View source for Superman IV: The Quest for Peace

{{Short description|1987 film}}
{{Infobox film
| image          = Superman iv.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| alt            =
| director       = [[Sidney J. Furie]]
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Menahem Golan]]
* [[Yoram Globus]]}}
| screenplay     = {{Plainlist|
* [[Lawrence Konner]]
* [[Mark Rosenthal (filmmaker)|Mark Rosenthal]]}}
| story          = {{Plainlist|
* [[Christopher Reeve]]
* Lawrence Konner
* Mark Rosenthal}}
| based_on       = {{Based on|[[Superman]]|[[Jerry Siegel]]|{{quad}}[[Joe Shuster]]}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* Christopher Reeve
* [[Gene Hackman]]
* [[Jackie Cooper]]
* [[Marc McClure]]
* [[Jon Cryer]]
* [[Sam Wanamaker]]
* [[Mariel Hemingway]]
* [[Margot Kidder]]}}
| music          = [[John Williams]]<br>[[Alexander Courage]] (adaptation)
| cinematography = [[Ernest Day]]
| editing        = John Shirley
| studio         = {{Plainlist|
* [[The Cannon Group, Inc.]]
* Golan-Globus Productions}}
| distributor    = {{Plainlist|
* [[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]] (United States)
* [[Columbia Pictures|Columbia]]–[[The Cannon Group, Inc.|Cannon]]–[[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Distributors]] (United Kingdom)
}}
| released       = {{Film date|1987|7|23|Premiere|1987|7|24|United States/United Kingdom}}
| runtime        = 90 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 89:53--><ref>{{cite web | url=http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/superman-iv-quest-peace-1970-1 | title=''SUPERMAN IV – THE QUEST FOR PEACE'' (PG) | work= bbfc.co.uk| publisher= [[British Board of Film Classification]] | date=July 9, 1987 | access-date=April 19, 2016}}</ref>
| country        = {{Plainlist|
* United States<ref name="afi">{{AFI film|57838}}</ref>
* United Kingdom<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b775057c4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013011832/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b775057c4|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 13, 2016|title=Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)|work= bfi.org.uk| publisher= [[British Film Institute]]|access-date=February 4, 2017}}</ref>
}}
| language       = English
| budget         = $17 million<ref name="Mills">{{cite news |last=Mills |first=Bart |title=And Now . . . Mighty 'Superman IV' To The Rescue |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=1987-01-02 |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-01-02-ca-1647-story.html |access-date=2022-10-09 }}</ref>
| gross          = $30.2 million<ref name="BOM"/>
}}
'''''Superman IV: The Quest for Peace''''' is a 1987 [[superhero film]] directed by [[Sidney J. Furie]] and written by [[Lawrence Konner]] and [[Mark Rosenthal (filmmaker)|Mark Rosenthal]] from a story by [[Christopher Reeve]], Konner, and Rosenthal based on the [[DC Comics]] character [[Superman]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Kehr|first=Dave|title=It's A Bird, It's A Plane -- It's A Bad Film|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=1987-07-27|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1987/07/27/its-a-bird-its-a-plane-its-a-bad-film/|access-date=2010-10-28}}</ref> The film stars Reeve, [[Gene Hackman]], [[Jackie Cooper]], [[Marc McClure]], [[Jon Cryer]], [[Sam Wanamaker]], [[Jim Broadbent]], [[Mariel Hemingway]], and [[Margot Kidder]].
It is the fifth film (including ''[[Supergirl (1984 film)|Supergirl]]'') in the [[Superman in film#Salkind/Cannon film series (1978–1987)|''Superman'' film series]] and a sequel to ''[[Superman III]]'' (1983). It is the first film in the series not to have the involvement of [[Alexander Salkind|the]] [[Ilya Salkind|Salkinds]] as producers.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Easton">{{cite news |last=Easton|first=Nina J.|title='Superman' Lawsuit Trial Date Set for April 16|work= Los Angeles Times|date=1990-02-01 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-02-01-ca-1469-story.html |access-date=2010-10-11}}</ref> The film also marks the final appearance of Reeve as Superman, who agreed to return in exchange for a large salary and some creative control, where he contributed to a script dealing with [[nuclear disarmament]].<ref name="Mills" />
Shortly before the film's production, the film's producer, [[The Cannon Group, Inc.|The Cannon Group]], suffered a major financial crisis that forced major budget cuts, and 45 minutes of footage were deleted after negative test screenings.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="yahooiv" /> The film received overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics and fans, citing poor special effects and plot holes. Plans for ''Superman V'' were cancelled, and no ''Superman'' films were released until ''[[Superman Returns]]'' in 2006.
