1997·Science Fiction·1h 37m
6.5
★
When a renegade military reject puts new superweapons in dangerous hands, John Henry Irons becomes Steel. Wearing body armor, wielding a fearsome electrohammer and riding a gadget-packed motorcycle, he's ready to wage war... if he can fix the untimely glitches in his untested gear.
Directed by Kenneth Johnson
superhero
based on comic
los angeles, california
soldier
military
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Shaquille O'Neal
John Henry Irons / Steel
Annabeth Gish
Sparky
Richard Roundtree
Uncle Joe
Judd Nelson
Nathaniel Burke
Irma P. Hall
Grandma Odessa
Harvey Silver
Lamont
Ray J
Martin
Charles Napier
Col. David
Kerrie Keane
Sen. Nolan
Eric Pierpoint
Major
Tembi Locke
Norma
Thom Barry
Sgt. Marcus
Crew
Kenneth Johnson
Director
Kenneth Johnson
Writer
Mervyn Warren
Original Music Composer
Mark Irwin
Director of Photography
Quincy Jones
Producer
Shaquille O'Neal
Executive Producer
Dane Farwell
Stunts
Marian Green
Stunts
Lisa McCullough
Stunts
Jeannie Epper
Stunts
Bob Minor
Stunts
Jon H. Epstein
Stunt Coordinator
Popular Reviews
73 reviews
unraveledclouds
2.0★ · 05/07/26
Shitass Thursday #1
Original Ovr Rating: 1.7 (incase the rating went up)
Film True Score: 13/100
Brain Damage: 50/100
Fun Score: 80/100
Recommended? if you want a silly, 1990s superhero film, and love Shaq? of course, why not. Only if you can handle the pain of the awkward dialogue and cringe timing first.> "Sometimes you gotta fight fire, with fire." Okay, this is my first log of Bad Movie Thursday so... yeah, this is the start of everything.
Ay man Burke if i were you, i wouldn't threaten big John right there😭😭 u egoistic G😭
The writing is a little bit okay, but also cringe. John's character was so weirdly written, i mean, u did really put maximum at the start and that is kinda awkward introduction of a character. The fight scene is also bad in every ways, it doesnt feel intense at all and the continuity were so fucking bad😭😭😭 The villain doesn't even feel threatening he is just dumb, and, just for fun villain.
The acting is so amateur and that combination with a bad script. The side characters are actually a lil bit better than Shaq acting💀 Shaq acting isn't threatening anyone but is a heartwarming one, i would have been laughing instead if i were the villain. Shaq is so stiff bro😭 hard as steel😭> **"I laugh at danger."😭**I actually laughed at few of joke they goes, and enjoyed it too. So atleast this movie isn't that bad at all... This is bad, but they made it look intentional so i can laugh at it.> "uh oh? I don't wanna hear uh oh."it is so bad that it become actually funny that it is that bad, it being successful as a failed movie😭😭
its like,
A villain sees Batman:> "welp im dead."A villain sees Steel:> "this guy couldn't even turn his neck."😭😭😭
A villain seeing Batman would shit himself. A villain seeing Steel just laughs and asks if the big tin can needs help crossing the street.
😭😭😭😂😂😂
costume so bad that it feels like Shaq blood circulation bout to give up in any moment there😭😭😭
MIND YOU ALL GUYS, in TMDB, 13 OUT OF 15 fucking POSTER are the SAME FUCKING IMAGE OF SHAQ😭😭😭 its like a mall security guard cosplaying Iron Man😭😭😭
the best, worst movie ever.
Ironman beta version.
Original Ovr Rating: 1.7 (incase the rating went up)
Film True Score: 13/100
Brain Damage: 50/100
Fun Score: 80/100
Recommended? if you want a silly, 1990s superhero film, and love Shaq? of course, why not. Only if you can handle the pain of the awkward dialogue and cringe timing first.> "Sometimes you gotta fight fire, with fire." Okay, this is my first log of Bad Movie Thursday so... yeah, this is the start of everything.
