SUPERMAN (2025) Review

Review

47 years ago Richard Donner and Christopher Reeve made the world believe a man could fly. Superman burst on to the big screen in full technicolour glory and birthed an entire genre of cinema in the process. Nearly five-decades later writer/director James Gunn is resurrecting the character from cinematic stagnation and hoping to kick start an entire cinematic universe in the process. With so much riding on new Man of Steel David Corenswet’s broad shoulders, can Gunn’s light-hearted but well meaning approach recreate the magic of 1978?

Hell yes it can! Originally titled Superman Legacy but now known simply as Superman. This new film is a breath of fresh air for the comic book movie genre. It flies in the face of superhero convention by focussing on character, building a world around Superman (Corenswet), Lois (Rachel Brosnahan) and a huge supporting cast. Taking an honest, back-to-basics approach to a more traditional Superman from the comics, Gunn has been able to create a summer blockbuster which is overflowing with everything that has made the character a success over his 87 year history.

Gunn has often mused on how most readers first approach comic books. Rarely does a reader begin with a first issue. Most of us, regardless of when we started reading, likely first picked up a book in which action is already underway. Applying this logic to the film, the DCU begins its first theatrical release in mid-flow. Metahumans have been known to human-kind for 300 years and Superman has been known to the good people of Metropolis for 3 years. After a brief set of captions swiftly setup the entire DCU we’re right down to action. In the moment Gunn chose to introduce us to David Corenswet in the film’s teaser, Superman crashes in to the arctic now and our adventure is underway.

The opening completely subverts audience expectation of the Man of Steel. Our first image of him on screen sees him bruised and bloodied, calling on Krypto for help. But this is Gunn’s mission statement. Telling us in a not-so-subtle way that the film won’t necessarily play out the way we anticipate. But also that it will speak to the fact Clark/Kal/Superman has a human heart because of his upbringing with Ma (Neva Howell) and Pa (Pruitt Taylor Vince) Kent. The idea of his human nature versus his alien origins underpins so much of what Gunn is trying to say through the loosely constructed series of episodes which make up the overall narrative of the film.

This is achieved through several different means in the narrative. Early in the film Lois and Clark discuss the Man of Steel interfering in a conflict between the fictional DC nations of Boravia and Jarhanpur. It’s another moment glimpsed in the film’s trailers and plays out like an exquisite piece of theatre across almost 10 minutes of screen time. Brosnahan and Corenswet are electric in the moment. Challenging each other’s point of view whilst simultaneously setting up questions about Superman’s place in the world. Meanwhile Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) is revealed to be working with the Boravian leader using the Hammer of Boravia, a mercenary with seemingly Kryptonian powers, to attack Metropolis and the Man of Steel. The testing of Superman culminates in an attack on the Fortress of Solitude where Lex and The Engineer (María Gabriela de Faría) are able to corrupt a message from Krypton and turn the world against Superman.

The film attacks the concept of Superman’s humanity from two angles: internally and externally. Both are pretty well executed across the 129 minute runtime. Seeing Corenswet embody a man with so much strength and self believe being shaken by revelations about his past is compelling to watch. Adding on top of that a world who once believed in his heroics begin to turn on him is dynamite. There are echoes of real world politics which Gunn has alluded to influencing the film. But neither is it heavy handed nor is it preaching to the audience. Quite the contrary in fact. Every aspect of the film is built to show the audience exactly who Superman is as a man, a hero, a son and a love interest. Much like the somewhat controversial first image of Corenswet in costume. Gunn’s approach gleefully hammers home that this is a man who CHOOSES to put on his costume and fight for truth and justice.

None of that is achieved without an incredible cast to carry it off. Corenswet was born to play this role. He embodies all of the actors who came before him as well as the core values of the character. Mainly known for his dramatic work, Corenswet has all of the machismo for Superman to feel a credible threat to his enemies. But this is a James Gunn film. There is so much more to the character depending on who he shares the screen with. There’s the Superman persona, the Clark Kent persona and then the one I’ll call Kal. He’s the truest version of who Superman is. Without anyone around requiring him to hide or pretend to be something else. Corenswet finds subtle differences between each that are almost imperceptible. But they’re there. His performance is career defining. It’s also character defining for a whole new generation of fans.