== Plot ==
[[Superman]] saves the crew of a Russian space station. Clark uncovers the capsule that brought him to [[Earth]] and removes a green [[Krypton (comics)|Kryptonian]] energy module. A recording left by his mother [[Lara (character)|Lara]] reveals that the power can only be used once. He returns to [[Metropolis (comics)|Metropolis]] and finds that the ''[[Daily Planet]]'' has been taken over by [[Tabloid journalism|tabloid]] tycoon David Warfield who fires [[Perry White]] and hires his own daughter Lacy as the new editor. Lacy develops a crush on Clark. Superman seeks guidance in the [[Fortress of Solitude]] after hearing that the [[United States]] and the [[Soviet Union]] may engage in a nuclear arms race. Superman announces to the [[United Nations]] that he will rid the world of all nuclear weapons.
Lenny Luthor breaks his uncle [[Lex Luthor]] out of prison. Lex and Lenny return to Metropolis to steal a strand of hair from Superman and create a genetic matrix. Lex makes a deal with [[black market]] [[Arms industry|arms dealers]] to attach the hair to a [[Nuclear weapons delivery|nuclear missile]]. Superman intercepts the missile and throws it into the [[Sun]]. A [[superhuman]] called Nuclear Man is created from discharged energy and makes his way back to Earth to find Lex. Lex reveals that Nuclear Man will deactivate without exposure to sunlight. Superman is infected with [[Acute radiation syndrome|radiation sickness]] while stopping the [[Statue of Liberty]] from falling onto Metropolis.
Clark retrieves the Kryptonian energy module and heals himself. A fight between Superman and Nuclear Man takes place on the [[Moon]] which ends with Superman being driven into the surface of the Moon by Nuclear Man.
Nuclear Man takes Lacy into outer space. Superman frees himself from the Moon and pushes it out of orbit causing a [[solar eclipse]]. Superman returns Lacy to Earth and destroys Nuclear Man in the core of a nuclear [[Power station|power plant]] resulting in Nuclear Man becoming electrical power for the [[electrical grid]]. Perry White secures a loan to buy a controlling interest in the newspaper and makes Warfield a minority shareholder and protects the paper from any takeovers. Superman recaptures the Luthors. He places Lenny in [[Boys Town (organization)|Boys Town]] and returns Lex to prison. Superman makes a speech that world peace cannot be achieved instantly.
==Cast==
{{Div col}}
* [[Christopher Reeve]] as [[Superman (1978 film series character)|Clark Kent / Superman]]<ref name="Easton"/>
* [[Gene Hackman]] as [[Lex Luthor]]
** Hackman also provides the voice of Nuclear Man<ref name="yahooiv">{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Owen |url=http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/what-happened-to-superman-iv%E2%80%99s-nuclear-man--153703667.html |title=What happened to Superman IV's Nuclear Man? - Yahoo Movies UK |publisher=Uk.movies.yahoo.com |date=2013-06-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626064811/https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/what-happened-to-superman-iv%E2%80%99s-nuclear-man--153703667.html |archive-date=2013-06-26 |url-status=live |access-date=2022-09-29}}</ref>
* Mark Pillow as [[Nuclear Man]]<ref name="yahooiv"/><ref>{{cite web |last=Murphy |first=Steve |title=Superman IV: The Quest for Peace|website=IGN|date=2001-06-14|url=http://uk.dvd.ign.com/articles/300/300589p1.html|access-date=2010-10-11}}</ref>
* [[Jackie Cooper]] as [[Perry White]]
* [[Marc McClure]] as [[Jimmy Olsen]]
* [[Jon Cryer]] as Lenny Luthor
* [[Sam Wanamaker]] as David Warfield
* [[Mariel Hemingway]] as Lacy Warfield
* [[Margot Kidder]] as [[Lois Lane]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Beck |first=Marilyn |title=Margot Kidder Flies Back To Superman|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=1986-06-26|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/06/26/margot-kidder-flies-back-to-superman/|access-date=2010-10-11}}</ref>
* Damian McLawhorn as Jeremy
* [[William Hootkins]] as Harry Howler
* [[Jim Broadbent]] as Jean Pierre Dubois
* [[Stanley Lebor]] as General Romoff
* [[Don Fellows]] as Levon Hornsby<ref>{{cite news |title=Superman IV: the Quest for Peace (1987) |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/140748/Superman-IV-the-Quest-for-Peace/cast |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103212749/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/140748/Superman-IV-the-Quest-for-Peace/cast |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 November 2012 |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2012 |access-date=30 January 2011}}</ref>
* [[Robert Beatty]] as [[President of the United States|U.S. President]]
