Superman

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.

The intense Science Fiction action and fights completely took over the human story between Lois and Superman. The (pocket universe??) just distracts from anything that might be in the realm you think could happen. I do like movies that have fantasy and science fiction elements that are not possible in day-to-day life, but sometimes they can push those elements way beyond what's understandable, and enjoyable.

I am a fan of superhero movies but this is definitely one of the worst I've ever seen. I had really high hopes for it but it did not deliver. I admit it is visually good with decent cinematography and coloring but the story and the dialog seem to be written for children. There is absolutely no creativity in this film. It is a stereotype of superhero stories. There is too much superhuman stuff going on. You can't feel connected to anyone here. Everyone seems to be on board with everything. You feel like being dragged into a party where you know no one. None of the characters are relatable, or even interesting for that matter. It feels like you are watching the third movie of a trilogy having watched neither of the previous two.

I also believe the movie should be called "Everyone But Superman"! Weirdly, he doesn't appear as the main character. He doesn't have a great fight scene or do the important things. He's just there getting bitten up with a very poorly executed redemption arc.

Also, none of the jokes land. The movie isn't fun. None of the characters are funny, especially not the dog. It really tries to be funny but fails every time. I didn't expect this from James Gunn.

I felt like I joined the movie half way through at the start. The muddle of characters rapidly became overwhelming and there never felt like there was a plot. The guardians of the galaxy style just didn't work as well on supes..

This felt like a comedy first and superhero second. Too much needless changes from the source material as well just made me feel like yet another DC reboot or remake is too little too late.

A reasonable attempt but falls short of being good.

I honestly don't see how this movie could impress anyone older than 10. Sure, it's colorful, lighthearted, and has a few crowd-pleasing moments - but underneath the cape and charm, it feels more like a Saturday morning cartoon than the cinematic relaunch of an iconic hero. For a character as emotionally rich and symbolically heavy as Superman, this version felt oddly flat, even juvenile.

The movie opens with a tone that hints at something deeper - maybe a layered origin story or a grounded emotional arc. For a moment, it feels like James Gunn might give Superman the complexity he deserves. But that promise fades fast. Instead of evolving into something meaningful, the story flattens into a series of lighthearted moments, cheesy one-liners, and safe, predictable beats.

It's like the film is afraid to take itself seriously for more than five minutes. Every time it flirts with depth, it quickly retreats to humor or surface-level charm. That approach might work for younger audiences, but for anyone hoping for a mature or compelling Superman narrative, it's a letdown.

Most of the cast did a decent job - nobody was outright bad, but no one really stood out either. The performances felt safe, almost like everyone was playing within tight creative boundaries. Even characters who are supposed to command the screen - like Superman and Lex Luthor - felt surprisingly muted.

David Corenswet as Superman checks the boxes visually, but his performance doesn't leave much of a mark. There's no real emotional weight, no moment where you truly feel what Clark is going through. And Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor, while an interesting casting choice on paper, lacks the menace or charisma that makes the character memorable. He's just... there.

It's frustrating, because these are some of the most iconic roles in comic book history - and yet the film doesn't give the actors enough material to make them feel iconic.

Are bright, the costumes pop, and some of the early shots are eye-catching - at least for a second. But once you settle into the movie, it all starts to feel a bit stale. The CGI is fine, but nothing we haven't seen before. The action scenes are clean but lack intensity or creativity. There's no real visual identity that sets it apart from every other superhero film.

It's like eating candy with no flavor - it looks fun, but you stop caring pretty quickly.

Superman (2025) feels like a movie made to play it safe - colorful enough to distract, light enough to entertain kids, but ultimately hollow for anyone expecting more. It had the opportunity to bring real depth and emotion to one of the most iconic heroes in fiction, but instead settles for a flat, overly sanitized version of the character.

If you're under 10, you might love it. For everyone else, it's just another cape in the crowd.