‘Superman’ Movie Review: James Gunn’s DC Revamp Takes Flight
Photo from Jessica Miglio/DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures
From Jeff Nelson
Superman’s origin story is legendary, but writer/director James Gunn isn’t here to tell it yet again. His film skips the traditional prologue of Krypton’s fall, thrusting us into a world where the hero is already established – and already in crisis. The Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy filmmaker has a proven grasp of the superhero genre, and he reaffirms that with his comic-focused take on Superman.
The film opens with Kal-El’s (David Corenswet) beaten body violently crashing into a snow-coated landscape, marking his first defeat ever at the hands of the imposing Hammer of Boravia. Controlled by no other than criminal mastermind Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), the heavily armored opponent takes its name from the foreign nation of Boravia, where Kal-El inadvertently intervened in an international conflict with Jarhanpur. Now, the United States government questions the morality and integrity of the planet’s most powerful hero. With the public’s opinion now swayed, Krypto, an untrained super-dog, is one of his only remaining allies in this fight.
The Kryptonian’s wrestling with identities between the all-powerful Superman and the unassuming Daily Planet journalist Clark Kent is central to any Kal-El story. His human parents in Smallville, Kansas, give a quiet backdrop to the city’s fast-paced danger. While Christopher Reeve’s seamless transition between the two personalities remains pure magic, Gunn focuses less on Clark’s duality and more on Superman’s struggle to reconcile his power with what it means to be human.
This narrative shift away from Clark weakens his relationship dynamic with Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan). External pressures lead to a teetering romance on the brink of collapse. Though she knows his secret identity and even helps maintain the charade for the public, their emotional connection lacks spark. Gunn gives Lois far more agency than Zack Snyder’s underwritten version with Amy Adams, but the script’s rushed emotional beats and the leads’ uneven chemistry hold it back.
The Boravian-Jarhanpurian conflict mirrors obvious real-world geopolitics, though it takes a back seat to Kal-El’s crises. While Gunn’s signature humor (including jabs at MAGA-style politics) generally lands, the international conflict never feels as urgent or developed as it should.
As for the action? It’s a thrilling return for Superman. Gunn avoids portraying him as an invincible force, instead delivering high-stakes aerial combat, bone-crunching blows, and high-octane chaos. Yet even with classic powers like heat vision, he’s pushed to his limits by Lex’s dangerous intellect and the Hammer’s brute strength. Supporting villain Angela Spica (María Gabriela de Faría) and the allied “Justice Gang” – Green Lantern Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) – pile on the spectacle (for better and worse).
Corenswet steps confidently into the cape, carving a distinct Superman that’s neither a Reeve homage nor a Cavill impersonation. He nails the charm and physicality, though we can only hope future films delve deeper into his dramatic range. Brosnahan’s Lois brings a punkish edge, while Hoult delights as a slightly cartoonish Lex, embracing the villain’s scheming flair.
Is Gunn’s Superman the DCU refresh we needed? That depends on whether you prefer Snyder’s brooding take or this lighter, quirkier perspective. As someone who didn’t care all that much for Man of Steel, this revival works better. The sub-plots are messy and the emotional beats are rushed, but it’s never dull. It sidesteps origin-story fatigue, plays with franchise tropes, and serves as a solid start for the new DCU, even if it isn’t revolutionary.
Rating: 3/5
Superman hits theaters on July 11th, 2025.