* [[Susannah York]] as the voice of [[Lara (comics)|Lara]]
{{div col end}}
==Production==
===Development and casting===
[[Alexander Salkind]] and his son [[Ilya Salkind|Ilya]], the producers of the ''Superman'' series, planned to produce a fourth ''Superman'' film if ''[[Superman III]]'' grossed at least $40 million.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Superman IV: The Quest for Peace|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/57838-SUPERMAN-IVTHEQUESTFORPEACE?sid=25294c53-7642-454a-8c77-95a143365b5c&sr=6.600077&cp=1&pos=0|access-date=2021-06-08|website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref> The film received an unexpectedly negative reaction but still grossed $80.2 million.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Superman III (1983) - Financial Information|url=https://m.the-numbers.com/movie/Superman-III|access-date=2021-06-08|website=The Numbers}}</ref> Reeve was also hesitant to return to the series as Superman.<ref name=":0" /> The Salkinds announced plans for a fourth film regardless, but after the commercial failures of ''Supergirl'' and their next film ''[[Santa Claus: The Movie]]'' caused them financial strain they began to consider if the franchise had run its course.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Mills" /><ref name=":1" />
After negotiations during the [[1985 Cannes Film Festival|38th Cannes Film Festival]], Ilya Salkind agreed to sell the ''Superman'' franchise to [[Menahem Golan]] and [[Yoram Globus]] of [[The Cannon Group, Inc.]] for $5 million in June 1985.<ref>{{cite news|title=UGO's World of Superman&nbsp;— Superman Movies: Superman IV: The Quest For Peace|publisher=[[UGO Networks]]|year=2006|url=http://superman.ugo.com/movies/supermanIV/default.asp|access-date=2010-10-15|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004233836/http://superman.ugo.com/movies/supermanIV/default.asp|archive-date=October 4, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Mills" /><ref name=":0" /> The studio enticed Reeve to return by offering him $6 million, financing for his pet project ''[[Street Smart (film)|Street Smart]]'', and approval over the story and director.<ref name=":0" />
Reeve pitched a storyline focused on the [[nuclear arms race]] in protest of the breakdown of the [[Reykjavík Summit|Reykjavik Summit]] and US President [[Ronald Reagan]]’s military buildup and skepticism towards [[arms control]].<ref name="Mills" /> His story was accepted, and he was also considered as the film’s director. Although he was allowed to direct some second unit scenes, he was ultimately deemed too inexperienced for the full-time job.<ref name=":0" /> [[Richard Donner]] claimed in the commentary for ''[[Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut]]'' that Cannon unsuccessfully asked him to return to the series, Donner delined his part due to a scheduling conflict with ''[[Lethal Weapon]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-06-13|title=24 Things We Learned from the 'Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut' Commentary|url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/24-things-we-learned-from-the-superman-ii-the-richard-donner-cut-commentary-4a97c1783dcc/|access-date=2021-06-09|website=Film School Rejects|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Wes Craven]] was originally hired by Cannon Films to direct the film, but he and Reeve did not get along well and Reeve demanded that a new director be brought in.<ref>{{cite magazine | magazine=[[Fangoria]] | issue=57 | date=September 1986 | title=Wes Craven's Deadly Doubleheader | pages=50–53, 64 | author1=[[Lee Goldberg]] |author2=David McDonnell }}</ref> Although Reeve recommended [[Ron Howard]], [[Sidney J. Furie]] was hired.<ref name=":0" />
===Filming===
Production of ''Superman IV'' began in 1986.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lambie |first=Ryan |title=A Pilgrimage to the Filming Locations of Superman IV |date=24 November 2014 |url=http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/superman-iv/33015/a-pilgrimage-to-the-filming-locations-of-superman-iv |website=[[Den of Geek]] |access-date=5 February 2018}}</ref> In his autobiography, ''[[Still Me]]'', Reeve described filming the movie:
