review

✦

review ✦

James Gunn’s Superman flies into theaters with a clear mission: to reintroduce the Man of Steel through a new lens—one that’s modern, heartfelt, and built to launch an entirely reimagined DC Universe. And for the most part, it succeeds.

With a strong cast, emotional clarity, and an intriguing foundation for what’s to come, Superman feels like both a fresh start and a thoughtful tribute to everything that’s made the character iconic for generations.

This isn’t about reinventing Superman from the ground up—it’s about reminding audiences why he matters, while carving out a tone that feels distinctly Gunn. Sure, not everything soars as high as it could, but the film ultimately lands as an ambitious, character debut that lays promising groundwork for the future.

*Superman* (2025), Property of DC Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures

A Committed Cast Anchors the Film

From the very first scene, Superman makes it clear it’s not just here to set up a universe—it’s here to mean something. David Corenswet brings warmth and earnestness to Clark Kent, avoiding both brooding introspection and overly polished heroism. He’s believable as both the awkward reporter and the powerful symbol of hope, giving us a version of Superman that feels deeply grounded without losing mythic weight.

Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane is sharp, emotionally grounded, and in many ways, helps shape Clark’s emergence into the public eye. Her dynamic with Corenswet’s Superman is one of the film’s most compelling throughlines. Meanwhile, Nicholas Hoult brings a cool detachment to Lex Luthor—less theatrical supervillain, more calculating sociopath. The restraint in his performance makes Luthor all the more unsettling, particularly in a world still figuring out how to deal with Superman’s presence.

The supporting cast—Skyler Gisondo’s sincere Jimmy Olsen, Edi Gathegi’s stoic Mister Terrific, and Nathan Fillion’s brash Guy Gardner—all feel well placed, with a unified understanding of the film’s tone. Everyone shows up with purpose, and that commitment adds weight to even the film’s subtle character moments.

A Fresh Tone That Feels Right

There’s a notable confidence in the film’s tone. It doesn’t try to chase what came before—whether Snyder’s operatic darkness or Marvel’s quippy chaos. Instead, Superman finds its own rhythm: earnest but not naïve, serious without being self-important, hopeful without ignoring complexity. It allows for sincerity, something that’s been missing from superhero movies lately, and that choice feels welcome.

Rather than frame Superman as a god or outsider, Gunn’s take leans into the idea of Clark Kent as someone trying to navigate both the human and heroic parts of himself. The thematic tension—between who Clark is and what the world needs him to be—runs through every major character, hero and villain alike. It gives the story emotional shape, even when the plot itself moves in expected directions.

Building a World with Purpose

Gunn’s signature style is present—not just in the dialogue or the character banter, but in how the world unfolds. There’s a sci-fi undercurrent and political texture that adds intrigue without overwhelming the main narrative. The DCU here feels lived-in, even if we’re only seeing part of it.

Still, there’s room for more. As the first official entry in this rebooted universe, Superman could have benefited from a clearer sense of how Metropolis—and the broader world—has been shaped by heroes, aliens, and emerging threats. We get hints of larger systems at play (mostly specific to this film’s story), but there are a few details that never fully come into focus. While the personal stakes land, the broader scope of this world still feels slightly out of reach. The context is meaningful, even relevant—but a touch more world detail would have made this foundation stronger.

A Deep Roster, but Some Missed Beats

One of the film’s more ambitious swings is how many supporting heroes and side characters it introduces. Rather than rely solely on legacy names, Superman features a lineup that includes Ultraman, Engineer, Mister Terrific, Metamorpho, and others—some of whom are fan favorites, others deep cuts from DC lore.

This choice brings freshness and depth to the universe, and it’s a smart move to avoid overcrowding the spotlight with only A-listers. But the trade-off is that not every character gets the space they need. For newcomers, figures like Engineer or Metamorpho may feel underexplained or slightly out of place. The intention is clear—build out the bench early—but at times, it creates a sense of narrative clutter in a story that might have benefited from just a bit more focus.

An Ambitious Entry Point

Superman sets the stage for a new era of DC storytelling with purpose and heart. It’s not just a reboot—it’s a mission statement. The performances are strong, the direction feels focused, and the film dares to explore moral questions that other superhero movies often dodge. It’s entertaining, well-crafted, and emotionally sincere.

That said, the film doesn’t quite reach the heights it hints at. There are stretches where the stakes feel muted, or where world-building details are just out of reach. The ambition is clearly there, and when it connects, it really connects—but there’s also the sense that this universe is only starting to warm up. For all its strong character work and tonal clarity, Superman sometimes feels like it’s holding back a little, saving its boldest moves for future chapters.

Still, this is a promising start—and an enjoyable one. With its genre-blending tone, sincere lead performance, and intriguing setup, Superman does exactly what it needs to: make us want to see what comes next.

Score: 7/10

Superman is an emotionally grounded, smartly cast, and uniquely crafted reboot that gives the iconic hero a modern identity. It may not fully realize the scope it sets up, but it’s a strong first step—and a sign that better things are ahead.