Ay man Burke if i were you, i wouldn't threaten big John right there😭😭 u egoistic G😭
The writing is a little bit okay, but also cringe. John's character was so weirdly written, i mean, u did really put maximum at the start and that is kinda awkward introduction of a character. The fight scene is also bad in every ways, it doesnt feel intense at all and the continuity were so fucking bad😭😭😭 The villain doesn't even feel threatening he is just dumb, and, just for fun villain.
The acting is so amateur and that combination with a bad script. The side characters are actually a lil bit better than Shaq acting💀 Shaq acting isn't threatening anyone but is a heartwarming one, i would have been laughing instead if i were the villain. Shaq is so stiff bro😭 hard as steel😭> **"I laugh at danger."😭**I actually laughed at few of joke they goes, and enjoyed it too. So atleast this movie isn't that bad at all... This is bad, but they made it look intentional so i can laugh at it.> "uh oh? I don't wanna hear uh oh."it is so bad that it become actually funny that it is that bad, it being successful as a failed movie😭😭
its like,
A villain sees Batman:> "welp im dead."A villain sees Steel:> "this guy couldn't even turn his neck."😭😭😭
A villain seeing Batman would shit himself. A villain seeing Steel just laughs and asks if the big tin can needs help crossing the street.
😭😭😭😂😂😂
costume so bad that it feels like Shaq blood circulation bout to give up in any moment there😭😭😭
MIND YOU ALL GUYS, in TMDB, 13 OUT OF 15 fucking POSTER are the SAME FUCKING IMAGE OF SHAQ😭😭😭 its like a mall security guard cosplaying Iron Man😭😭😭
the best, worst movie ever.
Ironman beta version.
Shitass Thursday #1
Original Ovr Rating: 1.7 (incase the rating went up)
Film True Score: 13/100
Brain Damage: 50/100
Fun Score: 80/100
Recommended? if you want a silly, 1990s superhero film, and love Shaq? of course, why not. Only if you can handle the pain of the awkward dialogue and cringe timing first.> "Sometimes you gotta fight fire, with fire." Okay, this is my first log of Bad Movie Thursday so... yeah, this is the start of everything.
Ay man Burke if i were you, i wouldn't threaten big John right there😭😭 u egoistic G😭
The writing is a little bit okay, but also cringe. John's character was so weirdly written, i mean, u did really put maximum at the start and that is kinda awkward introduction of a character. The fight scene is also bad in every ways, it doesnt feel intense at all and the continuity were so fucking bad😭😭😭 The villain doesn't even feel threatening he is just dumb, and, just for fun villain.
The acting is so amateur and that combination with a bad script. The side characters are actually a lil bit better than Shaq acting💀 Shaq acting isn't threatening anyone but is a heartwarming one, i would have been laughing instead if i were the villain. Shaq is so stiff bro😭 hard as steel😭> **"I laugh at danger."😭**I actually laughed at few of joke they goes, and enjoyed it too. So atleast this movie isn't that bad at all... This is bad, but they made it look intentional so i can laugh at it.> "uh oh? I don't wanna hear uh oh."it is so bad that it become actually funny that it is that bad, it being successful as a failed movie😭😭
its like,
A villain sees Batman:> "welp im dead."A villain sees Steel:> "this guy couldn't even turn his neck."😭😭😭
A villain seeing Batman would shit himself. A villain seeing Steel just laughs and asks if the big tin can needs help crossing the street.
😭😭😭😂😂😂
costume so bad that it feels like Shaq blood circulation bout to give up in any moment there😭😭😭
MIND YOU ALL GUYS, in TMDB, 13 OUT OF 15 fucking POSTER are the SAME FUCKING IMAGE OF SHAQ😭😭😭 its like a mall security guard cosplaying Iron Man😭😭😭
the best, worst movie ever.
Ironman beta version.