{{blockquote|We were also hampered by budget constraints and cutbacks in all departments. Cannon Films had nearly thirty projects in the works at the time, and ''Superman IV'' received no special consideration. For example, [[Lawrence Konner|Konner]] and [[Mark Rosenthal (screenwriter)|Rosenthal]] wrote a scene in which Superman lands on [[42nd Street (Manhattan)|42nd Street]] and walks down the double yellow lines to the [[United Nations]], where he gives a speech. If that had been a scene in ''[[Superman (1978 film)|Superman I]]'', we would actually have shot it on 42nd Street. [[Richard Donner]] would have choreographed hundreds of pedestrians and vehicles and cut to people gawking out of office windows at the sight of Superman walking down the street like the [[Pied Piper of Hamelin|Pied Piper]]. Instead, we had to shoot at an industrial park in England in the rain with about a hundred extras, not a car in sight, and a dozen pigeons thrown in for atmosphere. Even if the story had been brilliant, I don't think that we could ever have lived up to the audience's expectations with this approach.}}
Rosenthal's DVD commentary cited this scene as an example of Cannon's budget slashing. According to Rosenthal, Reeve and Furie begged to be able to film that sequence in New York in front of the real [[headquarters of the United Nations]] because everyone knew how they looked and the [[Milton Keynes]] setting looked nothing like them, but Cannon refused. According to Rosenthal, they were "pinching pennies at every step".
Shortly before production began at [[Elstree Studios (Shenley Road)|Elstree Studios]] on September 27, 1986, Cannon reduced the budget from $36 million to $17 million. Part of the problem was that Cannon financed its films by selling the television and home video rights in advance, which failed with films of a budget of over $5 million.<ref name=":0" /> The studio had also gone six years without a major hit. The studio was narrowly saved from bankruptcy after a deal with [[Warner Bros. Pictures]] to provide $75 million to repay its loans in exchange for distribution rights to its upcoming films, including ''Superman IV'', which provided enough confidence in the studio for a $65 million line of credit from First Bank of Boston.<ref name=":0" /> During the production, the filming and special effects crews of the first three films were replaced with cheaper Israeli crews. Principal photography concluded at the beginning of January 1987.<ref name=":0" />
According to Jon Cryer, who played Luthor's nephew Lenny, Reeve had taken him aside just before the release and told him it was going to be "terrible." Although Cryer enjoyed working with Reeve and Hackman, Cryer claimed that Cannon ran out of money during the production and ultimately released an unfinished film.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jon Cryer takes your iReport questions|publisher=[[CNN.com]]|year=2012|url=http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/showbiz/2012/10/02/iri-jon-cryer-uncut-raw.cnn.html}}</ref>
Multiple locations were selected in England including the now abandoned [[Aldwych tube station]] for the Metropolis metro train scene used at the beginning of the film.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-news/abandoned-london-underground-station-thats-26953137 |title=The abandoned London Underground station that's used in loads of Hollywood films |work=MyLondon |first=Zahra |last=Khaliq |date=20 May 2023 |accessdate=14 October 2024 }}</ref> You also have the city of Milton Keynes used to represent the UN in New York.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/a-pilgrimage-to-the-filming-locations-of-superman-iv/ |title=A pilgrimage to the filming locations of Superman IV |work=Den of Geek |first=Ryan |last=Lambie |date=24 November 2014 |accessdate=15 October 2024 }}</ref>
===Deleted footage===
According to writer [[Mark Rosenthal (screenwriter)|Mark Rosenthal]]'s commentary on the 2006 DVD, in the gallery of deleted scenes included on the disc, there are approximately 45 minutes of the film that haven't been seen by the general public. They were deleted following a failed Southern California test screening. The Nuclear Man that appears in the film is actually the second Nuclear Man that Luthor created. Cut scenes featured the original Nuclear Man (portrayed by [[Clive Mantle]]) engaging Superman in battle outside the Metro Club and being destroyed by the Man of Steel.<ref name="yahooiv"/> The first Nuclear Man was somewhat more inhuman-looking than his successor, and resembled, in both looks and personality, the comic book character [[Bizarro]]. Luthor postulates that this Nuclear Man wasn't strong enough, and hatches the plan to create the second Nuclear Man within the Sun as a result.<ref name="Lentz1989">{{cite book|last=Lentz|first=Harris M.|title=Science fiction, horror & fantasy film and television credits supplement: through 1987|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tGlZAAAAMAAJ|access-date=27 March 2013|date=February 1989|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-89950-364-6|page=598}}</ref>
