Superman (2025) | Film Review

Big Blue has arrived! My thoughts on SUPERMAN are aplenty, and I will tread very carefully so as not to spoil anything (props to the marketing team on this one for not ruining the experience for fans). As James Gunn and Peter Safran set out to accomplish, Superman is a very good relaunching of the DC Universe for a world that was simply exhausted from the darker, melodramatic Snyderverse.

Typically, in a film review, you recap basic events, though for this film I will not dive into the plot other than to say that Lex Luthor is on a mission to emasculate Superman from his standing as a hero to the world. Utilizing misinformation and massive weapons (of various sorts), Superman is under attack for the duration of the runtime. Sincerely, the entirety of the film.

One aspect of writer-director James Gunn’s storytelling that was a phenomenal choice is how he casts aside any need for an origin story. We know this character, everyone freaking knows these characters, so we open this movie as though we are in the second act of any superhero movie. Superman as a character is already in this universe, he’s established, he is battle tested and weary. He also just had his ass kicked. This “hit the ground running” approach is exactly what fans want if we must reinvest in yet another new Superman.

Quickly to the things that do not work: the red shorts still look asinine and ridiculous. It is a bad costume choice, and honestly too often the costume seems more like a child’s pajamas. Regardless of how comic accurate it is, it is cheesy and impractical, and often star David Corenswet looks more like he is headed to a sleepover rather than fighting crime. Also, the story is a bit overstuffed. Too many characters, too many moving pieces, yet thankfully Gunn knows how to maintain control of it all and mostly keep this train on the track.

Back to the positives. The casting is perfection across the board. Nicholas Hoult is shockingly good as Lex Luthor, this petulant genius is putty in his hands. Hoult carries a very non-threatening frame, yet his demeanor elevates his Lex to the upper echelon of superhero villains.

Skyler Gisondo finally gives Jimmy Olsen something to do (and a bit of rizz) as he pursues dangerous leads to capturing a story. Nathan Fillion gets a lot more screen time than expected and crushes it as Guy Gardner. Fillion’s Green Lantern manifests jackassery magnificently. And Edi Gathegi breathes life into Mr. Terrific, a brilliant intellect with enough ego to wear a jacket with his name emboldened on the back, that will make his character an instant fan-favorite.

Rachel Brosnahan is so pitch perfect as Lois Lane that she could easily be my favorite iteration with another turn at bat. Sharp, witty, intelligent and her chemistry with Corenswet is off the charts. Her idiosyncrasies illuminate her character and her struggles with relationships of all sorts as she grapples with the concept of dating the most famous superhero in the world.

Which finally brings me to Superman / Clark Kent. David Corenswet has big shoes to fill, as I personally adored Henry Cavill, and he wears them well. While he does not fill the suit as Supermanly as Cavill did, Corenswet brings that boy scout charm to the forefront and instantly forms a connection with the audience. Whether as Clark or Superman proper, there is an innocence and naivety that Corenswet captures steadfast and gracefully.

Corenswet also reminds us of what is special about Superman. He refuses to kill, he will risk everything to save a living creature – including his amazing dog Krypto, and even a squirrel – and he believes in humanity to its core. Hope, good deeds, care for your fellow humans; this is Superman.

He loves his birth and adoptive parents equally (and it is wonderful to have seemingly real Midwestern parents for a change). There is a wonderfully underappreciated subplot of the importance of adoptive families here that I found especially beautiful, particularly in our divisive, fragmented world. Superman does have a tinge of arrogance at times, but overall kindness is his tool, and he wields it like a master.

No one will rival Christopher Reeve, but David Corenswet has real potential here and does not waste it. You will believe in this man as Superman.

James Gunn throws out his usual off-kilter humor and the script has a bit of “everything but the kitchen sink” in terms of plot stuffing, but Superman has an excellent pace, the cast raises the stakes at every turn, is absolutely a blast, and worth seeing on the biggest screen possible. Is it the #1 movie of the summer? No. But it’s still a great time at the movies, and a solid start to a reinvigorated DC Universe.

Plus, Krypto is the most adorable, bestest boy ever!

Superman releases in theaters July 11, 2025
Starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Nathan Fillion
Screenplay by James Gunn
Directed by James Gunn