Superman (2025) Is the Hero We Needed—and Finally Got

Superman (2025) Director: James Gunn Writer: James Gunn Created by: Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster Cast: David Corenswet, Nicholas Hoult, Rachel Brosnahan

There are superhero movies. Tons of them. 55 live-action Marvel movies. 45 live-action DC movies. Ten of those live-action DC movies are Superman, and Superman (2025) is exactly what embodies who Kal-El is, and has always been. James Gunn's Superman is not just a summer blockbuster; it's a triumph in storytelling, not because it reinvents the wheel, but because it stopped trying to be everything for everyone. It's confident in the messaging, and it says it with precision: Superman is still relevant, and not because he's an all-powerful alien, but because at his very core, despite all his powers, his emotions are unapologetically human.

James Gunn didn't hold our hands when it came to the origin story. Superman has been around for 87 years, we know. There's minimal backstory of Krypton, no pod crash landing into Earth, no subversive trauma to escalate Clark Kent into becoming the hero he turns into, we are dropped into his world mid-stream, and we swim with him, knowing exactly what we are watching. Superman (David Corenswet) along with the other heroes - Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) are introduced with confidence, there is no ten minute exposition about who they are, what their powers are, how Superman knows them, they exist in that world and we see their relationship unfold. Gunn trusted the audience to catch up, something I've been hoping for from Superhero reboot movies for years.

Nicholas Hoult's portrayal of Lex Luthor is the highest element in the film, and the most compelling version of this character we have seen in decades. The clownish genius and power-mad mogul has been scaled back to a portrait of bitter brilliance whose core motivation goes beyond megalomania; he wants to rule, but he does not want to rule because he's an ego-maniac. He wants to rule because of a jealous, corrosive envy he has against Superman and other meta-humans. This anger has clouded his judgment, causing him to use his intelligence for pure evil rather than the greater good, as Mr. Terrific does. Hoult plays Lex not as a caricature of a billionaire (because there are no ethical billionaires) but as a man who cannot stand that someone like Clark Kent could even exist in the first place, and the lengths he is willing to go to, to not only destroy Superman, but to rid the world of meta-humans is purely malicious with a warped sense of wounded justice. This contrast eats away at him, and it makes the performance not only terrifying, and proves that a well-written villain does not need to be sympathetic, we do not need to relate to him, but they do need to feel real and Hoult delivered that, as dark and twisted as it was, with precision.

To me, a mark of a great actor is to forget the actor exists when the character is on screen, and this is exactly what David Corenswet did as he took on the role of the famous hero. He did not play an idealized, untouchable god we often see, but a man raised with love, who shoulders the weight of love and hope and does not understand why the world could not be better. We have a Superman who fumbles, makes mistakes, stumbles over his words, doubts, feels, loves, and because of that, we can now see ourselves in the hero. His humanity isn't just talked about, it's shown in his body language, his eyes when he looks at Lois, and his moments of hesitation. There's no grand speeches to prove he's powerful, we don't need 90 minutes of laser eyes to connect, sometimes a sigh and a clenched jaw carries more emotional weight than punching a hole through a statue.

There’s a moment—no spoilers—where Superman chooses not to fight. Not out of cowardice, but conviction. And that choice says more about him than any battle ever could.

Superman feels fresh because it's earnest. We live in a world of irony and detachment, and now we have been given a film that believes in its hero. Earnest has now become a rebellion against the structure of hero films, and there's no apology being made for that. Its triumph comes from that plus the humour. No forced quips, no deflation of tension for cheap laughs. The jokes are nods, moments that feel earned, world-building in a sense of you had to be there (I'm looking at you, interdimensional imp) and then... there's Krypto. Adorable. Unhinged and genuinely hilarious. Krypto manages to steal every scene without taking away from the film; he's part of the emotional core, and that extends beyond comic relief. A chaotic good boy that adds a sense of levity, family and expands the lore without overwhelming it.

Visually, this film is breathtaking. There's clarity to the cinematography that makes every frame feel intentional, from the icy scapes of Antarctica to the sun-drenched fields in Kansas. The city shots are wide, the camera never lingers for spectacle's sake, and Henry Braham does a wonderful job with storytelling through visuals. The fight scenes are visceral but grounded, and the sound design in them is spectacular. You can feel the weight behind each hit, and you brace yourself for impact because you can hear it coming. The score wasn't just in the background; it was part of the story. They used the original John Williams "Superman's March" and built on the myth instead of just banking on nostalgia. It was epic without being grandeur.

This is a Superman score for a generation that’s been overwhelmed by noise and spectacle. It reminds us that the quiet moments can be the most heroic.

Great villains. Fantastic cameos that don't steal the screen. Minor characters that shine. Journalists that feel real and should be respected. Top-tier acting - Nicholas Hoult deserves an award. Superman portrayed here feels utterly real in a way few superheroes ever have, as if he could exist in our world. It's just a good story. And that's enough.

We were waiting for this Superman, and he showed up.

5/5

Superman FAQ

Q: Is Superman (2025) part of the DCU reboot?

Yes. Superman (2025) is the first official film in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DCU continuity, introducing a new take on Clark Kent and the larger DC world.

Q: Who plays Superman in the 2025 movie?

The role of Superman is played by a newer actor (David Corenswet). His performance captures both the strength and vulnerability of the character.

Q: Is Lex Luthor in Superman (2025)?

Yes. Lex Luthor is played by Nicholas Hoult, whose portrayal focuses on envy and emotional complexity. It's a grounded, chilling performance.

Q: Does Krypto appear in Superman (2025)?

He does—and he’s fantastic. Krypto is chaotic, loyal, and laugh-out-loud funny, offering both comic relief and emotional depth.

Q: Do we see Superman’s origin again in the new film?

No. Superman (2025) wisely skips the origin story and trusts the audience to know who he is, jumping straight into an established world.