Superman returns… again! The caped crusader is back in his first solo film in over a decade, and this time with more gusto than ever. Superman (2025) is written and directed by superhero films veteran, James Gunn, and stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. Does this film successfully live up to the character’s almost century-long legacy and pave the way for James Gunn’s new DC Cinematic Universe? Let’s take to the skies and find out!

From the very start, the movie is a James Gunn film through and through. Fun characters with quippy dialogue populate the screen, the writing is snappy and to the point without ever dragging down the pacing, and the visuals are vibrant and intense in a way that keeps things moving with a mixture of inventive camera movements and nice-looking VFX (including a very cute super-dog!). These elements all contribute to the film having a general tone of light-hearted comic book fun and adventure, with the exception of a few moments that feel a bit out of place. The writing is generally pretty on point, though the sincerity of it is heavily carried by the onscreen presence and chemistry of the lead actors. Corenswet is probably the best actor to play Superman since Christopher Reeve from the original films, bringing a great balance of optimism and heart to the role. Brosnahan is excellent as Lois Lane, bouncing really well off Corenswet with incredible chemistry and bringing a lot of energy to the character. Hoult pulls off a great balance of ruthlessness and eccentricity to Lex Luthor that makes him effective in feeling like a true threat while also being comedic when he needs to be.

Despite the film excelling in many regards, it does have its shortcomings. First being that it is juggling far too many characters and subplots for a simple 2-hour flick. The characters it introduces are all enjoyable, but some feel like they may have been better off being saved for a sequel or a spinoff TV series. There is also an entire subplot in the film relating to Superman interfering with foreign affairs and an overseas military conflict that feels tonally out of place with the rest of the film. This bogs down the script with too many conflicts to be dealt with satisfyingly. Additionally, the standard James Gunn quippy humor that dominates the film is pretty hit-or-miss compared to his previous work, and contrasts tonally with the serious elements of the plot. This style can diminish the sincerity and seriousness of Superman as a character at times when he is regularly the butt of a joke or getting beaten up and mangled like a cartoon character.

Although the film isn’t a true home run, it did end up delivering a very fun Summer blockbuster that is a solid enough start for James Gunn’s DC Cinematic Universe. If you’re a hardcore Superman fan looking for something more gritty and serious like the Snyderverse or a hardened cinephile experiencing fatigue with the superhero genre dominating pop culture, this film may not be for you. But if you’re someone looking for a fun afternoon at the cinema, Superman will do you justice!