Superman (2025) – Review

Look up. That’s the slogan. James Gunn’s Superman is here, and with all the skepticism and the so-called “superhero fatigue”, the Guardians of the Galaxy director proved that it’s all about the focus on the character and delivering a great story.

To be honest, with the recent drop in interest in superhero movies, I kept my expectations for Gunn’s Superman incredibly low. I certainly didn’t expect it would achieve critical acclaim. DC had been struggling before Gunn took the helm as Co-Chairman and CEO of DC Studios. With a string of films that didn’t do well, like The Flash and Black Adam, DC was in a tough spot. Gunn’s mission was to get DC back on track, and I can confidently say he’s headed in the right direction.

Superman (2025), directed and written by James Gunn himself, is everything you could ask for in a Superman film: lighthearted, colorful, and brilliant. Gone are the days of a broody, desaturated Man of Steel. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate Henry Cavill and Zack Snyder’s films, but Gunn’s vision, coupled with David Corenswet’s performance as the Man of Steel, strongly embodies the titular hero’s core principles and personality. It’s a refreshing change of direction, and honestly, the best move for the franchise.

This isn’t an origin story. In fact, the film focuses on events years after Superman (David Corenswet) revealed himself to the world as a hero. He’s already known by several meta-humans, including Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), and he’s already in a relationship with Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan).

Superman stopped a hostile takeover of Jarhanpur by the country of Boravia. However, that ended with severe consequences. Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) seizes the opportunity to convince the U.S. government that Superman is a threat, not just to the country, but to all humanity, given his extraterrestrial origin.

While this might seem like a typical superhero narrative, that’s precisely what makes Superman great. You won’t find any wild twists or convoluted plotlines to strain your brain. Instead, the focus remains squarely on Superman/Clark Kent’s character and his relationships with his Daily Planet colleagues, like Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo) and editor-in-chief Perry White (Wendell Pierce). The scenes where Clark interacts with his peers and the love of his life truly illuminate the kind of man and hero he is. For Gunn, fight scenes are merely the tip of the iceberg; a well-written character and a story built around that character are what elevate this superhero flick to a great movie.

A great film demands a great cast, and this one delivers. David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan’s portrayals of their characters are simply amazing. Rachel’s performance shines with Lois Lane’s fierce, straightforward personality, while David’s Clark Kent/Superman brims with hope and an undeniable “good guy” vibe, driven by a desire to keep everyone safe.

I have to commend Nicholas Hoult for his superb performance as Lex Luthor. He’s intelligent, vengeful, and utterly consumed by his hatred for Superman. Hoult has officially set the benchmark for how to portray Lex Luthor on-screen. I also need to praise Edi Gathegi’s performance as Mr. Terrific. He absolutely nailed every fiber of the character’s personality, and that epic fight scene with the LutherCorp goons was nothing short of amazing. And let’s not forget Nathan Fillion’s portrayal of Guy Gardner – he’s a fantastic douchebag, in the best possible way!

What Warner Bros. and DC Studios desperately need now is a win. They need to demonstrate to the world that the DC universe is brimming with incredible superheroes and stories that can be brought to the big screen without losing the essence of what everyone loves about the source material. Superman is the perfect character to kickstart this new universe, especially when directed by someone with a genuine love for comic books, like James Gunn. His expertise as both a writer and director is what truly makes this Superman movie great.

James Gunn’s Superman is undeniably lighthearted, packed with fantastic action, and features a brilliant ensemble of characters. While moviegoers with limited knowledge of the character might initially be put off by the lack of a traditional character introduction, this film is definitely for those who already know Superman and his allies.

David Corenswet truly deserves to wear the red cape, and I eagerly anticipate seeing more of what Gunn and Safran can achieve for DC. I am incredibly excited to discover who their Batman will be! Superman (2025) truly shines as one of the best Superman films. I’d love to watch it a second time.