Superman must reconcile his alien Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as reporter Clark Kent. As the embodiment of truth, justice and the human way he soon finds himself in a world that views these as old-fashioned.
“Look up” because things are certainly looking up for DC Studios’ first feature film! James Gunn’s new DC Universe launches with a Superman who feels refreshing & familiar at the same time. This is a Superman who’s already been at it for a few years, facing off against a Lex Luthor who’s been scheming just as long, all nicely packaged within a James Gunn-esque storytelling vessel – with even a couple of Gunn’s signature needle drops to boot.
It’s bright. It’s joyful. It’s dynamic. It’s spirited. It’s a little lighthearted with an emphasis on “heart”. But this Superman film is more than just tone or a feeling. David Corenswet’s performance as a traditional Man Of Steel and his transformation into the mild-mannered Clark Kent really capture the duality of the character, pairing perfectly with Rachel Brosnahan’s headstrong Lois Lane & especially opposite Nicholas Hoult’s intelligently raging Lex Luthor, and overall great chemistry with the whole cast. It’s the perfect balance of comic book whimsy and real-world gravity, allowing you to watch with childlike awe & wonder while simultaneously appreciating the complexity of what makes Superman both “super” and “man”.
If you’ve been avoiding all of the recent trailer remixes, you’ll have plenty of fun surprises in store for you – I know I did! You can tell Gunn put his whole heart & soul into this “reboot” because as a fan you’ll certainly feel the inspirations that were pulled from the comics, Smallville, the Saturday morning cartoon, and beyond… all in the best ways possible. It’s full of heart, humor, and tons of moments where Superman saves the day alongside fellow heroes Guy Gardner (aka Green Lantern), Mister Terrific, and Hawkgirl. Hopefully we’ll see more of this Justice Gang sooner than later!
So if this is how the new DC film franchise is kicking off, I am all for it. Not only does it hype up the future of DC, but it also stands strongly on its own as an incredibly fun watch and as one of the most anticipated movies of the summer. And with replay value up the wazoo, it very well may become the biggest movie of the summer, too!
Overall: 9/10
P.S. There are both mid-credit and post-credit scenes so be sure to stick around after appreciating all the names that made this super film possible!
Superman is rated PG-13 with a running time of 129 minutes and hits theaters on July 11, 2025.
Directed and Written by James Gunn.
Starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, and Isabela Merced.
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