Superman [2025] – Movie Review (3/5)

SUPERMAN (2025) has landed in theaters, and as a longtime fan of this particular superhero, my expectations were sky-high. Luckily, James Gunn delivers a vibrant, bold, and often fun new take – even if it leans a bit too hard into the tech-heavy angle. Read our spoiler-free Superman review below!

This new Superman 2025 version brings the universal superhero back into the spotlight – and yes, we’re once again reminded that Superman is, in fact, an alien who crash-landed in the U.S. Nothing new there, but this time, it’s more relevant than ever.

Especially considering how the story once again takes place from an all-American perspective – and let’s just say, being “foreign” isn’t exactly winning points in the Land of the Free these days. James Gunn leans into this and uses it as a launching point for the story.

Read our spoiler-free Superman (2025) review below – the movie hits U.S. theaters July 11, 2025.

A Superman for the World of Today

It’s not hard to draw real-world parallels to this version of Superman. Honestly, that’s always been part of the character’s appeal. He’s timeless – and when done right, he reflects the era we live in. Gunn clearly gets this.

We’re quickly brought up to speed with a fast-paced intro that covers the basics: When metahumans were first discovered, when Superman arrived, and when he finally “came out” as the strongest superhero on Earth.

Then the real story kicks off: Superman has interfered with world politics and stopped a war between two foreign countries. Noble? Sure. But also messy.

Is it his place to intervene? Does he have government approval? And what if – gasp – he appears to be siding with a nation known (historically, anyway) to be enemies of America?!

Social Media, Spin & The Public Eye

The media landscape – both social and traditional – explodes with reactions. As always, Clark Kent even works within traditional media as a newspaper journalist. Hashtags run rampant with Superman hatred, and public opinion turns on the world’s most iconic superhero.

He may have stopped a war… but did he overstep?

And where does Lex Luthor fit into all of this?

Well, if you’ve seen any Superman movie ever, you already know the answer: Lex is right at the center of the storm. In fact, this time around, he is the storm – orchestrating chaos with cool and calm (most of the time) precision.

This 2025 iteration takes a global, tech-heavy approach, which does, unfortunately, strip away some of the emotional core. The themes of peace, war, and compassion are still there, but they’re occasionally buried under layers of exposition and digital dazzle.

That said, it looks incredible. And yes, that counts for something.

But that’s all we’ll reveal about the plot. You’ll want to experience this one on the big screen.

David Corenswet is Superman

Casting David Corenswet – best known to horror fans from Ti West’s Pearl (2022) – may not have been the most obvious choice, but it works. He’s a perfect blend of Christopher Reeve’s heart and Henry Cavill’s physique.

As someone who grew up in the ’80s, I had my doubts. But David Corenswet nails it. He brings charm, strength, and sincerity – all the right ingredients for the next-gen Superman.

The same goes for Rachel Brosnahan (House of Cards) as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult (Renfield, Nosferatu) as Lex Luthor. Both offer fresh takes that feel true to the characters but modernized for today’s audiences.

The supporting cast is also stacked with quirky, memorable roles – including Nathan Fillion (Santa Clarita Diet) and Isabela Merced (The Last of Us). In true James Gunn fashion, there’s a steady stream of humor… when the world isn’t on the brink of collapse, of course.

Watch Superman (2025) in Theaters!

Directed by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1-3), this 2025 Superman reboot is a full-package deal: James Gunn writes, directs, and produces alongside Peter Safran (Aquaman, The Nun).

Naturally, it’s based on the iconic DC Comics characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. And yes, the legendary Superman theme by John Williams from 1978 is still here, blasting from the very first scene. Thank Krypton for that!

The movie clocks in at just over two hours and has two end-credit scenes: one mid-credit and one final stinger. Don’t leave your seat.

And no, we haven’t even mentioned Krypto the Superdog. But trust us, you’ll want to meet him yourself. If you’ve seen what James Gunn did with Rocket Raccoon, you already know animals are kind of his thing.

SUPERMAN premieres in U.S. theaters on July 11, 2025.

Details

Director: James Gunn
Cast: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Sara Sampaio, Skyler Gisondo, Wendell Pierce