Not all of the deleted scenes made it to the deluxe edition of the DVD, including a scene depicting Clark Kent visiting the graves of his foster parents. This scene was to have preceded the film's theatrical scene where Clark returns to Smallville to meet the contractor in hopes of selling or leasing the Kent farm. A deleted scene about Lacy Warfield and Clark Kent's romance, showing them dancing in the Metro Club, was also not released on disc.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.supermanhomepage.com/tv/tv.php?topic=articles/unreleased-stuff2 |website=Superman Homepage |title=Superman on Television |access-date=6 October 2014}} {{Better source needed|reason=[[WP:FANSITE]]|date=November 2022}}</ref>
== Music==
{{Main|Superman music}}
The music for the film was adapted and conducted by [[Alexander Courage]] based on existing and new music composed by [[John Williams]].
==Release==
The film had a Royal premiere at the [[Odeon West End|Leicester Square Theatre]] in London on July 23, 1987, attended by [[Prince Charles]] and [[Princess Diana]].<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Screen International]]|date=August 1, 1987|pages=10–12|title=Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (advertisement)}}</ref>
==Reception==
===Box office===
It was released on July 24, 1987, in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. In the US and Canada it opened in 1,511 theatres and grossed $5.6 million during its opening weekend, ranking fourth at the box office.<ref name="Weekend Box Office">{{cite news |title=Weekend Box Office |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=1987-08-11 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-11-ca-819-story.html |access-date=2022-10-09 }}</ref><ref name="BOM">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=superman4.htm |title=Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) - Weekend Box Office Results |access-date=2008-04-03 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> In the UK, it opened on 234 screens and grossed £508,468 ($0.8 million) for the weekend becoming the [[List of 1987 box office number-one films in the United Kingdom|number one film in the UK]] for the weekend.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Screen International]]|date=August 1, 1987|page=1|title=Superman succeeds in box office quest|first=Tina|last=McFarling}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Screen International]]|date=August 1, 1987|page=32|title=UK leaders nationwide}}</ref> It failed to retain number one spot for the week, grossing £987,495 compared to ''[[The Living Daylights]]''{{'}}s £1,108,256.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Screen International]]|date=August 8, 1987|page=32|title=UK leaders nationwide}}</ref> It was the [[List of 1987 box office number-one films in the United Kingdom#Highest-grossing films|eighth highest-grossing film in the UK]] for the year with a gross of £3,457,959 ($5.5 million).<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Screen International]]|title=UK Top 50 Films in 1987|page=10|date=2 January 1988}}</ref> The movie grossed $15.6 million in the United States and Canada,  and $14.6 million internationally, for a worldwide box office gross of $30.2 million.<ref name="BOM"/>
Of the four Superman films starring Reeve, ''The Quest for Peace'' fared the worst at the box office, and the series went dormant for the following 19 years.<ref name="Mills"/> Reeve regretted his decision to be involved in the film, saying, "''Superman IV'' was a catastrophe from start to finish. That failure was a huge blow to my career."<ref>Christopher Andersen. Somewhere in Heaven: The Remarkable Story of Dana and Christopher Reeve. (Hyperion, 2008), p.38.</ref> Plans were made to make a ''Superman V'', but they never came to fruition.<ref>{{cite news|last=Zink|first=Jack|title=Fifth Superman Movie In The Works|work=[[South Florida Sun-Sentinel]]|date=1990-03-04|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1990-03-04/features/9001270766_1_superman-christopher-columbus-film-crew|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516192807/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1990-03-04/features/9001270766_1_superman-christopher-columbus-film-crew|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 16, 2012|access-date=2010-10-16}}</ref> Reeve's [[Christopher Reeve#Equestrianism and injury|1995 paralysis]] made any further development of sequels involving him in the starring role impossible. [[Time Warner]] let the Superman feature film franchise go undeveloped until the late 1990s when a [[Superman