Let's get one thing out of the way: I'm not a Superman fan. Never have been. It's hard to root for a nigh-invincible alien with the moral compass of a saint. I've always been more of a Batman guy-brooding billionaires with trauma just feel more... grounded. If it weren't for James Gunn at the helm, my excitement for yet another Superman reboot would be close to zero. As a huge fan of his work-from the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy to The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker, and Creature Commandos-I found myself intrigued. But even then, a question lingered in the back of my mind: Gunn has always excelled with underdogs, outcasts, and oddballs-could he really make the world's most squeaky-clean superhero compelling? The answer? A thunderous, emphatic YES.
With Superman , James Gunn delivers the most emotionally resonant and thematically mature version of this beloved hero to date. The result is a film that dares to reimagine the Last Son of Krypton not as a god among men, but as a man who just happens to be a god. And it works. Beautifully.
Thanks to a nuanced script and David Corenswet's pitch-perfect performance, Superman is-dare I say-relatable. Charming, earnest, even a little naïve, Corenswet captures the essential contradiction at the heart of the character: an alien more human than most of us. He's the best portrayal of Clark Kent since Christopher Reeve. Don't get me wrong, Cavill was good and had the look of Superman, but Corenswet has the soul-the farm-raised, kind-hearted boy who just wants to do what is good.
Gunn smartly skips the well-worn origin story and throws us into the thick of it-an Earth already grappling with the existence of Superman. It's a move that keeps the pacing lean and allows the story to dig deeper into the world around him. And this world feels real. In a classic Gunn fashion, he weaves in sharp, timely commentary on media weaponization, current foreign affairs, and public trust. Superman's challenges are not just physical-they're moral, political, philosophical. And yet, the film never feels like it's lecturing. It just feels-timely, relevant, necessary.
The emotional core is surprisingly affecting. Clark's dynamic with Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan, nailing the fierce, no-nonsense reporter) crackles with genuine tension and warmth. They bicker, they banter, they love. It's messy. It's real. Add to that the tender scenes with Clark's parents, and you have a superhero movie that somehow manages to be...intimate. When Superman tears up at a simple word from his stepdad, it hits harder than any CGI explosion.
Tonally, it's classic Gunn-light and fun, with moments that feel ripped straight out of a Saturday morning cartoon. But it's not all laughs. The humor is dialed back, used sparingly and smartly. There's surprising darkness here too-moments of genuine menace and even shocking to say the least.
As for the supporting cast, Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor is the best version we've seen on screen-cold, calculating, and utterly despicable. He's not a hammy businessman or a twitchy tech bro. He's evil, and chillingly rational about it. You want to punch him in the face. Repeatedly. That's a win. Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane is the definitive version-a relentless truth-seeker with zero time for nonsense. Nathan Fillion's Green Lantern is exactly what you'd expect from a James Gunn regular: a lovable asshole with some truly laugh-out-loud moments (creative use of his ring). Isabela Merced's Hawkgirl brings welcome edge, and Edi Gathegi's Mr. Terrific nearly steals the show with one of the most memorable fight sequences in the film.
It's not a perfect film, though. For all its triumphs, I found myself wanting more-particularly of the Clark and Lois interactions. The film's strongest moments are its quietest ones, and at times, those are sacrificed for screen time spent on less compelling side characters. The pacing is tight, but I would've gladly traded a few action beats for more of those humanizing character moments that made this version of Superman so special. That said, the inclusion of Krypto the Superdog is a delight. Watching a nearly all-powerful being struggle to handle a naughty superdog? Every pet owner can relate.
Still, by the time the credits rolled, I knew one thing: Superman is everything I wanted it to be-and then some. If this film is any indication of the direction James Gunn's DCU is heading, then DC is in very good hands. For the first time, I can honestly say that I want more of DC.
In a time where the world feels more divided, more cynical, and more exhausted than ever, this film reminds us why Superman matters. He's not just about flying fast, lifting buildings, or stopping Kaijus. He's about compassion. About kindness. About doing the right thing not for glory, but because it's the right thing to do. We need that now. We need him now. He made me believe once again that there is hope.
