Review: ‘Superman’ Soars With Hope And Wonder In Its Heart
by Sergio Pereira · Thought CatalogJames Gunn's 'Superman' makes you believe.
Updated 11 hours ago, July 11, 2025
There’s a notion that the Silver Age of Comic Books can’t be directly adapted onto the big screen without a lot of tweaking. It’s too goofy. It’s too colorful. It asks you to suspend too much disbelief.
Well, James Gunn isn’t listening to any of that, as his Superman might be the most authentic comic book movie of all time, penning a heartfelt love letter to the Silver Age and an era where heroes were hopeful not cynical. Mild spoilers to follow.
The new DC Universe wastes no time on frivolous moments
Superman starts at a million miles an hour, as David Corenswet’s Man of Steel gets pummeled by the Hammer of Boravia and Krypto needs to bring Big Blue back to the Fortress of Solitude to recharge. It’s quickly established that the Hammer is on Lex Luthor’s (Nicholas Hoult) payroll, as Lex and the Engineer (María Gabriela de Faría) attempt to find Superman’s hidden sanctuary. The plan works, as they not only trash the place and kidnap Krypto, but they also discover a recording that damages Superman’s reputation among the public.
This all happens within the first 30 minutes of the film, as Gunn wastes no time on origin stories nor fancy landscape beauty shots to establish this latest version of the DC Universe. Instead, the story opens like a comic book arc, landing the audience in the middle of the action then piecing in the details as the narrative progresses. From there on out, it’s an all-out assault and explosion of superpowered beatdowns, pocket dimensions, kaiju fights, wars threatening to break out, and Krypto stealing the show whenever he’s let loose.
Some reviewers suggest this leads to a breakneck-paced and convoluted plot that doesn’t have much time to breathe. It’s a valid criticism, especially since most viewers are used to longer comic book movies at this point. I argue, though, that it’s intentional from Gunn. Superman isn’t only strong; he’s fast – and Lex knows this about his adversary, so he intentionally sets up multiple rapidfire traps to bamboozle him. In terms of the convoluted aspect, it’s all Lex’s work too. Multiple layers exist in his scheme; however, the overall objective never changes: to destroy Superman. A second rewatch may make these points clearer in retrospect.
The ‘Superman’ cast understood the assignment
David Corenswet plays a different cinematic Superman than his predecessors. In a way, he reminds me of a younger version of Tyler Hoechlin’s character from the Superman & Lois television show. He acts with kindness and compassion to the world around him, saving squirrels and dogs, because he believes his purpose is to serve Earth and its inhabitants. There’s a powerful moment he shares with Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane where he tells her that maybe kindness is the real punk rock, and that embodies the character in totality. He may have extraordinary superpowers, but it’s his humanity that makes him super.
Speaking of Brosnahan, she jumps to the top of the list as the best adaptation of Lois. She borrows bits and pieces from the other actors who played the character before her, but she seems to understand the subtle nuances of what makes Lois not just the heart of Superman’s story but also a strong character in the DCU overall. She might not have superpowers, but it’s her actions that define her – to loosely borrow a quote from Jonathan Kent in the movie.
Nicholas Hoult blows the roof off as Lex, though. He oscillates between comic book villain and pure evil throughout Superman. He’s confident, clever, and cruel, making the viewer believe that yeah, this guy could maybe destroy the Man of Steel. He plays chess when everyone else plays checkers, but he discovers his blindspot is his obsession with Superman, which leaves him wide open in the end. Other standouts include Edi Gathegi’s deadpan but powerful performance as Mister Terrific, Anthony Carrigan’s compassionate Metamorpho, Skyler Gisondo’s awkward-cool Jimmy Olsen, and Sara Sampaio’s Eve Teschmacher, who comes across as ditzy and comic relief but surprises in the end.
Prepare for all the feels
Superman overflows with so much heart and wonder, leaving everyone who walks out of it with a smile on their face and renewed optimism in the world around them. There’s a part in the movie, which most people have seen in the trailer, where the kids raise up a makeshift flag with Superman’s logo on it, as they call out his name. In the context of the film, it’s an act of defiance from these children, but it illustrates how the Man of Steel’s actions have made heroes of ordinary people, who will stand up for what they believe in when the odds are firmly stacked against them. It’s a moment that makes your heart beat faster and reminds you that bravery begets bravery.
Yeah, a few of the James Gunn-isms could have been left on the editing room floor, such as his inherent need to reinforce jokes by bashing the same point over and over again, but as a whole, the film soars to spectacular heights. In 1978, Richard Donner made audiences believe that a man could fly. In 2025, Gunn’s Superman makes viewers believe that this flying man’s greatest power is the ability to inspire hope.
Superman is now in theaters.