You know, after all the ups and downs—or maybe just the downs—of the DC Extended Universe, it felt like a fresh start was what everyone was hoping for. And James Gunn’s 2025 movie Superman delivers exactly that. This isn’t just another reboot; it’s the beginning of a whole new era for DC, and it’s a breath of fresh air. Instead of rehashing the origin story we’ve all seen a hundred times, Gunn just gets us right into the action, right into a world where Superman is already an established hero. It’s a smart move that lets the film get right to the good stuff: exploring who Superman really is, how he deals with being this god-like figure, and what makes him so human at his core. The movie’s got big-scale action, deep character moments, and that unique style we’ve come to expect from Gunn, and it’s got people talking.
The main story kicks off with a global political mess, and you see right away this Superman isn’t just a perfect, all-powerful guy who always knows what to do. He’s still figuring things out, and his good intentions can sometimes lead to problems he didn’t see coming. His big heroic act to stop a war between two fictional countries gets twisted and used against him by the ever-scheming Lex Luthor. What’s really cool about David Corenswet’s Superman is that he’s the classic “big blue boy scout” we love, but he also gets genuinely frustrated and makes mistakes. He’s way more real and relatable. You actually see him grapple with what he’s doing, and it grounds him in a way we haven’t seen on screen in a while. The cast is amazing, and it’s a big reason this movie works. David Corenswet is Superman, and he’s surrounded by a killer ensemble. Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane is great—she’s not just a damsel in distress; she’s a smart, witty reporter who’s already in on Clark’s secret, and their banter is so much fun to watch. And what about Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor? He totally nails it, giving us a modern, dangerous Lex who feels like a believable tech billionaire who could actually exist in our own world. One of the best parts of this movie is how it brings in all these other DC characters like Hawkgirl and Green Lantern and doesn’t get bogged down in their backstories. It just feels like a real world where these heroes exist, which is so refreshing to see in modern superhero movies.
This movie is a huge hit, no doubt about it! The overall response has been positive, except for those few critics who felt the plot was too chaotic. One of these is the Guardian, and it seems like what the critics also miss is that people only praise the film even more. People enjoy it because it is very different from the superhero norm, which is very bleak, dark, and overall, just very meh at times. Some people did not like how others appreciated it and described it as a fast-food version of a movie. Though, in my opinion, this kind of approach is needed for a change. It is as if we are feasting on a totally new kind of dessert, which I appreciate. I feel that Superman did a good job with the beloved character by giving him the superhero character we have all wanted. On top of that, it is refreshing to see the direction in which the DC Universe is heading. The desire for superheroes is real, but they must be coupled with proper emotions.
Though it is a superhero movie, it also carries some serious political undertones. I feel James Gunn is showing what is happening in the real world. In the movie, we see how Boravia and Jarhanpur come from opposite sides but have a huge global conflict which mirrors Ukraine and Gaza, as well as other places where problems like those are taking place. Because of this, the big issue is the powerful nation taking over the struggling land. The movie shows Superman first and foremost as an immigrant and a hero; that was also mentioned by Gunn during his interviews. When Superman gives an aspiring speech to Luthor—“I was raised here. I went to school here… If that’s not being from here, then what is?”— the true concern of the world and the immigration issue can be seen in today’s time. Which brings on a new topic, Luthor, a person created by Gunn, who resembles some of the modern tech moguls, and swipes on to a person who uses misinformation and social media to create unwanted perceptions. This touch elevates the suspense in the movie. It gives the character something to feel. It is still sad seeing the wannabe scientist bozo, but the insidious stack of lies created by Luthor makes him feel, quite frankly, real.
In conclusion, James Gunn’s Superman marks the successful, long-awaited Superman’s return. What I appreciate is that it’s centered not on just being a superhero. Here, I must talk about the structure in which the movie has encapsulated the book. To have a superhero in a world overpopulated with super beings just enhances the fun of everything. Personally, not everyone found it satisfying, but I take it as a good foundation for the upcoming movies in the DC Universe and the best way to take a step back into more fun and hopeful movies. This movie can undoubtedly be called a success, and I have a strong feeling it’s only the first of many for the new DC Universe.
