James Gunn’s Superman Is a Triumphant Return to Hope

James Gunn’s Superman is the official kick-off for DC Studios’ rebooted cinematic universe, and it’s clear from the first frame: this isn’t just a reset—it’s a statement. Gone is the grim-and-gritty aesthetic that weighed down earlier iterations. In its place is something brighter, stranger, and way more sincere. This Superman isn’t here to brood—he’s here to believe. And somehow, in 2025, that feels radical.

The story follows Clark Kent (David Corenswet) as he juggles life at the Daily Planet and his role as Earth’s most powerful protector. But unlike previous Superman tales that focus mainly on origin beats or big punches, this version gets political—fast. Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), a rising tech magnate and manipulative media force, pushes the world into an existential crisis. Through sleek propaganda, back-channel deals, and a deep hatred for anything alien, Luthor works to convince the public that Superman isn’t their savior—he’s their biggest threat.

Meanwhile, we’re introduced to a whole slate of powered players—each with their own motives, quirks, and arcs. There’s Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), a logic-first tactician; Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), a warrior with serious trust issues; Green Lantern Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), who’s kind of a jerk but knows it; and Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan), who’s as tragic as he is bizarre. Even Krypto, Superman’s loyal superdog, gets moments that’ll make longtime comic fans cheer.

And Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan)? She’s not a love interest in the background—she’s a sharp, fearless journalist at the center of the storm. Her relationship with Clark grounds the film emotionally, especially when the truth about Superman’s alien heritage—and what his birth parents may have actually intended—starts to shake his moral foundation.

Gunn structures the movie in layers. On one hand, you’ve got intense, global political stakes: What happens when a literal god walks among us? Should we regulate him? Weaponize him? On the other hand, there’s personal stuff—identity, legacy, belonging—that hits with surprising emotional clarity. And right in the middle? Clones, nanotech, robots, kaiju fights, emotional monologues, and a dog that flies into battle.

Tonally, it’s a balancing act that could’ve gone sideways—but doesn’t. Gunn leans into the comic book weirdness without apology, and somehow, it works. The film swings between sharp satire, heartfelt drama, and Saturday-morning-cartoon energy without feeling disjointed. That might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s undeniably bold.

As the AP put it, “A weird Superman is better than a boring one.” And The Verge praised the film for its “hopeful, joyful sincerity” that sets the tone for the new DC Universe.

Whether or not you’ve been a fan of Superman before, this version makes a pretty strong case: maybe we need him now more than ever.

ANALYSIS

PROS

Superman Reimagined 

Let’s start with the obvious win: this movie gets Superman. Not the angsty, godlike figure we’ve seen in recent years, but the person—the immigrant kid from Kansas who chooses compassion over conquest. David Corenswet’s Clark Kent isn’t just believable—he’s lovable. He smiles, he helps, and he questions himself in ways that feel vulnerable, not weak. This Superman doesn’t lecture us—he shows us who he is by how he treats people, even when they don’t deserve it. It’s gutsy in today’s landscape to make a superhero film that’s not dripping in irony or darkness—and it works.

World-Building 

What sets Superman apart isn’t just who’s in it—it’s how the world around him actually works. Instead of name-dropping characters for fan service, Gunn builds a lived-in DCU that’s politically charged and socially aware. UN sanctions, superpowered black-ops, debates about alien ethics—it’s all part of the fabric, not just wallpaper. The metahuman community isn’t some vague backdrop; it’s integrated. You see how people would actually react to someone like Superman showing up in real life—and it’s complicated.

What’s brilliant is how Gunn gives each hero a point of view. Mister Terrific brings cold logic. Hawkgirl is tough and skeptical, with layers that unfold naturally. We’re not just watching powers—we’re watching perspectives. You feel the groundwork for a Justice League not built on branding, but belief systems. It’s subtle, but sharp.

Lex Luthor: Terrifyingly Real

Let’s talk about Nicholas Hoult, because wow. His Lex Luthor might be one of the most disturbing takes we’ve seen in live action. No megalomaniacal cackling. No goofy wigs. This Luthor is quiet, brilliant, and unnervingly believable.

Gunn and Hoult pull from comics like Lex Luthor: Man of Steel, crafting a villain who’s less about personal vendetta and more about ideology. He doesn’t hate Superman, just out of envy (though that certainly plays a part)—he genuinely believes the world is safer without him. It’s ideology over ego, and that makes him so much scarier.

Hoult described Lex as “ruthless” in this ComicBook.com interview, and that word fits. His manipulation of media, government policy, and public trust isn’t sci-fi fantasy—it’s disturbingly grounded. He’s less of a supervillain and more of a polished political monster, and Gunn wisely leans into that.

Everyone Matters

This movie is stacked with characters—but somehow, nobody gets lost. Gunn’s ensemble writing here is genuinely impressive. Even minor players have motives and arcs. Mister Terrific’s emotional detachment. Hawkgirl’s slow-burn vulnerability. Green Lantern Guy Gardner’s loudmouth bravado is clearly covering some deep insecurity. Everyone’s doing something, not just standing in the background waiting for their turn to punch something.

