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Release Date: Premiere July 7, 2025; US wide release July 11, 2025

Runtime: 129 min (2h 9m)

Rating: PG-13 (sequences of sci-fi violence, brief strong language, and thematic elements)

Production Companies: DC Studios, Troll Court Entertainment, The Safran Company

Producers: James Gunn & Peter Safran

Cinematography: Henry Braham

Music: John Murphy & David Fleming

Superman (2025)

Director: James Gunn

Writer: James Gunn (based on characters by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster)

Starring: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Sara Sampaio, Anthony Carrigan, Wendell Pierce, plus Krypto the Super‑Dog

Superman is back—and this time, his return hits strikingly close to home. James Gunn’s Superman (2025) blends the classic mythos of the red-and-blue hero with real-world reflections on politics, immigration, and morality. The story feels familiar yet fresh, grounded in emotional truth and wrapped in modern texture. It’s a tale that feels pulled right out of our current climate, without losing the charm and optimism that defines Superman at his best.

Gunn has long described Superman as an immigrant story, and this film leans into that with clear purpose. Clark Kent isn’t just a superpowered alien—he’s a refugee, raised on Earth, caught between identities, grappling with belonging, purpose, and inherited responsibility. The parallels to today’s political discourse are undeniable, but rather than preaching, Gunn filters these themes through warmth, wit, and sincerity. It’s a film that wears its compassion—and its cape—proudly.

Rather than rehashing Superman’s origin, Gunn drops us into a world where metahumans and humans have coexisted for years. This makes sense—it’s a story most of us know. We instead witness Superman mid-journey, when his understanding of his Kryptonian past begins to shift. Corenswet navigates this transition beautifully. His Superman is noble and grounded, yet vulnerable. His moments of discovery—especially those involving his birth parents and their message to him—are rich with emotional weight, pushing him not only toward saving the world, but reconciling with himself.

The true antagonist comes in the form of Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), whose motivations are as political as they are personal. This is less about good vs. evil, and more about ego vs. integrity, power vs. empathy. Hoult’s Luthor is sharp, petty, and venomous—corporate toxicity in a tailored suit. While he dials back the cruelty just enough to keep the PG-13 rating intact, the malice is all there, bubbling under a snide grin. His Luthor is one of the most immature and emotionally reactive we’ve seen, and it works.

Corenswet and Hoult form the film’s central tension, and both deliver. Corenswet balances heroic presence with an emotional arc full of discovery and quiet turmoil. Hoult, meanwhile, leans hard into Luthor’s insecurities and arrogance, resulting in a character that’s as infuriating as he is compelling. Their dynamic anchors the film.

Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane complements this tension with fierce energy. Her chemistry with Corenswet sparks instantly. Their interactions as colleagues, lovers, and ideological foils give the story heart and texture. Their back-and-forth is layered—rooted in journalism, trust, dual identity, and a romance that never overshadows the mission at hand.

Visually, the film soars. While some CGI-heavy moments wobble, they never derail the experience. Compared to previous DC entries (The Flash, anyone?), Superman handles its effects with care and flair. There’s a stunning nighttime battle with a vibrant extraterrestrial creature that feels equal parts cosmic and painterly, and Superman’s return flights to the Fortress of Solitude are majestic without being overblown.

The introduction of the Justice Gang—Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced)—lays the groundwork for DC’s next chapter. Gathegi’s Mister Terrific gets the most to do, acting as a vital supporting player in the climactic moments. Fillion brings levity as a hilariously jaded Lantern, while Merced’s Hawkgirl feels underused—promising, but underserved. The Gang’s inclusion feels more like a taste of what’s to come than a full team-up, which works for now.

And then there’s Krypto. Yes, the Super-Dog. As a mostly CGI sidekick, he could have been a gimmick—but he’s not. Krypto leaves a literal paw print on the story. His arc mirrors Superman’s emotional journey, evolving from unruly to reliable, and his presence softens the more serious beats with charm and heart.

Some of the film’s most memorable moments come from this balance between realism and fantasy: citizens taking selfies during alien attacks, Superman cradling Krypto on the moon, or the emotionally charged scenes where fiction mirrors our current world just enough to make us squirm. The film doesn’t flinch from reality—it simply infuses it with the magic of a superhero narrative.

Critics might say this Superman is too sweet, too corny, too innocent. I say: that’s the point. Gunn’s version leans into the qualities that once made Superman a symbol of hope. He doesn’t brood or spiral—he questions, he listens, he leads. He makes mistakes, but he does so with humility. And isn’t that what we’ve been missing?

The film skips the origin story, trusting that we know who Superman is, and instead throws us into the heart of a world already in flux. The setup is clean, the stakes are high, and the emotional beats resonate. Corenswet and Hoult shine as ideological opposites. Brosnahan and Gathegi support with nuance and presence. The CGI doesn’t distract, and the story refuses to overcomplicate itself. What sets this Superman apart is not its scale, but its soul.

And as for Gunn’s political framing—calling this a story about immigration—he handles it not with lectures, but with love. It’s not preachy. It’s principled. Superman, after all, has always been the ultimate outsider striving to belong. This time, that struggle feels real—and necessary.