The legacy of Superman on the big screen has been a part of cinema for decades. Richard Donner and Christopher Reeve made us believe that a man could fly, which tapped into something in all of us. Several of those films instilled hope in humanity, but slowly changed with Zack Snyder‘s direction. Hope was gradually giving way to cynicism, as the audience was not entirely on board. Now, filmmaker James Gunn has decided to take Superman back to what he’s known for, with his unique storytelling style.
What resulted from 2025’s Superman film is a showcase of what the audience loves about the son of Krypton, and makes the inner child of this reviewer believe once again that a man can fly.
Superman, directed and written Gunn, is the first step in a fresh reboot of the DC Universe from Warner Bros. This time around, Clark Kent, aka Superman (David Corenswet), sees the Man of Steel in a world where Metahumans have existed for billions of years. Superman is stretched thin between two warring nations, a dissolving relationship with Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), and Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) building public distrust against our hero. Gunn’s talent for working in the superhero genre is on full display this time around with some added risk.
Gunn‘s career as a director has been evolving for some time, and he continues to elevate his game. The director’s use of the RED V-Raptor camera, equipped with a Leica Tri-Elmar lens, adds a level of wide-angle capabilities that fully brought me into the action. There were several scenes of Superman flying that had never been done before in such an immersive way in a Superman movie. The level of grit and the hero’s ability to fly through the sky was a fantastic feat and made me want more.
The filmmaker continues this style with the action set pieces between Superman and his foes. A great example is the stadium fighting scene where the Man of Steel battles The Engineer and Ultraman. Every punch, throw, and impact is clearly stated and continues to ramp up. I would even compare it to splash pages being ripped from the comics, and it added a great deal of depth to the film. The visual effects team behind Superman knew how important it was for each shot to look authentic and vibrant, and they delivered.
Furthermore, Gunn’s skill as a writer shows that he’s fully capable of hitting the right themes associated with Superman comics.
The writing for Superman taps into issues of identity and hope, and remains topical regarding warring nations and the real-life implications they bring. Gunn expertly distributes these themes throughout the movie and gives them their proper resolution at the end. The script’s pace sets things up that pay off in a big way, landing the emotional punch or conveying the message in an easily digestible manner. A strong example of this is when Kal-El looks to his Kryptonian parents to find out who he is as a person.
Through trials and tribulations and a great setup between Lois and Supes, he comes to a satisfying conclusion. The moment uplifts the character and brings me to tears, thanks to the final shot and the film’s needle drop of Teddybear’s Punkrocker (feat. Iggy Pop). Of course, one of the biggest concerns is whether the casts are the right fit.
Fortunately, I can say that just about everybody is perfect for the job. Hoult’s Lex Luthor does well as the foil to Superman and works perfectly as a subtle, xenophobic individual who reflects those in our public media. Brosnahan is an excellent choice as Lois Lane, fitting well with the movie’s plot and able to carry several scenes on her own. Even actors like Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, and Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific add significantly to the film’s comedic style. Lastly, is whether Corenswet fits the role of Superman.
Corenswet follows a long line of actors who have taken on the iconic role. Every actor has brought their unique style to The Man of Tomorrow, which has been everlasting. Corenswet steps up to the plate and knocks it out of the park. The actor possesses a level of charm and that Boy Scout characteristic that makes him truly likable, much like Superman. He understood the character as someone who is still figuring out his place in the world, all the while striving to do good for humankind. He’s the Superman we’ve been waiting for years.
If there were any gripes I would have with the film, it’s that it’s bogged down with too many storylines. Gunn’s writing introduced several subplots to the overarching narrative, which sometimes felt excessive and unnecessary. Many of the scenarios could have been used for later sequels or focused better. The last issue I would have with Superman is that it feels like part 2 in a trilogy. The movie will drop many audiences in the middle of an already in-progress story and expect them to catch up.
Many of the characters are not well-known to the general audience and may cause some confusion. It wasn’t a significant issue for me, but mileage may vary for others.
Gunn’s Superman is the right kind of superhero movie we need today. It’s a fun-filled action comedy with great chemistry between the film’s leads, and it’s the perfect summer movie. Warner Bros. faced considerable skepticism after deciding to reboot its DC films again. However, I think with Gunn’s vision and this movie, DC Studios has started on the right foot. And the future of comic book movies looks bright once again.