in film#Superman V|variety of proposals were considered]], including several that would [[reboot (fiction)|reboot]] the franchise with different versions of the characters and settings. Eventually in 2006, a soft-reboot of the series, ''[[Superman Returns]]'', was released and [[Retroactive continuity|disregarded the events]] of ''Superman III'' and ''The Quest for Peace'', though the [[Arrowverse]] [[crossover event]] ''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths (Arrowverse)|Crisis on Infinite Earths]]'' seemed to indicate that both ''Superman III'' and ''Returns'' were in the same [[Canon (fiction)|canon]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/crisis-infinite-earths-superman-movies-reeve-routh-arrowverse-canon/|title=Crisis On Infinite Earths: Original Superman Movies ARE Arrowverse Canon|date=December 10, 2019|website=ScreenRant}}</ref>
===Critical response===
On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds a 10% "Rotten" score based on 52 reviews, with an average rating of 3/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "The ''Superman'' series bottoms out here: the action is boring, the special effects look cheaper, and none of the actors appear interested in where the plot's going."<ref>{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes |id={{RT data|rtid|noprefix=y|title=Superman IV: The Quest for Peace}} |type=m |title=Superman IV: The Quest for Peace |access-date={{RT data|access date|title=Superman IV: The Quest for Peace}} |publisher_hide=yes}}{{RT data|edit|title=Superman IV: The Quest for Peace}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]] the film has a [[weighted mean|weighted average score]] of 24 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".<ref>{{Cite Metacritic |id=superman-iv-the-quest-for-peace |type=movie |title=Superman IV: The Quest for Peace |access-date=March 19, 2024 |publisher_hide=yes}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "C" on an A+ to F scale.<ref name="CinemaScore">{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fantastic-four-gets-worst-cinemascore-814137 |title='Fantastic Four' Gets Worst CinemaScore Ever for Studio Superhero Movie |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=August 9, 2015 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=May 10, 2022 |archive-date=March 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331115541/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fantastic-four-gets-worst-cinemascore-814137 |url-status=live }}</ref>
The film received a poor review by Janet Maslin of ''[[The New York Times]]'', although she wrote that Kidder's portrayal of Lois Lane was "sexy, earnest".<ref>{{cite news|title=Movie: 'Superman IV: Quest for Peace'|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=1987-07-25|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/25/movies/movie-superman-iv-quest-for-peace.html|access-date=2010-08-08|first=Janet|last=Maslin}}</ref> It fared no better with ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Superman IV: The Quest for Peace|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=1987-01-01|url=https://variety.com/1986/film/reviews/superman-iv-the-quest-for-peace-1200427105/|access-date=2010-08-25}}</ref> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' described it as "More sluggish than a funeral barge, cheaper than a sale at [[Kmart (United States)|Kmart]], it's a nerd, it's a shame, it's ''Superman IV''."<ref>{{cite news|last=Howe|first=Desson|title='Superman IV: The Quest for Peace' (PG)|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=1987-07-31|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/supermanivthequestforpeacepghowe_a0c8a7.htm|access-date=2010-10-09}}</ref> Several critics disliked the special effects.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.supermancinema.co.uk/superman4/s4_production/special_effects/fx_review/index.htm |title=Superman IV: Special Effects Review |last=Patridge|first=Tim |work=Superman Cinema |publisher=Dharmesh |access-date=25 June 2011}}{{dead link|date=August 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Russell|first=Candice|title=Superman IV Just Too Tired To Fly|work=[[South Florida Sun-Sentinel]]|date=1987-07-25|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1987-07-25/features/8703020314_1_luthor-superman-iv-nuclear-man|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701153009/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1987-07-25/features/8703020314_1_luthor-superman-iv-nuclear-man|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 1, 2012|access-date=2010-10-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Hara |first1=Helen |last2=Plumb |first2=Alastair |last3=De Semlyen |first3= Phil |title=The 50 Worst Movies Ever |work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|url=http://www.empireonline.com/features/50-worst-movies-ever/default.asp?film=40|access-date=2010-10-09}}</ref>
