Superman (2025) Review!!

Synopsis – 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.

My Take – Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Superman! And he is back again on the screen. With Zack Snyder launched DCEU done and dusted, the James Gunn and Peter Safran co-headed DC Studios has finally launched their new, quasi-rebooted DC Universe franchise, which while picking up certain elements from their defunct superhero world, aims to take a fresher & comparatively more colorful approach.

The first one out of the gate being filmmaker James Gunn‘s take on Superman, that sees David Coresnwet take over the role of Clark Kent and his superhero alter ego from Henry Cavill. Unsurprisingly, Gunn, having made a name for himself by helming three volumes of the MCU‘s Guardians of the Galaxy, delivers a perfect summer blockbuster that is unapologetically ambitious and bold.

Anchored by an impressive cast, a traditional look, and John Williams’ iconic theme being refreshed for a new generation, the film has all the makings of an instant classic. The biggest question of them all? Is David Corenswet impressive as the new Man of Steel? The answer is a resounding yes. Corenswet deftly showcases a multifaceted version of the DC hero.

From the unassuming Clark Kent to the passionate Superman, there’s an incredible warmth to his iteration of the character that hearkens back to classic interpretations, and will make him a new favorite.

Sure, the film is marred by an overstuffed plot, but it also has plenty of action, humor and heart to keep viewers engaged for its entire runtime. Director Gunn has managed to not just take a well-known, beloved character and give him a refreshingly original story that stays not only true to its roots, but also gives us a version we can finally cheer for.

Set in a world where metahumans have long coexisted with humanity, the story follows Kal-El/Clark Kent (David Coresnwet), who thirty years ago was sent to Earth by his parents to escape the destruction of their home planet, Krypton. Gifted with superhuman strength, flight and other abilities from the Sun, it has been three years since Clark introduced himself as Superman to the world.

While owing to his heroism, Superman has become a symbol of hope around the world, some don’t see him that way, particularly Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), the obsessive and relentless CEO of LuthorCorp, who is determined to bring him down once & for all. An opportunity which arrives when Superman prevents the army of Boravia, an ally of U.S.A, from invading its neighboring country of Jarhanpur.

Opening up a debate on whether the most powerful metahuman on the planet is a threat to national security as well. Allowing Luthor & his minions, the Engineer (María Gabriela de Faría) and the super-powered Ultraman, to launch a targeted attack on the Man of Steel both physically and psychologically.

Meanwhile, Clark’s actions also puts a strain on his romantic relationship with Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), a renowned political reporter and his colleague from the Daily Planet. Forcing the two to reconsider their stakes in the future together.

Choosing to kick-start the new DCU three decades after Superman landed to Earth was a bold decision, that too from a point where he faces his first defeat. And for the most part, it pays off. This allows the avoidance of yet retread of his well-known origin story. This bold narrative choice sets the stage for a story that feels both epic and cohesive.

Most refreshingly, Gunn’s screenplay affords the Man of Steel’s iconic traits to shine through. Like him being a symbol of hope, goodness, truth, and justice. It’s these traits that this new big-screen take on the character finds itself questioning: What place does such an idealistic, elemental hero could possibly have in our complicated modern world?

Though it capably shoulders the burden of launching an entire cinematic universe, at its heart, this is a story about wrestling with identity, especially in a world where so much perception of self can be dictated by those around us — whether that’s our parents, social media, or other loved ones.

It helps director Gunn brings his typical humor, which is softened a bit for broader audiences, and his flair for fun, exciting action scenes. And what immediately sets director Gunn’s version apart from its forebears is the breadth of comic book history that it openly and passionately pulls from, leaning heavily into more colorful cosmic and pulpy elements than any big-screen Superman before.

There are also enough surprises that are sure to please even the most diehard of fans, even as Superman remains a film sure to be entertaining for the whole family. It’s a classic-feeling superhero film without feeling tired.

Agreed, not every element works. For example, inclusion & brash approach to Krypto the charming super dog often ends up pulling viewers out of the experience. Even the specifics of Luthor’s plot start to feel a little harder to track in the more chaotic second half, a problem that’s somewhat compounded by the staffers at the Daily Planet.

Keeping us up to date on the rising global tensions is all Clark’s coworkers have to do here, and their zippy back and forth, while funny, sometimes obscures the finer details of what’s going on. Lois too winds up sliding more into this role as the story races towards the end. Nevertheless, the narrative is engaging, the pacing is tight, and the overall execution feels innovative yet true to the character’s legacy.

Performance wise, David Corenswet‘s portrayal of both Clark Kent and Superman is genuinely charming and light-hearted, a refreshing change from Cavill‘s more somber previous version. He feels incredibly relatable, grounding the character in his humanity. Rachel Brosnahan too is incredible as Lois Lane, and her chemistry with Corenswet is one of the film’s best qualities.

Nicholas Hoult seems to be having a blast playing Superman’s arch-nemesis and Gunn uses the actor’s excellent comedic timing to great effect by having Lex punctuate his tantrums. Nathan Fillion’s portrayal of Guy Gardner is fun, Isabela Merced shines as the edgy Hawkgirl, and Anthony Carrigan wins over with his role as Metamorpho, while Edi Gathegi’s portrayal of Mr. Terrific is a scene-stealer.

In supporting roles, Skyler Gisondo, María Gabriela de Faría, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Neva Howell, Sara Sampaio, Mikaela Hoover, Steve Lombard & Wendell Pierce are good. Frank Grillo and Milly Alcock too appear in small roles, promising a bright future for the DCU. On the whole, ‘Superman‘ is a wonderfully entertaining, vibrant, and ambitious superhero blockbuster that lays down a solid foundation for the future of DCU.