Review of Superman (2025)
Superman (2025), directed by James Gunn, starring David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan as Superman and Lois Lane, is the film of the summer!
The movie follows Superman’s troubles after being involved in international conflicts, which gives the arch-nemesis of Superman, Lex Luthor, the means to target Superman as a villain.
The film is set in a world where Superman is not the only superhero; many like him join throughout the film, such as “The Super Dog” Krypto, Green Lantern, Hawk Girl, and Mr. Terrific.
The Message
The film is a heartfelt message about humanity, kindness, and hope.
Superman conveys this message perfectly delivered in a phenomenal monologue at the climax as Clark Kent confronts Lex Luthor.
In this film, Superman grapples with the struggles of humanity, especially as an alien. Throughout the film, he proves that, although an alien, his humanity is his greatest strength, and the way it is portrayed is perfect.
That leads me to another point. As I have heard, viewers are upset that Superman is, in fact, weaker.
Multiple factors led James Gunn to make this creative decision, with the primary one being to showcase Clark’s humanity and kindness, rather than portraying him as an overbearing god who has come to rule the world.
My Favorites
Switching to my favorite aspects of the film, I want to highlight the astounding score and soundtrack.
While keeping the original theme composed by John Williams in 1978 for “Superman: The Movie”, composers John Murphy and David Fleming collaborated on the overall score of the film, leading to thrilling cinematic moments.
When you can see Superman rising above the smoke of a collapsed building (as seen in the trailer), with his theme being played it sent chills down my spine.
On top of the score, it’s not a James Gunn film without having amazing, choreographed fight scenes paired with fun music, such as “Five Years” by Noah and the Whale.
Another favorite of this film is Nicholas Hoult’s soon-to-be iconic performance as Lex Luthor.
This character is done right when you can truly see and feel the hatred Luthor has for Superman, and Hoult portrays it wonderfully, rivaling the best Lex Luthor of all time, the late Gene Hackman.
My final favorite aspect of this movie would be the stunning visuals. The visual effects are excellent; the colors of the super suits pop, giving that comic look we’ve all been waiting for.
My Dislikes
While the movie is very well done, everything has its flaws.
Some viewers have noted that this can feel unwelcoming to new viewers of Superman if they have no prior knowledge of who he is.
We don’t truly get his origin story in this movie, yet again, Superman has been around for decades, and we have seen enough of his origins to know who he is and where he comes from.
It can sometimes be a bit reliant on your knowledge of the DC world, as many references to the world of the DC universe are relevant, like mentioning the coffee shop Jitters or constantly referencing STAGG Industries.
My only other minor dislike also stems from the point of view that if you’re not a little familiar with the comics, it’s going to feel overwhelming with the numerous characters featured in this film.
However, if you pay attention, it’s easy to follow a long one, so don’t let that discourage you from seeing this summer blockbuster!
What’s Next From James Gunn? (SPOILERS AHEAD)
During and near the end of the film, we get cameos from DC characters like Peacemaker, who has his series titled “Peacemaker,” which has a second season release coming out this summer, August 21st, 2025.
We will see more characters showcased in Superman, such as the Justice Gang, Maxwell Lord, and the new season’s antagonist, Rick Flag Sr.
The next project to release after Peacemaker in July 2026 is “Supergirl,” starring Milly Alcock, whom we get a quick glimpse of at the end of the film as she picks up her dog, Krypto.
For the final announced project for next summer, following the release of Supergirl will be the series “Lanterns”, starring Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan, Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, and Nathan Fillion reprising his role as Guy Gardner.
As a DC nerd and enthusiast, I’m excited for the future of DC Studios.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I give this movie a solid 4 out of 5 stars and recommend that everyone runs, no, flies to the theaters to see this movie in all its glory with friends, family, pets, or whomever!
I was very excited, and many of my expectations were met; I can happily say I’m satisfied.
