Running Time: 129 minutes
This feature from Warner Bros. opens exclusively at cinemas and on IMAX screens July 11th, 2025.
Back in 1978, long before theatergoers were given a new superhero movie every few months, Hollywood took a huge gamble on Superman, the live-action adaptation of a famous comic book. It became a cultural phenomenon, even earning awards. Simply put, it’s an impossible act to follow. In the following years, we’ve gotten sequels and reboots of varying quality. The latest is, well, Superman, a film that reintroduces the character in a modern world dominated by social media. Written and directed by James Gunn (the Guardians of the Galaxy series, Suicide Squad), the end result includes a few alterations on the story’s classic elements, but the final film is a hodgepodge.
The film does not spend any time setting up its lead, Metropolis, or the world around him. After a few title cards, we learn it has been some years since Superman/Clark Kent (David Corenswet) has taken up the mantle of being a superhero, and that has just been defeated for the first time by the “metahuman” goons of nemesis Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult). Luthor is determined to wipe Superman out, even creating more of these super-figures to do so (which does result in some questions about his endgame, but oh well). Struggling to rebound and recover, Superman finds that the public have stopped supporting or appreciating him, believing he may be hiding sinister motives for his altruistic actions. Even girlfriend Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), who knows his true identity, questions his decision. Luthor soon unveils his elaborate plan, teaming with a dictator, while the protagonist struggles to stay alive.
While I have seen most films involving this character, I am not any sort of authority on him or the comic- book world. For me, the opening act is remarkably confusing, with Superman struggling in the Antarctic and random characters racing around various locales. In fact, if the title cards hadn’t appeared, I might have thought that the cinema had neglected to show viewers the first 20 minutes of the film. It is a chaotic jumble and, yes, the tension is high, but the opening act jumps between a lot of familiar and unfamiliar characters, fighting, arguing and shouting at each other.
The flying scenes, with the camera keeping pace as he darts through the air, are impressive to behold. Star Corenswet is likable as the titular character, who tries to maintain a positive attitude amidst the negativity from all around him. But even then, many of his interactions with Lane result in bickering. Admittedly, the film is attempting to create drama and tension between the pair, but despite their later declarations of true love, at times you do wonder if they really are well-suited to each other.
Truth be told, the overall tone is actually darker than anticipated, filled with nasty beatdowns. The filmmakers seem concerned that Superman might come across as infallible, but they appear to overcompensate for it in this film and it all feels glum. As the story moves forward, it does try to insert quirky jokes from strange, sideline characters. A couple of them are interesting, including the gruff Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi) whose bluntness earns some chuckles.
But just as many are problematic. Since the title character always takes the moral high ground, a few supporting heroes seem to be there to kill villains and dole out violent justice. While a particular foe is horrendous and was about to commit heinous crimes, they didn’t succeed in ending anyone’s life, so the vengeance comes across as odd. There are brief explanations for some of the many inconsistencies, but they aren’t great arguments. Another issue is the badly-behaved, computer-generated pooch Krypto. It simply doesn’t look convincing and isn’t as engaging as hoped for.
Thankfully, there is one character-based element that works well. Despite the fact that his adopted Earth parents Jonathan and Martha Kent (Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell) don’t seem to be trying as hard as they should to make contact when their adopted is in grave danger, the they do come together there is a very sweet and affecting conversation between father and son that marks the movie’s emotional high point.
Corenswet is a charismatic lead who embodies the role well and one hopes that he can take on the part again. One should give some props for a couple of unique approaches to storytelling in this superhero universe. However, the latest take on the hero doesn’t even measure up to other recent films of its ilk. It is hyperactive and jumbled, many of the characters aren’t well-developed, and the editing will ultimately leave you confused about the story. In the end, Superman fails to soar.