Superman IV

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace is a 1987 superhero film directed by Sidney J. Furie…

After saving a group of cosmonauts whose ship is jeopardized by a rogue satellite, Superman visits his hometown of Smallville disguised as Clark Kent, checking in on the uninhabited farm where he grew up. In an empty barn he uncovers the space-capsule in which he was sent to Earth, and removes a green-glowing, Kryptonian energy module. A recording left by his birth mother, Lara, states that its power can only be used once.

Unwilling to sell the land to a mall developer, Superman returns to Metropolis and stops a runaway subway train. Returning to the Daily Planet as Clark Kent, he learns that the newspaper has been taken over by David Warfield, a tabloid tycoon who fires Perry White and hires his daughter Lacy (Mariel Hemingway) as the new editor. Lacy takes a liking to Clark and tries to seduce him. Clark agrees to go on a date with her.

Following the news that the United States and the Soviet Union may engage in nuclear war, Clark is conflicted with regard to how much Superman should intervene. Receiving a letter written by a concerned schoolboy, Superman travels to the Fortress of Solitude to seek advice from the spirits of his Kryptonian ancestors. They recommend he leave Earth and find a new home.

After asking Lois Lane’s advice, Superman attends a meeting of the United Nations, announcing to the assembly that he will rid the Earth of nuclear weapons. Superman collects most of the world’s nuclear stockpile in a gigantic net in Earth orbit, then hurls it into the sun.

Meanwhile, teenager Lenny Luthor breaks his uncle, Lex Luthor, out of prison. Returning to Metropolis, the pair steal a strand of Superman’s hair from a museum, and create a genetic matrix which Lex attaches to an American nuclear missile. After the missile is test launched, Superman intercepts and throws it into the sun. A glowing ball of energy is discharged which develops into a super-human (Mark Pillow). This “Nuclear Man” makes his way back to Earth to find his ‘father’, Luthor, who establishes that while his creation is powerful, he will deactivate if isolated from light.

A vicious battle ensues between Luthor’s creation and Superman. While saving the Statue of Liberty from falling onto Metropolis, Superman is poisoned by a scratch from Nuclear Man’s radioactive fingernails. Nuclear Man kicks his opponent into the distance with such strength that Superman’s cape is torn away.

To Lois’ disgust, the Daily Planet, reformatted as a tabloid newspaper, publishes the headline, “Is Superman Dead?”. Lois indicates a desire to quit, and seizes Superman’s recovered cape for herself. Lacy is also upset, and reveals to Lois that she cares for Clark and asks if she knows where he is. Lois ventures to Clark’s apartment where she proclaims her love for Superman. Felled by radiation sickness, Clark staggers to his terrace, where he retrieves the Kryptonian energy module and attempts to heal himself.

Having developed a crush on Lacy, Nuclear Man threatens mayhem if they are not introduced. The newly-restored Superman agrees to take him to her to prevent anyone else from being hurt. Superman lures Nuclear Man into an elevator, trapping and then depositing him on the dark side of the Moon. As the sun rises, Nuclear Man breaks free due to a crack in the elevator doors and Superman is forced once again to defend himself. At the end of the battle, it appears as though Superman has been defeated, and he is driven into the moon’s surface by his opponent.

Nuclear Man forces his way into the Daily Planet and abducts Lacy. Superman frees himself from the moon’s surface and pushes it out of its orbit, casting Earth into an eclipse which nullifies Nuclear Man’s powers. Superman rescues Lacy, then recovers Nuclear Man and deposits him into the core of a nuclear power plant, destroying him. Superman also recovers the fleeing Luthors, returning Lex to prison and placing Lenny in Boys Town.

Perry White secures a loan with which to buy back the controlling shares of the newspaper, making Warfield a minority shareholder and protecting the paper from any further abuse. In a press conference, Superman declares only partial victory in his campaign, saying, “There will be peace when the people of the world want it so badly that their governments will have no choice but to give it to them.”