Let’s get one thing straight – I’ve been waiting my whole life for this version of Superman. Not just a man who can fly, shoot lasers, or punch holes in the sky, but a man who cares. And thanks to James Gunn, we finally got him.
Gunn’s Superman doesn’t just soar, it uplifts. The film captures the tone, spirit, and character of Superman: The Animated Series, which many of us grew up loving. Watching the first film in the DC Universe, I felt Bruce Timm and Paul Dini’s vision had been faithfully adapted for the big screen. This isn’t a reinvention; it’s a resurrection.
Zack Snyder gave us a brooding, heavy Superman, powerful, but often weighed down by existential dread. His Superman was forged in shadow. Gunn’s Kal-El, played with earnest strength and an open heart by David Corenswet, is forged in sunlight.
Corenswet delivers a performance that ranks among the very best to ever don the cape—the best since Christopher Reeve. He radiates the old-school, golden-age goodness that has long defined the character but too often been forgotten. He makes you believe in Superman again. Not because he’s invincible. But because he chooses to be kind.
And that’s what makes this movie so timely. In an era marked by cynicism, meanness, and tribal rage, Superman reminds us that there is still strength in being good. Gunn thematically drills into the question at the heart of the character: How do you remain hopeful in a world that isn’t?
This film answers it: you show up. You believe in people. You protect them — even when they don’t trust you back.
A Hero’s Journey, Reborn
We are introduced to Clark thirty years after he was sent to Earth. Raised by Jonathan and Martha Kent, he became Clark, a man of dual identities, reporter by day, superhero by necessity. Three years before the events of this film, he revealed himself to the world.
After intervening in a war between Boravia and Jarhanpur, Superman becomes a political lightning rod. Enter Lex Luthor (a calculating, venomous Nicholas Hoult), who not only manipulates world governments but also fakes an alien threat using Ultraman, Superman’s clone, controlled through drone tech. Luthor’s ultimate plan? Destroy Superman’s reputation, frame him as an alien conqueror, and seize control of a growing interdimensional power source.
But when Luthor releases the full Kryptonian message Jor-El recorded, a second half urging his son to rule Earth and “repopulate” with as many wives as needed, public opinion turns. In a powerful twist, Superman doesn’t lash out. He surrenders. He believes the truth will win out. That people will remember who he really is.
From there, the film explodes with emotion, spectacle, and character. Lois Lane (the always-stellar Rachel Brosnahan) never wavers in her love or loyalty. Jimmy Olsen adds heart. And as the Justice Gang—Isabela Merced makes a fierce Hawkgirl. Nathan Fillion’s Green Lantern delivers humor and grounded toughness. And Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific steals scenes with his balance of logic, pain, and leadership. We need more of him—fast.
Focus on the Man, Not Just the Super
Gunn’s most remarkable success might be how grounded this film feels, despite featuring clones, kaiju, pocket dimensions, and alien technology. He doesn’t just focus on the powers—he focuses on the person. He understands that what makes Superman powerful isn’t his strength. It’s his restraint. His values. His humanity.
Yet make no mistake—this Superman is still very super. The action is thrilling, kinetic, and lovingly comic-booky. But it’s the quieter moments—Clark’s interactions with Lois, his vulnerability, his need to belong—that leave the lasting impact.
Praise for the Cast, the Vision, the Joy
David Corenswet embodies everything Superman should be. Rachel Brosnahan is quick, sharp, and soulful as Lois Lane. Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor is a snake in billionaire clothing—eerie in how relevant his power feels.
And then there’s Krypto. The dog will have kids cheering, adults grinning, and, full disclosure, had me thinking about my childhood dog, also named Krypto. It’s a clever, nostalgic, earned emotional beat, one of many.
A New Dawn for DC
With warm, vibrant cinematography, unapologetically comic-book costumes, and a color palette that dares to use primary colors, this Superman feels like a bold statement: It’s okay to love superheroes again.
If there’s one ding, it’s the score—serviceable but forgettable. A character this iconic deserves music that stays with you. But that’s a minor complaint in a film so overflowing with heart and purpose.
James Gunn doesn’t just lay the foundation for the DCU. Gunn reminds us why Superman matters. Why truth, justice, and a better tomorrow aren’t just slogans, they’re ideals worth fighting for.
In the final moments, as Clark Kent watches old footage of himself growing up on the Kent farm, healing beside his cousin Kara Zor-El, you realize what’s truly being rebuilt here: hope. Superman doesn’t just lift cities. Under Gunn’s care, he might just lift the superhero genre—and maybe even Warner Bros.—back into the light.
And right now, that feels pretty damn heroic.
BOTTOM LINE: Superman is a big REEL SEE. It’s everything a comic book movie should be and then some.
The Geek is a working screenwriter, director and screenwriting instructor.
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James Gunn’s Superman takes flight with early reactions soaring
