‘Superman’ (2025) Review – James Gunn Gives Superman A Thrilling, Relevant Fresh Start

Let’s get it out of the way: a lot is riding on Superman’s shoulders. 

We could be referring to either the superhero or the film bearing his name. Discussing the film, Superman is the first from the James Gunn-helmed DC Studios, a core pillar of Warner Bros. Discovery’s strategy. After the DC Extended Universe’s financial flameout, everyone is banking on Superman wiping the slate clean for its cadre of superheroes. The film’s critical and commercial success is paramount and non-negotiable. Anything less than boffo box office returns and critical praise would be catastrophic.

That context is surprisingly instructive in understanding Gunn’s approach to this latest iteration of Clark Kent. Played by David Corenswet, Superman is experiencing his own pressures. Three years into serving as humanity’s beacon of hope, he becomes embroiled in a geopolitical conflict between Boravia and Jarhanpur. Superman’s intervention raises questions about his role and whether he should be allowed to act unilaterally without government cooperation. Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) exploits this environment to advance his years-long crusade against the Man of Steel, threatening to upend everything the hero has built: the public’s adoration; his tentative partnership with Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced); and his relationship with Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan). 

So, Superman has a lot on his mind, as does the man shepherding him to the big screen. Even though the real-world stakes are high, James Gunn doesn’t aim for a measured, tentative reintroduction to the world’s greatest superhero. After an interstitial briefly explains Superman’s backstory and his involvement in the Boravian conflict, Gunn crash-lands us right next to a battered Superman in the Arctic and charges forward into the chaos within the Fortress of Solitude and Metropolis to face the villain who smashed him into the ice. It’s admittedly jarring, but it demonstrates Gunn’s faith in the audience to quickly grasp the state of play. 

The lack of set-up allows Gunn to focus on Superman’s greatest strength. Aesthetically, the film is a comic book brought to life, with all its joy, visual panache, and campy antics. Gunn has a blast playing in the Superman sandbox, manifesting the superhero’s powers in surprisingly creative ways. Yes, he can leap tall buildings in a single bound, but Superman spinning at hyperspeed to repel an encroaching army of flying creatures, and using his ice breath to repel from a black hole, make for thrilling, frankly gorgeous images. Clark’s powers are mainly in service of an oft-forgotten art of superhero films: saving people. Regardless of the threat, Gunn largely focuses on Superman rescuing everything from schoolchildren to squirrels. Superman saving squirrels is silly, but that is the intent. Gunn may filter Superman through his trademark irreverence, but he doesn’t sacrifice his earnestness, which includes his belief that everything is worth saving.

Superman’s unassailable moral code and the public’s adoration of him invite intriguing character questions. As compassionate as he is, Clark carries a subtle arrogance, as reflected in his extrajudicial involvement in the Boravian conflict. He believes his righteous heroism, shaped by a recorded message from his Kryptonian parents that accompanied him to Earth, supersedes legal and political considerations. However, that isn’t how the world works, and Lois, who’s in a committed relationship with Clark and knows he’s Superman, explains that to him during a pseudo-official interview. When she pushes on the ramifications of his actions, Superman is rattled and defensive. The scene effectively conveys his emotional vulnerabilities, which seeks to answer a common criticism of Superman in the modern superhero canon: he’s boring. Gunn not only dials down Clark’s powers so they aren’t undefeatable, but he also considers his psychological weaknesses and how they can be exploited.

Gunn isn’t the first to interpret Superman in that way. The animated series Justice League Unlimited explores how Clark’s righteous indignation against President Lex Luthor actively undermines his heroism and alienates his teammates. The film doesn’t exactly blame Superman for the public’s about-face on him, but it does smartly outline how his choices feed Lex’s negative narrative. It also forces Clark to question his faith in his own narrative and the role of nature and nurture in his heroism. Despite those challenges, we never get the sense that Clark has given up on humanity or himself outright. Even at his lowest physical or emotional point, he still values and seeks to protect life, no matter who they are. It’s a compelling story that complicates the Superman mythos without tossing out the character’s core tenets to make him modern or more adult. 

However, there is a curdling sense that Gunn’s resolutions to Superman’s arc aren’t fully earned. The chief culprit is the film’s extraordinary sprawl. The film features many characters, subplots, and side plots that flesh out Superman’s world, but don’t necessarily advance his story. Is Guy Gardner and his silly haircut fun to watch? Yes. Does Mr. Terrific briefly steal the film with a thrilling showcase of his powers? Absolutely. However, with such fascinating challenges facing Superman, they can feel like distractions, especially when his story seems to lack additional scenes that would make the payoffs stronger. Lois and Clark’s relationship is a key example. The chemistry is there, but the film throws us into the central conflict of their relationship without fully establishing their identity as a couple. It leaves their conclusion feeling less emotionally satisfying than intended.

That sprawl also slightly impacts the film’s generally good performances. David Corenswet possesses a gentle grace and charm that recalls the best interpretations of Superman. He plays the straight man well to the insanity around him without being a wet blanket. Corenswet’s ability to dimensionalize the basics makes you wish he got to play the more complicated beats. When those few moments arise, he makes a strong impact. Rachel Brosnahan is superb as Lois Lane, especially when she holds everyone’s feet to the fire with teasing yet ferocious force. Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor is a challenging one, as he lacks the imposing menace that one might expect. However, Hoult plays him with shades of ruthlessness, jealousy, and even one-sided sexual tension with Clark, which makes for a compelling take. The greatest surprise is Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific, whose steely exasperation makes him a scene-stealing delight.

Superman has a lot to answer for, and it is largely successful in its effort. James Gunn reintroduces a superhero who has been notoriously difficult to conceive on the big screen with an entertaining and relevant interpretation. He doesn’t compromise his directorial voice, but rather shapes it around Superman’s earnestness, making an unlikely pairing feel surprisingly, charmingly right. He also tells a story about the role of self-actualization in superheroism that feels fresh, even if it skimps over the finer details for the sake of worldbuilding. Like its cousin, The Batman, Superman is a necessary breath of fresh air for the titular superhero and the DC banner, setting it on a course past its messy history towards a high-flying future. It’s the launching pad that Superman has always deserved.

Superman will debut exclusively in theaters on July 11, 2025, courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery.