Superman (2025) Review: Magical & Uplifting

Superman (2025) starts the DC Universe with a fun movie led by the great performances of David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Nicholas Hoult.

Let’s start by discussing the one aspect of Superman that concerned me most: the narrative. While James Gunn has proven himself to be a capable writer, when you have as many moving parts as this film does, it would have been easy for things to fall apart and Superman as a character get lost in the shuffle. I’m thrilled to report this story did not collapse and was something centered on the Man of Tomorrow, which just so happened to have all these other heroes. The original subtitle of this film, legacy, should have been kept, because that idea is vital to Gunn’s story. Clark Kent not only battles Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult, of Nosferatu) but also what kind of mark he wants to leave on this world that does not fully accept him due to his Kryptonian heritage. 

This plot point is obviously more relevant than ever in 2025 as the debate around immigrants rules the conversation. Kal-El/Clark Kent is first and foremost an immigrant that embraced the values of earth and America. Some are accepting of him, others, like Lex Luthor, see him as a threat to the country and humanity’s way of life. James Gunn treats this issue with respect and encourages viewers to see Clark Kent simply as a person who came here for a better life and has devoted so much time to doing good. It does not matter where he is from; his actions and character tell you who this person is, which is a mindset that everyone should have if you ask me. 

Clark’s struggles with his heritage and the mark he wants to leave on the world are incredibly relatable. We have all tried to break free of the baggage our families have in one way or another to become who we are meant to be. It is not easy to figure either of those things out, even for a character as powerful as Corenswet’s Clark Kent and seeing him come into his own throughout the film is satisfying. 

Superman is at its core centered around the title character’s humanity and the challenges he faces while trying to stay true to his values. When so many turn their backs on you for something out of your control, do you change who you are to appease them or do you stay true to yourself? That question is part of what Clark Kent is faced with here, along with a villain in Lex Luthor that sees him as less than human.

What I also loved about this narrative is that there’s a little bit of everything. You have plenty of action, including some of the most memorable battles we have ever seen from Clark Kent. Seeing him fly is magical and the way this film showcases his powers blew me away. There are so many ways he can win a fight besides strength, and you get a sense of that here. James Gunn’s trademark is also present, and he got more laughs out of me than ever before. The best part about it is that these jokes feel natural for a Superman film with tons of energy. Everything flows pretty well, almost as if you were turning comic book pages with so much soul packed into them. This story will make you see the humanity of Clark Kent, feel his emotions, and inspire you. 

David Corenswet is absolutely electric as Clark Kent/Superman, bringing both sides of him to life with ease and making them feel distinct from each other. He, like Christopher Reeve before him, gives Superman a sense of confidence that Clark cannot muster. His version of Clark is more reserved, and while we do not see too much of the Daily Planet reporter, Corenswet conveys his outcast nature so well that you believe in the illusion.There is simply no way that this guy is a superhero.

They do share  one similarity, though, which is that whether he has the costume on or not, Clark Kent is a goofball with this warmth about him. He will make you laugh before getting right back to business. This is who he is, an overgrown Boy Scout who does things by the book and genuinely cares about other people. It was so nice watching a version of this character interact with others and feel like he understood that being a hero is not just about saving people, it is about being kind and inspiring others to do better. 

The other pillars to Superman are Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan, of The Amateur) and Lex Luthor (Hoult). Lois acts as Clark’s anchor to humanity, alongside his adoptive human parents Jonathan and Martha Kent (Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell). She is smart and driven, which serves her well as a reporter for the Daily Planet. We see Lois actively work to help Clark using her journalistic skills and more, which is a huge plus because she does not just act as his love interest, but is incredibly accomplished in her own right in the comics.

Brosnahan does, however, have tremendous chemistry with Corenswet. From their very first scene together, it feels like Clark and Lois have this connection that goes beyond words. I would watch an entire film of just the two of them, their sparks are that incredible. When I think about Clark Kent and Lois Lane’s relationship, this is what I think of: mutual respect, love, growth, and pushing each other to be better. Corenswet and Brosnahan provide all that and then some. 

Nicholas Hoult embodies everything that Lex Luthor should be, especially in 2025. He is calculating, suave, brilliant, and incredibly driven no matter the cost to himself or others. This version of Lex, oddly enough, is comparable to those that rightfully fear how powerful artificial intelligence is becoming. He thinks of Clark as an “it” rather than a human and believes our hero seeks to overtake humanity rather than serve as a protector.

This honestly falls right in line with Lex as depicted in the comics, along with his feelings of jealousy, and thinking that humans could reach our potential if meta humans like Superman did not interfere, which are also touched on in the film. Hoult gives a performance that rivals some of the best we have seen from comic book film villains. His face to face interactions with Corenswet showcase his range as an actor and ability to capture all sides of Lex Luthor. You will be terrified of him, want to punch him in the face, and even think to yourself, maybe he has a point. 

The visuals are incredibly colorful, but there is also an abundance of CGI, perhaps too much at times. That does not mean it does not necessarily look good; for the most part, Superman is stunning but you cannot help but feel the computer generated imagery is a tad bit excessive. As grounded as this narrative and a couple action sequences can be, I wish we got more sequences that allowed us to better feel the weight of Clark’s powers. This is the only major drawback to having a film that feels like a comic book come to life, sometimes these fights do not leave much impact. 

I was concerned about the inclusion of Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn)‘s Justice Gang in Superman and thought that Guy Gardner/Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and Michael Holt/Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi) would overshow our title character. While their appearance overstuffs the film a tad, they do at least provide support for Clark and help move the film forward, particularly Mister Terrific. Edi Gathegi is so charismatic that he steals every scene he is in and honestly I was grateful he was there as a sort of straight man tech hero to Corenswet’s Clark. The other scene stealer is a name you all have become familiar with by now: Krypto the Superdog, who is adorable and not really overused like I thought he might end up being. 

Superman is an excellent start for the DCU that I could not get enough of. The film is so joyful, action packed, and has plenty of heart. David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Nicholas Hoult craft versions of Clark Kent/Superman, Lois Lane, and Lex Luthor that people will be talking about for decades to come. This truly plays out like a comic book come to life and if this is a sign of things to come, James Gunn was absolutely the right person to run DC Studios alongside Peter Safran.

Superman (2025) will be released in US and Canadian theatres, in UK and Irish cinemas, and globally in theaters on July 11, 2025.