Stood next to every Superman is Lois Lane and Rachel Brosnahan is an outstanding one. Though she has a little less screen time than I had anticipated. Brosnahan makes an incredible first impression as Lane. Like Corenswet she embodies all of the strength of a classic Lois Lane portrayal. Her fight for truth is no less important than his. Hers is fought through words and investigation. Which is exactly what we see her doing throughout this film. Crucially Gunn doesn’t shy away from her softer side. He explores what it means to her to be entering in to a relationship with Clark. She’s no damsel in distress but also isn’t afraid to be saved if the situation calls for it. Brosnahan has a sharp, dry wit which fits perfectly with who Lois is. It helps that Corenswet and Brosnahan have boatloads of chemistry. To see the two sharing the screen is electric.

Another on screen couple with buckets of chemistry are David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult. The relationship between Clark and Lex Luthor is almost as key as that of Clark and Lois. Corenswet and Hoult dig in to that with so much vigour that it threatens to break through the screen. Gunn’s interpretation of Lux Luthor strays close to Bruce Timm’s famed DC animated universe of the 90s and 00s. Hoult delights in attacking the Man of Steel. He revels in postulating like a moustache twirling villain and yet never comes off caricature or cartoony. His Lex smoulders with a hated from Superman purely for his alien heritage, again skirting around modern real-world political issues. Yet somehow the chemistry witnessed between Corenswet and Hoult in interviews beautifully translates to a friction on screen which rivals even Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum.

There’s no weak link in the Superman supporting cast. The Justice Gang – made up on Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced and Edi Gathegi – are well cast. Fillion and Merced have little screen time but set up some interesting storylines for future projects. Gathegi steals every moment he’s on screen, appearing in one of the film’s best action sequences alongside Brosnahan. Likewise the Daily Planet team – Wendell Pierce, Mikaela Hoover, Beck Bennett and Skyler Gisondo – all have their place within the film and settle in to their roles greatly. A sitcom set at paper wouldn’t actually be a bad idea for a future TV project from DC Studios. But Gunn’s interpretation of Jimmy Olsen did leave a little to be desired. There’s room to grow in to Superman’s Best Pal, but for now his characterisation is a little confused and somewhat playboy like. But by no means to extreme levels.

Whilst plenty of words have been written about Superman’s budget what really count is how the film looks on screen. For the most part the visual effects are impressive. Superman zips around the Metropolis skyline dodging soldiers, kaiju and the occasional dimensional imp to great effect. The set piece action sequences land with a Kryptonian punch and plenty of traditional Gunn visual flare. In particular the shots of the Fortress of Solitude rising and falling from the snowcapped landscape are breathtaking. There are small moments when the VFX begin to bend but these are mere frames in the middle of frenetic sequences and by no means a distraction from the action. A sequence inside Lex’s pocket universe which features a river of anti-protons that feel like they belong in the Minecraft Movie may feel a step too far for the general audience. Though it also shows the depths Gunn has gone to mine the comic books for inspiration.

Practical sets are also expertly designed and executed. The inside of the Fortress feels ripped from the pages of All-Star Superman whilst The Daily Planet is a lived in and vibrant community of print journalism in action. We spend more time at Lois’ apartment than Clark’s. Like all the other locations in the film it feels lived in and real. The small details and easter eggs – keep your eyes peeled on the Hall of Justice – are littered throughout the skylines and every location in the film. It makes Superman and the DCU feel incredibly well established considering this is only the first theatrical release in the franchise.

John Murphy and David Fleming provide the film’s score. Stepping away from the Guardians of the Galaxy style mixtape. Superman features a much more traditional score which feels like new territory for a Gunn property. Using elements from John William’s theme for Christopher Reeve, this new score also weaves in plenty of electronic and guitar-based music to create something new and original. DC has also had standout music in comparison to other comic book franchises and that tradition continues with this film. Key themes are already beginning to develop for each of the DCU’s core characters and it’s exciting to think of how these could develop in the future.

Verdict

James Gunn has achieved something remarkable – he’s made Superman feel both timeless and urgent by embracing the comic book roots that made the character endure for 87 years. Corenswet embodies the role with perfect balance of strength and vulnerability, while Brosnahan and Hoult provide electric chemistry that elevates their every scene. This isn’t just a successful reboot – it’s a love letter to everything Superman represents and the foundation for a DCU that finally understands its own characters.

⭐⭐⭐⭐