The film was voted number 40 on a list of 'The 50 Worst Movies Ever' by readers of ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/50-worst-movies-ever-2/#40-superman-iv-the-quest-for-peace|title=The 50 Worst Movies Ever|magazine=Empire magazine|access-date=20 October 2011}}</ref> It was also nominated for two [[Golden Raspberry Awards]], [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress|Worst Supporting Actress]] for [[Mariel Hemingway]] (lost to [[Daryl Hannah]] for ''[[Wall Street (1987 film)|Wall Street]]'') and Worst Visual Effects (lost to ''[[Jaws: The Revenge]]'').<ref>{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=John|title=The Official Razzie Movie Guide: Enjoying the Best of Hollywood's Worst |year=2005|publisher=Grand Central Publishing|isbn=0-446-69334-0}}</ref>
==Cancelled sequel==
Before the failure of ''Superman IV: The Quest for Peace'', [[The Cannon Group|Cannon Films]] considered producing a fifth film with [[Albert Pyun]] as director. Cannon's bankruptcy resulted in the film rights reverting to [[Ilya Salkind|Ilya]] and [[Alexander Salkind]].<ref name="White">{{cite news|author=Mike White|title=''Superman'': Grounded|work=[[Cahiers du cinéma]]|url=http://www.impossiblefunky.com/archives/issue_15/15_superman.asp?IshNum=15|url-status=dead|access-date=2008-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216230219/http://www.impossiblefunky.com/archives/issue_15/15_superman.asp?IshNum=15|archive-date=February 16, 2008}}</ref> The story had Superman dying and resurrecting in the shrunken, bottled [[Krypton (comics)|Krypton]] city of [[Kandor (comics)|Kandor]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}} The premise of Superman's death and rebirth coincidentally predated the 1992 "[[The Death of Superman]]" comic book storyline.
==Other media==
{{Anchor|Comic books}}
In late 1987, [[DC Comics]] prepared a comic book adaptation of ''Superman IV'', scripted by [[Bob Rozakis]] and pencilled by [[Curt Swan]] and [[Don Heck]].<ref>{{cite web|website=Mycomicshop.com|url=https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=183861|title=Superman IV Movie Special (1987) comic books}}</ref> This edition included different dialogue from the film and incidents from the deleted scenes of the movie. In place of a voice-over from Lara in the early scene involving Superman finding the mysterious crystal, there is a projection of Jor-El himself, much like in the first film. The comic book features a battle with the failed prototype of Nuclear Man resembling Bizarro and an around-the-world fight with the second Nuclear Man. The adaptation has an alternate ending with Superman and Jeremy flying above Earth, observing that the planet is, in reality, just one world, rather than the divided world one sees on a man-made map. In the adaptation, Jeremy is seen in orbit with a space suit but in the deleted footage he is not wearing any [[vacuum]] protection of any kind, as was Lacy Warfield when she was rescued from the second Nuclear Man by Superman. The alternate ending appears in the Deluxe Edition DVD, incorporated in the deleted footage section. There was also a book novelization written by [[Bonnie Bryant]], in which scenes based on deleted footage are included.
{{Anchor|Novelization}}
The novelization was released in 1987, along with the premiere of the film.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hiller |first=B. B. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/16273073 |title=Superman IV |publisher=[[Scholastic Corporation|Scholastic]] |others=Christopher Reeve, Lawrence Konner, Mark D. Rosenthal |year=1987 |isbn=0-590-41195-0 |location=New York |oclc=16273073}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* [https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/superman-iv-quest-peace/ Official Warner Bros. Site]
* [https://www.dccomics.com/movies/superman-iv-the-quest-for-peace-1987 Official DC Comics Site]
* {{IMDb title|0094074}}
* {{AllMovie title|140748}}
* {{TCMDb title|91976}}
* [https://texasarchive.org/2015_01506 Interview with Christopher Reeve during Press Junket for Superman IV] at [[Texas Archive of the Moving Image]]
{{Christopher Reeve's/Brandon Routh's Superman}}
{{DC Comics films}}
{{Sidney J. Furie}}
{{Christopher Reeve}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Superman Iv: The Quest For Peace}}
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