Superman III a recommended watch in its genre.
