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Director: James Gunn
Casts: David Corenswet (Superman), Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane), Nicholas Hoult (Lex Luthor), Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl), Nathan Fillion (Green Lantern), Milly Alcock (Supergirl), María Gabriela de Faría (Engineer), Sara Sampaio (Eve Teschmacher), Skyler Gisondo (Jimmy Olsen), Anthony Carrigan (Metamorpho), Mikaela Hoover (Cat Grant), Frank Grillo (Rick Flag Sr.), Alan Tudyk (Superman Robot #4), William Reeve (TV Reporter), Sean Gunn (Maxwell Lord), Edi Gathegi (Mister Terrific), Pruitt Taylor Vince (Jon Kent), Wendell Pierce, Jennifer Holland, Beck Bennett (Steve Lombard), Neva Howell, Annalisa Cochrane, Terence Rosemore (Otis), Stephen Blackehart (Sydney Happersen), Zlatko Burić, Christopher McDonald (Ron Troupe)
In Superman (2025), Clark Kent is three years into his role as Superman, balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. When he intervenes in a conflict between Boravia and Jarhanpur, global backlash follows. Tech mogul Lex Luthor seizes the opportunity to turn the world against Superman, using propaganda, a clone named Ultraman, and a fake Kryptonian message that suggests Earth’s conquest.
After a defeat, Superman retreats to the Fortress of Solitude. With help from heroes like Supergirl, Hawkgirl, Mr. Terrific, and Green Lantern, he regroups. In the final battle, Ultraman is defeated, Lex is exposed, and Superman restores hope. He chooses compassion over power, reaffirming his place as Earth’s protector.
In an age of cinematic saturation, where superhero fatigue is real and origin stories feel recycled, James Gunn’s Superman (2025) arrives like a bolt of inspiration through the clouds of sameness. As the first full-length feature in the newly rebooted DC Universe (DCU), this film does not just reintroduce the Man of Steel; it redefines him for a new era.
Whether you are a long-time Superman loyalist or a casual moviegoer sceptical of yet another cape-wearing saviour, here are five compelling reasons Superman (2025) is absolutely worth your watch.
A Fresh Yet Faithful Take on an Icon.
James Gunn walks a tightrope that few directors dare that is, balancing reverence for legacy with creative reinvention. Rather than re-make the familiar Krypton-to-Kansas journey, Gunn skips the overplayed origin story entirely. Superman (2025) thrusts us into a world where Clark Kent is already navigating adulthood, working at the Daily Planet, and quietly balancing his dual identity. By skipping the origin story and focusing on an emotionally grounded Superman, Gunn respects viewers’ intelligence and reinvests them in the character’s humanity.
David Corenswet’s portrayal of Superman brings a sense of awe, humility, and emotional transparency that resonates with modern audiences. He’s not a flawless god or brooding alien outsider; he is a good man trying to do right in a world that increasingly questions the value of kindness.
A Cast That Elevates the Mythos
Casting is half the battle in superhero films, and Gunn nails it. Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane is smart, assertive, and emotionally complex – a true equal to Clark, not just a damsel or love interest. Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor is a chilling modern take: manipulative, ideologically driven, and scarily relatable.
The supporting cast adds further dimension, with characters like Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan), and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) introduced not as distractions, but as part of a wider metahuman context that hints at the broader DCU.
This strong ensemble casts create immersive worlds. By casting versatile, charismatic actors who do not overshadow but rather complement the title hero, Superman (2025) builds a living, breathing universe from its first instalment.
A Story That Embraces Hope
In a cinematic landscape increasingly filled with morally grey heroes, Superman (2025) dares to be… good, not corny, not naïve but genuinely good. Gunn taps into Superman’s traditional role as a beacon of hope, but roots it in tangible modern struggles: misinformation, corporate greed, institutional mistrust.
One standout scene sees Superman pause mid-battle to save a squirrel trapped under rubble. It’s two seconds, but it is emblematic of what makes this iteration so powerful: empathy at scale. This is a hero who does not measure value by size or importance, but by life itself. People are hungry for heroes they can believe in. By portraying Superman as a symbol of principled optimism amidst chaos, the film becomes a timely counter-narrative to cultural cynicism.
Visual Storytelling That Honours the Past, Looks to the Future
Visually, Superman (2025) is a blend of practical effects and stylised realism. The Fortress of Solitude isn’t a CGI void; it is a tangible crystalline structure built using practical sets, inspired by natural mineral formations. The flying sequences feel weighty, real, and even intimate.
Beth Mickle’s production design, along with Henry Braham’s cinematography, crafts a world that is both elevated and grounded. From the retro-modern vibes of the Daily Planet newsroom to the sweeping alien vistas, it never feels artificial. Even the costume design speaks volumes: Superman’s suit is textured, subtly regal, and visually distinct from past iterations.
The visual tone of Superman (2025) respects the myth while reinforcing the film’s fresh perspective, making the world immersive without leaning on empty spectacle.
The Launchpad for a Promising New DC Universe
Make no mistake: this is not just a movie, it is the foundation of the new DCU. But unlike past franchise-starters, Superman (2025) does not feel like a checklist of setups. It tells a complete, satisfying story that just happens to plant seeds for what is next.
Tiny but deliberate Easter eggs, murals of metahumans, subtle nods to the Justice League, and the moral complexities of LexCorp, offer just enough to spark intrigue. There’s world-building here, but it never overshadows Clark’s personal arc.
Franchise films often fail by prioritising setup over substance. Gunn avoids this trap by making Superman’s journey central, allowing the DCU to unfold organically from character rather than corporate mandate.
Summary: Why You Should Watch
Superman (2025) is not perfect, but it is important. It reminds us that superhero stories can still be meaningful, mythic, and moving. It shows that sincerity isn’t weakness, and that goodness isn’t outdated.
James Gunn has made a Superman for today, one that believes in the best of us, without ignoring our flaws. In doing so, he may have made the most emotionally resonant Superman film since Superman: The Movie (1978).