Lois Lane, played with fiery charm by Rachel Brosnahan, finally gets her due. She’s sharp, stubborn, and essential—not just to Clark’s emotional core, but to the plot. Jimmy Olsen isn’t just comic relief; he’s key to taking down the villain. Even the Kents, who only get a handful of scenes, leave a real mark. This world feels full.

Visuals That Pop Without Blinding You

Gunn’s visual style avoids the usual superhero sludge. You won’t find endless gray rubble or the same teal-orange filter here. Costume design pops with personality—Mr. Terrific’s outfit, Hawkgirl’s mask, and Metamorpho’s shifting form. And the cinematography doesn’t default to shadow and rubble.

Scenes in the Daily Planet newsroom are bright and buzzing. Kansas feels like a real place, not a green-screened farm. Even outer space scenes have color and wonder instead of an endless cosmic void. It’s stylized but grounded—classic Gunn.

A Score That Actually Hits

The soundtrack? Incredible. John Murphy and David Fleming don’t try to outdo John Williams—they embrace the legacy, layering in subtle motifs while building something new. You’ll hear swelling orchestral themes that make you sit up straight, but also more intimate piano and synth-driven cues that underscore Superman’s emotional core.

What’s especially smart is how Gunn uses music to reinforce tone. Bold, brassy crescendos match big, hopeful moments. Introspective beats—like Clark questioning the true intent behind his Kryptonian inheritance—are paired with sparse, echoing melodies. The music never tells you what to feel. It lets you feel it.

It’s Weird—and It Works

This movie is weird. There are robot butlers. A tense scene takes place inside a malfunctioning teleporter. Krypto attacks a supervillain mid-monologue. One scene has Superman taking time out of a fight to save a squirrel. But rather than wink at the audience or mock its own premise, the movie fully commits. And that sincerity makes the weirdness work. It feels like reading an actual comic book from the 70s—imaginative, bold, and unafraid to look silly as long as it’s fun.

Hope as a Superpower

In a genre that’s grown increasingly jaded, Superman feels almost rebellious in its optimism. This isn’t a movie about how hard it is to be good—it’s about why being good matters, even when it’s hard. Gunn makes Superman’s morality the central conflict—not just his powers or his origin, but his choice to be kind in a world that rewards cruelty.

There’s political commentary, yes—but it never drowns out the personal journey. The film challenges viewers to consider whether we’d accept someone who could fix everything… if he weren’t one of us. And what kind of world would it take for someone like Clark Kent to still choose to help, even when we don’t deserve it? It’s heavy, but not preachy. Bold, but not self-righteous. And ultimately, it leaves you with a weird, rare feeling: hope.

Cons

Tonal Whiplash

This is a James Gunn movie, so tonal shifts are part of the deal—but at times, Superman swings a little too hard between heartfelt political drama and cartoonish action. One minute we’re wrestling with themes of xenophobia and weaponized media, and the next we’ve got a fight scene featuring giant robots and one-liners flying faster than laser blasts. It’s fun, but not always smooth.

Critics like JoBlo noted this tonal juggling act as a distraction, especially during the second act. The film wants to be everything—and sometimes, it almost is. But the transitions can feel jarring.

Overstuffed Script

There’s no doubt Gunn packed this script to the brim. He’s world-building, reintroducing Superman, planting the seeds for future DCU entries, and juggling a dozen subplots. For the most part, it works. But some characters—Lois in particular—get sidelined when things ramp up. Her strong opening arc tapers off in the climax, and you’re left wishing she had more to do.

Also, the twist involving Superman’s Kryptonian legacy—while thematically rich—feels like it needed more room to breathe. It’s huge, and the film moves on too quickly.

CGI Third Act Weakness

The early visual design is impressive: bright colors, clear action, inventive choreography. But the third act falls into familiar territory—grayish skies, swirling chaos, and too much happening at once. It’s not unwatchable by any means, but it lacks the clarity and creativity of earlier sequences.

The good news? The emotional resolution lands harder than the final punch.

Does Superman Actually Live Up to the Hype?

Honestly? Yeah—it really does. Is it perfect? No. But perfection was never the goal here. What James Gunn delivers instead is something way more rare: a superhero movie with soul. It’s bold enough to be weird, sincere enough to be moving, and smart enough to know when to just let a flying dog tackle a villain.

If you’ve grown tired of superheroes punching each other into gray rubble while making ironic quips, Superman is a serious palate cleanser. It’s bright, it’s heartfelt, and it’s trying to say something meaningful without beating you over the head. It believes in good people doing good things—and that might sound corny, but it’s also kind of revolutionary in today’s cinematic landscape.

And for longtime fans? This is the Superman movie you’ve been waiting for. The “S” on his chest doesn’t stand for strength or speed or superiority. It stands for hope. And this movie gets that better than almost any live-action version before it.

So, is it worth seeing? If you want a superhero movie that makes you feel something again—something real, something human—the answer’s a resounding yes.