‘Superman’ Review: James Gunn Delivers A Beacon Of Hope For The People And The DCU’s Future
Photo from Warner Bros.
From Joe Peltzer
As a lifelong Superman fan, I’ve always embraced the character’s many iterations, from the hopeful idealism of Christopher Reeve’s iconic portrayal that was ahead of its time to the darker depths Henry Cavill brought to Zack Snyder’s vision. I approached James Gunn’s Superman with a mix of excitement and complete nervousness, but thankfully, Gunn doesn’t just deliver… he nails it. With a tone that feels lifted straight from Saturday morning cartoons yet grounded in the true meaning of the character, Superman is a visually striking, heartfelt take unlike anything we’ve seen before. The cast radiates perfect chemistry, led by a dynamic David Corenswet who takes the character to new heights. Maybe we really should stop doubting James Gunn?
Forgoing the typical Superman origin story and diving right into a world where the strongest metahuman has been around for a bit, Gunn’s Superman seeks to establish a new playing field upon which not only the character can be built, but the DCU can emerge. Here metahumans have been around for quite a while and strange Kaiju creature stomping through downtown Metropolis is just another Tuesday. Corenswet dons the blue and red while Rachel Brosnahan takes up the mantle of the intelligent, persistent star reporter and love interest, Lois Lane. Filling the antagonist role here is legendary Superman foe Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult.
Corenswet and Brosnahan are exceptional as Clark and Lois, their banter enjoyable and their challenging dynamic, introduced through an engrossing "interview" scene early on, evokes the narratives fans of Superman know and love. Still, they make it feel fresh and believable, modern even. Then there Hoult, an actor who seems to be operating on a whole different level than we have seen from him before. His Lex is angry, jealous, vicious, ambitious, and so emotionally invested, establishing him as an extremely volatile villain in this new universe and leaving me begging for more from him in the future.
By dropping us into a world where the rules are already in place, James Gunn smartly sidesteps the origin story fatigue and instead hits the ground running, just as we saw with Marvel’s recent Spider-Man films and DC’s own The Batman from Matt Reeves. Conflict is immediate, characters arrive fully formed, and motivations are already influencing what is at play. Even with a story packed with twists and turns, you get a sense that there is a whole lot more at play outside of the bounds of just this film, a lived-in universe that lingers.
The introduction of pocket universes marks new and fun direction for the superhero genre on film, especially within the often-convoluted landscape of DC storytelling. Their inclusion creates narrative flexibility for Gunn and the rest of the creatives while maintaining continuity. This is likely how DCEU holdovers like Peacemaker and Blue Beetle will find their way into this new universe. I’m excited to see how they continue to pop up.
At the heart of Gunn’s Superman lies a powerful reflection on family and legacy. The film’s emotional thesis is clear: parents don’t define their children, but they arm them with the tools to choose who they become. Neva Howell and Pruitt Taylor Vince bring warmth and quiet familiarity to Ma and Pa Kent, grounding Clark in the values that make him a hero. In contrast, Bradley Cooper and Angela Sarafyan’s portrayals of Jor-El and Lara through Kryptonian holographic recordings introduce a bold, sure-to-be-discussed twist to the mythos. Here lies my biggest narrative gripe; Jor-El’s reimagined motive for sending Kal-El to Earth (without spoiling it) ultimately reinforces Superman’s conscious decision to embrace goodness, but it’s a revision that paints Krypton in a different light. Yeah, okay, I cried… but I also found myself laughing, cheering, and smiling throughout the entire film; it hits all of the marks.
The additional supporting cast in Superman is a vibrant, essential part of the film’s balancing tones and world-building, emphasizing that the Man of Steel doesn’t carry the weight of his responsibilities alone. Edi Gathegi commands attention as Mr. Terrific, exuding intelligence and often dry, yet funny presence in every scene. Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner strikes just the right balance between comic relief and comic book camp. Isabela Merced turns every appearance of Hawkgirl into an event, while Anthony Carrigan brings surprising depth and charm to Metamorpho, a character who functions both as a fascinating MacGuffin and a chance to explore more metahuman fun. This ensemble is integral to the tone, momentum, and depth of both the story and the world being established.
The film also isn’t without some missed opportunities. While Wendell Pierce’s Perry White, Skyler Gisondo’s energetic Jimmy Olsen, and the rest of the Daily Planet crew provide an exuberant newsroom dynamic, Beck Bennett’s Steve Lombard and Mikaela Hoover’s Cat Grant feel like afterthoughts. Both are present but not particularly impactful, lost in the shuffle and likely included just to throw more established characters into the mix. Sara Sampaio’s Eve Tesmacher is different, however, slightly over-the-top and annoying, but more intricately tied to the plot than expected.
But that’s where my issues end. Gunn has proven time and time again that he can build an intricate story and balance multiple characters to establish their respective weights; this is no different. Superman also doesn’t disappoint when it comes to nods to the source material’s lore and the wider DC Universe; Gunn lays the groundwork for something much bigger.
And look, I was worried about Krypto, to be honest, but he ends up so much more than just a fun gimmick to drive toy sales, rather he plays a key role in some vital scenes and provides another outlet for exploring Superman's warmth and care. He’s also hella adorable and reminds me of my own devilish pup. More please!
So here we are in 2025, at the dawn of a new take on familiar stories, and I’m thrilled to say that Gunn and his team have knocked it out of the park. This Superman isn’t just a great superhero film, it’s one of the best comic book adaptations we’ve seen, boldly embracing its source material instead of sanding it down to fit modern trends. Superman remains a beacon of hope, the ultimate immigrant story, and a symbol of enduring American ideals. I can think of no better film for the tumultuous time that we find ourselves living in, nor a better catalyst for the future of the DCU. Superman is a comic book nerds dream come alive.
Rating: 4.5/5
Superman hits theaters on Friday.
