Superman (2025) Soars to New Heights

Courtesy of DC Studios

The DCU is here, and so is the new Superman movie directed by James Gunn. Superman (2025) stars David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Nathan Fillion, and Isabela Merced. Clark Kent has been Superman for a few years now, and after he got involved in a conflict between two countries, billionaire Lex Luthor finds an opportunity to make Superman look bad. Krypto the Superdog also makes his first live-action appearance in this movie. After the DCEU's roller-coaster of a ride and the failure of Black Adam, Warner Bros. Discovery hired James Gunn as the new president of DC Films. Gunn decided to reboot DC, as well as direct and write a new Superman movie. Gunn previously directed the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy for the MCU and The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker for the DCEU. How does Superman fare?

Superman's cast is easily the best strength of the movie. David Corenswet not only looks like Superman, but he also portrays him so perfectly. He plays Superman's optimism, strength, hope, fears, and anger so well. Superman values every life and goes out of his way to save everyone, including animals. When he sees someone die, he cries and shows normal human emotions. He portrays Superman's alter-ego, Clark Kent, well too. The movie focuses more on Superman than Clark Kent, similar to Matt Reeves's The Batman. While Superman delivers on the action, it would have been nice to see more of Clark Kent at the Daily Planet, which is only once, as well as more Clark Kent interactions with Jonathan and Martha Kent, his Earth parents, played by Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell. The best and most emotional scene of Superman, for me, was the scene where he talks with Jonathan Kent later on in the movie.

Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane is another great casting I was looking forward to, which didn't disappoint. She's not just Superman's love interest. She will push back when she disagrees with him and challenge him while at the same time helping him expose Luthor's plan. Brosnahan's chemistry with Corenswet is the best chemistry I've seen in a comic book movie in a long time. Their relationship isn’t perfect and has real hurdles and bumps throughout the movie. Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor is the on-screen Lex Luthor I wanted to see for years. He's purely evil and will go to great lengths to make Superman look bad and try to kill him. He's the best comic book movie villain I have seen in the last few years of comic book movies. Krypto the Superdog was cute and funny. He helps Superman out while at the same time charming audiences.

The Justice Gang, which consists of Mr. Terrific, Guy Gardner, and Hawkgirl, was fun and felt like supporting characters that contribute to the plot while at the same time never take away from Superman. Gunn's best strengths are shown with the Justice Gang. Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner provides most of the comic relief and humor. Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific has a few scene stealers and will win audiences over. While Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl is fine, out of the Justice Gang, she has the least to do in this movie.

Superman has more characters that, at first, will make you feel overwhelmed in the first twenty minutes, but Gunn manages to balance them all out, from the Daily Planet cast to the Justice Gang, and Lex's team. The action is done well and is always entertaining. Superman even fights a Kaiju monster with the Justice Gang in this movie. The main muscle villains are the mysterious Ultraman and the Engineer, played by Maria Garbiela de Faria. Both villains give Superman a challenge and shoot down the fan claim that Superman is always invincible. Ultraman's reveal is uneventful and weak and could have been handled better.

The story at first will feel overwhelming, but once it slows down after the beginning, it smooths out better. John Murphy and David Fleming's music score is incredible and a beautiful tribute to John Williams's original score. The humor works, and most of the time feels tame in comparison to other James Gunn movies. Most of the flying scenes work, with only a few looking a bit off. Special effects and cinematography are great for the movie. There is a twist with Superman's real parents, Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van, that will likely divide fans and adds to Superman's self-conflict on why he's really on Earth. This feels similar to how Jonathan Kent in Man of Steel was handled. The third act is filled with fun, exciting action that delivers.

All in all, Superman is a strong start to not only a new Superman series, but the DCU. It felt like a comic book coming to life, combined with an episode of the DCAU Justice League: Unlimited done right. David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Nichola Hoult are excellent as Superman/Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and Lex Luthor. The Justice Gang and Krypto are fun additions. It's full of action, fun, and emotion. I hope future movies focus on Clark Kent more and his work life in the Daily Planet and his relationship with his adoptive parents. While Superman (1978) is still the best Superman movie made, Superman (2025) will be the best Superman movie for many fans and win over a new audience. For many young fans, Corenswet is their first Superman and will likely be their favorite live-action Superman. My final grade for Superman is an A. If you love anything Superman related, DC Comics, and superhero movies overall, I recommend you check out Superman.

What are your thoughts on Superman? Let us know in the comments below.