The long-awaited Superman (2025) by James Gunn finally hit the theatres last week, making quite an impression on the audience. It marks the first major film under Gunn’s new DC Universe blueprint. Expectations were sky-high, as this film holds the direction of the entire upcoming franchise.
Since the movie is still fresh, reviews from the audience and critics are mixed. But here are our thoughts and review of Superman (2025).
What Were the Highlights and Issues in Superman (2025)?
Unlike the previous DC films, Superman (2025) is not sombre, marked by some cold, melancholic tone. Quite the opposite, the colors here pop, with blue skies and Metropolis being full of life.
Our new Superman, played by David Corenswet, is a genuinely kind man trying to do good. And while Corenswet nails the “good guy” image, his portrayal sometimes slips into bland territory by virtue of his lack of charisma. Rachel Brosnahan, on the other hand, was on fire.
She captures Lois Lane’s boldness aptly without making her seem rude. Her chemistry with Clark might seem a little underdeveloped due to the film’s pacing, but it comes off as natural. Lex Luthor’s reimagining could be one of the key highlights. He is presented as a quiet but calculating, intelligent guy. It is no longer about a cartoonish or extroverted tech geek.
The action scenes are clean and less daunting. This is, again, a shift from the usual, more intense and raw fighting scenes. A key moment in the film, both visually and story-wise, is a rescue scene where Superman intervenes during a limbo monorail crash.
The movie starts well, but midway through, it lacks tension. Not to mention, the pacing remains a consistent issue. While some scenes display elaborate intentions, others feel overproduced. There are instances where the tone becomes disjointed, as if the film itself is unsure how serious it wants to be. Overall, it was a decent watch.
Some Controversies Superman (2025) Got Caught In
In earlier stages, the behind-the-scenes details about the movie, which explicitly highlighted Superman’s immigrant identity, were not taken well by many. Many commentators called it forced messaging. They went as far as accusing Gunn of pushing “political narratives” into superhero films. Many, however, supported this notion, noting that Superman has always been a metaphor for the immigrant experience.
Additionally, some fans called for a boycott of the film. This came after the discovery that certain actors involved had publicly supported Israel during the Gaza war. Hashtags like #BoycottSuperman and #DCSupportsGenocide began trending. DC was called hypocritical for promoting peace and justice on-screen while allegedly enabling injustice off-screen.
Right now, the film lands in a strange space. It is competent and occasionally moving, yet it rarely stirs any excitement. However, we are very eager to see its influence on the future DCEU.
Was Superman (2025) up to your expectations? Or was taking the big risk of bringing so many trajectory-changing decisions a mistake? Do let us know your thoughts.
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