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Superman III

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 6, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Outdated superhero movie may interest older kids.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The movie's scene-stealing guest star, Richard Pryor is thieving and helping the bad guys one minute, admiring and helping Superman the next. Rendered "sick" by imperfectly synthesized kryptonite, a surly, evil Superman commits mischief, vandalism, and causes an oil slick. There's a clear victory for the "good" half of his personality, though.

  • Violence & scariness:

    Strenuous fighting between super-beings, but no blood. Missiles and lighting bolts are repeatedly fired at Superman. Jimmy Olsen falls, suffers a fracture. One character is turned into a Borg-like cyborg, but reverts to normal.

  • Sexy stuff:

    A villain's girlfriend/mistress is usually in tight, revealing clothing. Superman, slightly warped by Kryptonite, spends the night with her.

  • Language:

    A few curse words.

  • Consumerism:

    Lots of product labels appear, including Kentucky Fried Chicken. An attack on Superman literally turns into a vintage Atari video game.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    The `evil' Superman gets drunk right in front of the shocked citizens of Metropolis. Another character, described as a washed-up high-school athlete, is perpetually sloshed and hostile. In both cases, these activities are disapproved of. However, Gus Gorman gets comically drunk (and tricks a guard into a drunken stupor) to gain access to a computer.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Superman III

Parents need to know that Richard Pryor's Gus Gorman is as much of the main character in this movie as Superman. Therefore, expect some of the "loveable" con-artist antics that made Pryor famous in his R-rated films, including drunkenness, theft, avoiding honest work, and even letting a swear word slip out. It's all suitably rendered PG-mild, though.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the splitting up of Superman's "good" and "evil" sides; who ever thought Superman would have a dark side at all? What could the Man of Steel have going on inside to be frustrated and angry about? If you're hip to DC comics, you can talk with kids about how Batman is often described as the dark version of Superman, and take the philosophizing from there.
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    wavymouth
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    superman 3

    this is the scariest superman movie i watched so far. there is a scene where a woman is screaming while being turned into a robot. not for toddlers

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    limetolime
    Lives in Michigan
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Superman III not good for young kids

    First of all, I am a 12-year-old guy who LOVES Superman. The main reason kids SHOULD not see this film is because of heavy alchohol use and a scary scene at the end, in which the main villain's sister, Vera, is turned into a robot. This scene is VERY scary for little kids, BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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