History Film / SupermanIII

''Superman III'', released in 1983, is the third of the Franchise/{{Superman}} films starring Creator/ChristopherReeve.

* PacManFever: More literal than usual: Ross fights Superman with a supercomputer... one that is apparently part UsefulNotes/AtariST given the gorgeous graphics... and part UsefulNotes/Atari2600, complete with sound effects lifted directly from that console's execrable version of VideoGame/PacMan. In this case, [[http://www.atariage.com/magazines/magazine_page.html?MagazineID=9&CurrentPage=12 Atari themselves created the computerized footage]], and made it blockier than they could have on purpose, and were planning to [[http://www.atariprotos.com/8bit/software/supermanIII/supermanIII.htm release an Atari 5200 game based on the film]]. So they probably provided the 2600 Pac-Man sound effects themselves, especially considering that, at the time, Atari, Inc. was owned by DC Comics parent company and Superman film distributor Warner Communications.

** Ross orders Gus Gorman to find out the chemical formula for kryptonite so he can synthesize some to kill Superman. Gus manages to use a satellite to get a list of all of the elements in kryptonite except for one unknown to current science. Looking for inspiration, he reads the tar content on his package of cigarettes, and decides that since tar in cigarettes isn't healthy, it would probably be bad in synthetic kryptonite too, so he substitutes tar as the missing element. Even though the synthetic Kryptonite doesn't have the intended effect of killing Superman, it turns him into a trouble-making super-jerk.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* EverythingsBetterWithPenguins: Wind-up toy penguins are on the loose in the comedic street scene in the opening credits.

* UnwillingRoboticisation: During the climax, the supercomputer drags Vera Webster into its internals and covers her skin with metal plates.

* HyperCompetentSidekick: At the end of the day, Gus and Lorelei are this to the Webster's. Lorelei is the one who points out that they can use kryptonite on Superman to the Websters, and also seduces his evil half into doing their bidding. And despite his moments of stupidity and MinionWithAnFInEvil status, Gus and his computer skills are what allow them to do their plotting in the first place while carrying out some very vital grunt work.

* AbsoluteCleavage: Lorelei in her ski outfit.

** There's one to ''Film/ThePublicEnemy'' with the husband and wife at the breakfast table after seeing the whopping ''$176,784.57'' department store bill -- he smushes a sliced grapefruit into her face.

* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: When Webster and Gus trick the tankers into going into the middle of the Atlantic with forged orders to make an oil embargo, one captain finds this idea baffling and ridiculous and chooses to ignore it and maintain his original course, causing evil Superman to be sent to sabotage his ship.

* CanonDiscontinuity: When ''Film/SupermanReturns'' was released, this film, alongside ''Film/SupermanIVTheQuestForPeace'' and ''Film/{{Supergirl}}'', were completely ignored. However, when the ''Superman Returns'' version of the character made a guest appearance in the ''Series/{{Arrowverse}}'' version of ''Series/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths2019'', he does mention he went evil and fought himself once, which is shown in this movie.

** Black Kryptonite was introduced into the Superman continuity a few years after the film. ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' and ''Series/Supergirl2015'' also reimagine red Kryptonite as having "make you evil" effects on Kryptonians, similar to the synthetic green Kryptonite in this film. Effectively, the synthetic Kryptonite here resulted in black Kryptonite (splits someone into good and evil halves) and modern red Kryptonite (makes a Kryptonian a titanic jerk).

* EarlyBirdCameo: Black Kryptonite wouldn't appear again until a 2005 ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' book.