Director: James Gunn
Starring: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, and Isabela Merced
Movie Length: 2 hours 9 minutes
If we’ve learned anything about Superman in the cinema, it’s that he can take a beating. The franchise has been rebooted three times with the 2025 release, arriving in theaters today. With this incarnation, we are introduced to our lead at the tail end of a losing battle. His beaten form plummets from the skies, slamming into a frozen terrain. The text on the screen tells us this is his first loss, but viewers know differently.
Despite being arguably the strongest superhero ever conceived, Superman seems to spend a lot of time getting kicked around, especially by critical movie audiences and studio executives. Most recently, Henry Cavill portrayed Krypton’s most famous creation. Lacking the punch that folks were looking for, James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios was brought into the fold to help relaunch DC’s entire cinematic universe. Gunn has taken the helm by writing and directing the debut effort of that endeavor with the company’s biggest character.
Actor David Corenswet assumes the role of the Man of Steel. He exhibits charm, charisma but most importantly, humanity. From the very beginning of the film, he demonstrates the vulnerability which permeates throughout the production. Coming to his rescue is my favorite character from the movie, Krypto. Dragging Superman’s nearly unconscious form to their icy fortress, Krypto makes sure that his ailing friend receives the medical attention he requires.
While I’m reticent to declare Corenswet’s version of Superman as my favorite, I harbor no hesitation when I share that Nicholas Hoult is the best Lex Luthor since Gene Hackman. For the first time, we get a real depiction of Luthor’s intelligence. He engineers a series of scenarios that garner him positive public attention while demonizing his adored adversary. His methodology is inspired and incredibly effective. Through some subterfuge, Luthor finds himself in possession of some revelatory information that proves to be a surprise to not only Earth’s population, but Superman himself.
Gunn gives us a true spectacle of a movie, complete with bombastic action sequences alongside the intimate quiet moments that fuel characterization. Using the premise of journalism as a means of exposition is clever although it does eventually become heavy handed. When the movie gets it right, it soars and when the movie misses the target, it’s minimal in comparison to the victories.
The scenes featuring Krypto are among my favorite, although a secondary character has a terrific action sequence that practically steals the movie.
In summary, I’m a fan of Gunn’s Superman and if this film is any indication of what DC Studios has in store for us, we’re in good hands.
Superman earns a 7.5/10
Superman in now in theaters.
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