Original Ovr Rating: 1.7 (incase the rating went up)
Film True Score: 13/100
Brain Damage: 50/100
Fun Score: 80/100
Recommended? if you want a silly, 1990s superhero film, and love Shaq? of course, why not. Only if you can handle the pain of the awkward dialogue and cringe timing first.> "Sometimes you gotta fight fire, with fire." Okay, this is my first log of Bad Movie Thursday so... yeah, this is the start of everything.
Ay man Burke if i were you, i wouldn't threaten big John right there😭😭 u egoistic G😭
The writing is a little bit okay, but also cringe. John's character was so weirdly written, i mean, u did really put maximum at the start and that is kinda awkward introduction of a character. The fight scene is also bad in every ways, it doesnt feel intense at all and the continuity were so fucking bad😭😭😭 The villain doesn't even feel threatening he is just dumb, and, just for fun villain.
The acting is so amateur and that combination with a bad script. The side characters are actually a lil bit better than Shaq acting💀 Shaq acting isn't threatening anyone but is a heartwarming one, i would have been laughing instead if i were the villain. Shaq is so stiff bro😭 hard as steel😭> **"I laugh at danger."😭**I actually laughed at few of joke they goes, and enjoyed it too. So atleast this movie isn't that bad at all... This is bad, but they made it look intentional so i can laugh at it.> "uh oh? I don't wanna hear uh oh."it is so bad that it become actually funny that it is that bad, it being successful as a failed movie😭😭
its like,
A villain sees Batman:> "welp im dead."A villain sees Steel:> "this guy couldn't even turn his neck."😭😭😭
A villain seeing Batman would shit himself. A villain seeing Steel just laughs and asks if the big tin can needs help crossing the street.
😭😭😭😂😂😂
costume so bad that it feels like Shaq blood circulation bout to give up in any moment there😭😭😭
MIND YOU ALL GUYS, in TMDB, 13 OUT OF 15 fucking POSTER are the SAME FUCKING IMAGE OF SHAQ😭😭😭 its like a mall security guard cosplaying Iron Man😭😭😭
the best, worst movie ever.
Ironman beta version.
ET
10.0★ · 01/31/26
“I thought I smelled nuts roasting.”
“Eat the hotdog, don’t be one.”
An ex-soldier builds a superhero in a junkyard suit because he “has to get those weapons off the streets.” This is the second time I’ve seen Shaquille O’Neal play a character striving to rise above the streets. The subtle references to Shaq’s basketball shooting skills were entertaining. The best scene is when the SWAT team fails to jump into Steel’s window the first time so they have to jump into it again, which could have been easily retaken. When the villain told the guy the hotdog was pork instead of turkey is too much, like I guess bro 🤷♂️. Rockets on the wheel chair is crazy though.
I love the Batman’s parents reference.
“Eat the hotdog, don’t be one.”
An ex-soldier builds a superhero in a junkyard suit because he “has to get those weapons off the streets.” This is the second time I’ve seen Shaquille O’Neal play a character striving to rise above the streets. The subtle references to Shaq’s basketball shooting skills were entertaining. The best scene is when the SWAT team fails to jump into Steel’s window the first time so they have to jump into it again, which could have been easily retaken. When the villain told the guy the hotdog was pork instead of turkey is too much, like I guess bro 🤷♂️. Rockets on the wheel chair is crazy though.
I love the Batman’s parents reference.
“I thought I smelled nuts roasting.”
“Eat the hotdog, don’t be one.”
An ex-soldier builds a superhero in a junkyard suit because he “has to get those weapons off the streets.” This is the second time I’ve seen Shaquille O’Neal play a character striving to rise above the streets. The subtle references to Shaq’s basketball shooting skills were entertaining. The best scene is when the SWAT team fails to jump into Steel’s window the first time so they have to jump into it again, which could have been easily retaken. When the villain told the guy the hotdog was pork instead of turkey is too much, like I guess bro 🤷♂️. Rockets on the wheel chair is crazy though.
I love the Batman’s parents reference.
“Eat the hotdog, don’t be one.”
