Superman IV: The Quest for Peace

In his fourth outing as Superman, Christopher Reeve plays the hero as a figure of idealistic exhaustion, determined to rid the world of nuclear weapons. Director Sidney J. Furie delivers comic-book spectacle tinged with Cold War anxiety, pitting Superman against Lex Luthor and a bizarre new enemy born of atomic fantasy. While uneven, the film's ambition and Reeve's sincerity give it a curious, unexpectedly reflective quality. A 1987 superhero sequel that captures the era's hopes and fears.