Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1987, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace is an action, adventure and science fiction film directed by Sidney J. Furie, running about 90 minutes. “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.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. 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.

Who’s in it. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace stars Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent / Superman, Margot Kidder as Lois Lane, Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor and Jackie Cooper as Perry White, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 4.5/10, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace has proved divisive with audiences. It went on to earn $19.3M at the box office.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and HBO Max and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Superman IV: The Quest for Peace page.

If you liked it. Fans of Superman IV: The Quest for Peace tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.