An ex-soldier builds a superhero in a junkyard suit because he “has to get those weapons off the streets.” This is the second time I’ve seen Shaquille O’Neal play a character striving to rise above the streets. The subtle references to Shaq’s basketball shooting skills were entertaining. The best scene is when the SWAT team fails to jump into Steel’s window the first time so they have to jump into it again, which could have been easily retaken. When the villain told the guy the hotdog was pork instead of turkey is too much, like I guess bro 🤷♂️. Rockets on the wheel chair is crazy though.
I love the Batman’s parents reference.
Szabó Dávid
5.0★ · 08/15/25
Shaq can't act, but at least doesn't want to either. This movie is like a sore thumb to DC, but at least a fun one
Shaq can't act, but at least doesn't want to either. This movie is like a sore thumb to DC, but at least a fun one
Schwafelix
3.0★ · 07/08/25
Shaq O Neal
Shaq O Neal
Jake McCoy
4.0★ · 02/21/25
Oh the 90s, interesting time when basketball was huge, especially with the star power it had. Jordan, Rodman, and Shaq, to name a few, dominated the media and were everywhere you looked. So naturally movie deals were made, and Jordan lucked out with Space Jam. The others… not so lucky.
Bold to make an adaptation of a little known DC character, especially with his origin story of being a successor to Superman being completely changed. Many references to the Man of Steel are made, even Batman, although I’m not sure they were going to be connected especially with the arcade game of Batman Forever being seen in the background in one scene. I guess they weren’t ready for cinematic universes at that point, but their kids are gonna love it!
Alas the final product is pretty weak. Shaq was a great player but acting is not in his genes (at least he doesn’t have to take himself seriously in the Sandler movies he appears in), and everyone else is there for the paycheck. The action sequences are far in between and when we do get them, they’re nothing special.
Maybe if Gunn’s universe is successful this character can be redone and done correctly. Only time will tell.
Bold to make an adaptation of a little known DC character, especially with his origin story of being a successor to Superman being completely changed. Many references to the Man of Steel are made, even Batman, although I’m not sure they were going to be connected especially with the arcade game of Batman Forever being seen in the background in one scene. I guess they weren’t ready for cinematic universes at that point, but their kids are gonna love it!
Alas the final product is pretty weak. Shaq was a great player but acting is not in his genes (at least he doesn’t have to take himself seriously in the Sandler movies he appears in), and everyone else is there for the paycheck. The action sequences are far in between and when we do get them, they’re nothing special.
Maybe if Gunn’s universe is successful this character can be redone and done correctly. Only time will tell.
Oh the 90s, interesting time when basketball was huge, especially with the star power it had. Jordan, Rodman, and Shaq, to name a few, dominated the media and were everywhere you looked. So naturally movie deals were made, and Jordan lucked out with Space Jam. The others… not so lucky.
Bold to make an adaptation of a little known DC character, especially with his origin story of being a successor to Superman being completely changed. Many references to the Man of Steel are made, even Batman, although I’m not sure they were going to be connected especially with the arcade game of Batman Forever being seen in the background in one scene. I guess they weren’t ready for cinematic universes at that point, but their kids are gonna love it!
Alas the final product is pretty weak. Shaq was a great player but acting is not in his genes (at least he doesn’t have to take himself seriously in the Sandler movies he appears in), and everyone else is there for the paycheck. The action sequences are far in between and when we do get them, they’re nothing special.
Maybe if Gunn’s universe is successful this character can be redone and done correctly. Only time will tell.
Bold to make an adaptation of a little known DC character, especially with his origin story of being a successor to Superman being completely changed. Many references to the Man of Steel are made, even Batman, although I’m not sure they were going to be connected especially with the arcade game of Batman Forever being seen in the background in one scene. I guess they weren’t ready for cinematic universes at that point, but their kids are gonna love it!
Alas the final product is pretty weak. Shaq was a great player but acting is not in his genes (at least he doesn’t have to take himself seriously in the Sandler movies he appears in), and everyone else is there for the paycheck. The action sequences are far in between and when we do get them, they’re nothing special.
Maybe if Gunn’s universe is successful this character can be redone and done correctly. Only time will tell.