10 Most Evil Versions Of Superman

Superman III is not remembered in the best light. (Even Christopher Reeve admitted it was terrible.)

But to the movie's credit, it is the live-action debut of Superman turning evil. In the story, Richard Pryor's character, Gus Gorman, is hired by a corrupt CEO to eliminate the world's greatest hero with synthetic kryptonite. Although the kryptonite isn't an exact copy, Gus hopes it's close enough to kill Superman.

When Gus presents the green rock to him, it seemingly has no effect. Eventually, Gus realises the kryptonite has corrupted Superman's mind. Soon after, the spit-curled sporting superhero refuses to save civilians in danger, gets drunk, and flicks peanuts in a bar. (Real sick stuff, I know.)

Losing his grip on reality, he flies to a junkyard where he splits into two personas - the evil Superman and the pure Clark Kent. Even though the malevolent doppelgänger has Clark beaten, incinerated, and squished (on three separate occasions), the true Superman withstands all his attacks and emerges victorious.

Superman III may be absurd (the title hero literally fights a bubble at one point), but the Superman vs Superman brawl is definitely a highlight.